2018 U.S. SENIOR OPEN NOTEBOOK and STORYLINES June 28-July 1, 2018 the Broadmoor (East Course) Colorado Springs, Colo
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2018 U.S. SENIOR OPEN NOTEBOOK AND STORYLINES June 28-July 1, 2018 The Broadmoor (East Course) Colorado Springs, Colo. WHO’S HERE – Among the 156 golfers in the 2018 U.S. Senior Open there are: U.S. Senior Open champions (10): Olin Browne (2011), Brad Bryant (2007), Fred Funk (2009), Hale Irwin (1998, 2000), Peter Jacobsen (2004), Bernhard Langer (2010), Jeff Maggert (2015), Colin Montgomerie (2014), Kenny Perry (2013, ‘17) and Gene Sauers (2016). U.S. Senior Open runners-up (13): Hale Irwin (1996, 2004), Fred Couples (2010), Fred Funk (2008, ’12, ‘13), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2016), Bernhard Langer (2012), Tom Lehman (2012), Billy Mayfair (2016), Colin Montgomerie (2015), Mark O’Meara (2011), Corey Pavin (2012), Gene Sauers (2014), Joey Sindelar (2009) and Kirk Triplett (2017). U.S. Open champions (4): Hale Irwin (1974, ’79, ’90), Lee Janzen (1993, ’98), Tom Kite (1992) and Corey Pavin (1995). U.S. Open runners-up (6): Miguel Angel Jimenez (2000), Tom Lehman (1996), Davis Love III (1996), Rocco Mediate (2008), Colin Montgomerie (1994, ‘97, 2006) and Jeff Sluman (1992). U.S. Amateur champions (5): John Cook (1978), Mark O’Meara (1979), Billy Mayfair (1987), Chris Patton (1989) and Scott Verplank (1984). U.S. Amateur runners-up (3): John Cook (1979), Scott Hoch (1978) and Tom Kite (1970). U.S. Junior Amateur champions (1): Jack Larkin (1979). U.S. Junior Amateur runners-up (0): none U.S. Mid-Amateur champions (1): Michael McCoy (2013). U.S. Mid-Amateur runners-up (1): Tim Hogarth (2010). U.S. Senior Amateur champions (2): Sean Knapp (2017) and Paul Simson (2010, ’12). U.S. Senior Amateur runners-up (1): Paul Simson (2017). U.S. Amateur Public Links champions (2): Billy Mayfair (1986) and Tim Hogarth (1996). U.S. Amateur Public Links runners-up (0): none. USGA champions (23): Olin Browne (2011 Senior Open), Brad Bryant (2007 Senior Open), John Cook (1978 Amateur), Fred Funk (2009 Senior Open), Tim Hogarth (1996 Amateur Public Links), Hale Irwin (1998, 2000 Senior Open, 1974, ’79, ’90 Open), Peter Jacobsen (2004 Senior Open), Lee Janzen (1993, ’98 Open), Tom Kite (1992 Open), Sean Knapp (2017 Senior Amateur), Bernhard Langer (2010 Senior Open), Jack Larkin (1979 Junior Amateur), Jeff Maggert (2015 Senior Open), Billy Mayfair (1986 Amateur Public Links, 1987 Amateur), Michael McCoy (2013 Mid-Amateur), Colin Montgomerie (2014 Senior Open), Mark O’Meara (1979 Amateur), Corey Pavin (1995 Open), Chris Patton (1989 Amateur), Kenny Perry (2013, ‘17 Senior Open), Gene Sauers (2016 Senior Open), Paul Simson (2010, ’12 Senior Amateur), and Scott Verplank (1984 Amateur). Walker Cup Team Members: United States (10): Billy Andrade (1987), Jay Haas (1975), Scott Hoch (1979), Tom Kite (1971), Davis Love III (1985), Billy Mayfair (1987), Michael McCoy (2015), Corey Pavin (1981), Scott Verplank (1985) and Duffy Waldorf (1985). Great Britain & Ireland (1): Colin Montgomerie (1985, ’87). NCAA Division I champions (5): Jay Haas (1975), John Inman (1984), Hale Irwin (1967), Tom Kite (1972) and Scott Verplank (1986). NCAA Division II champions (1): Lee Janzen (1986). TOTAL SENIOR OPENS WON BY 2018 CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD (12): Olin Browne (1), Brad Bryant (1), Fred Funk (1), Hale Irwin (2), Peter Jacobsen (1), Bernhard Langer (1), Jeff Maggert (1), Colin Montgomerie (1), Kenny Perry (2) and Gene Sauers (1). PLAYERS IN FIELD WITH MOST SENIOR OPEN APPEARANCES (2017 included) – Hale Irwin (22), Tom Kite (16), Bob Gilder (15), Jay Haas (13), Peter Jacobsen (13) and Brad Bryant (12). ACTIVE CONSECUTIVE U.S. SENIOR OPEN APPEARANCES (2017 included) – Hale Irwin (14). CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD – The USGA accepted 2,738 entries in 2018. Wesley Pacheco, a 52-year-old amateur from Jacksonville, Fla., submitted his entry 2 minutes and 37 seconds before the deadline of 5 p.m. EDT on May 16. Gary Albrecht, a 61-year-old amateur from Denver, Colo., was the first entrant. The record for entries is 3,101 in 2002. The 156-player field includes 68 fully exempt golfers, 10 of whom are U.S. Senior Open champions. Sectional qualifying was played over 18 holes at 34 sites across the United States between May 21 and June 11. There were qualifying sites in 26 states, including five in California, three in Florida and two in Pennsylvania and Texas. AMATEURS – There are 25 amateurs in the 156-player field. At least one amateur has made the 36-hole cut in 13 consecutive U.S. Senior Opens. Robby Funk, the low amateur in last year’s U.S. Senior Open, and Sean Knapp, the 2017 U.S. Senior Amateur champion, are among this group. Funk, who will turn 55 on June 28, the first day of the championship, tied for 54th in the 2017 U.S. Senior Open, held at Salem Country Club, in Peabody, Mass. He has played in eight USGA championships, including last year’s U.S. Amateur. His grandfather, John Funk, the son of the founder of Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary, introduced him to the game Knapp, 56, defeated Paul Simson, 2 and 1, in last year’s U.S. Senior Amateur final, held at The Minikahda Club, in Minneapolis, Minn. He is competing in his third U.S. Senior Open and 43rd USGA championship. He tied for 60th in the 2012 Senior Open, which was played at Indianwood Golf and Country Club, in Lake Orion, Mich. Michael McCoy, 55, is playing in his sixth U.S. Senior Open. He was the low amateur in 2014 and 2015. McCoy, who has competed in 53 USGA championships, won the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur at the Country Club of Birmingham (Ala.) and became the second-oldest winner of the championship at age 50. He was a member of the 2015 USA Walker Cup Team. Paul Simson, 67, won the U.S. Senior Amateur in 2010 and 2012. He is playing in his eighth U.S. Senior Open. Chris Patton, 50, captured the 1989 U.S. Amateur and is competing in his first year of eligibility. Jack Larkin, 56, claimed the 1979 U.S. Junior Amateur and is playing in his second U.S. Senior Open. Note: There were 20 amateurs in last year’s U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club. Robby Funk was the lone amateur to make the cut and he went on to tie for 54th. William C. (Bill) Campbell (1980) and Tim Jackson (2009) are the only amateurs to hold the lead at a U.S. Senior Open through 36 holes. Amateurs at Senior Open Year Number Made Cut Low Finisher 2018 25 --- ----- 2017 20 1 Robby Funk (tie, 54th) 2016 23 1 Chip Lutz (tie, 37th) 2015 27 3 Michael McCoy (tie, 26th) 2014 17 2 Michael McCoy (tie, 26th) 2013 28 1 Doug Hanzel (56th) 2012 35 2 Doug Hanzel (tie, 53rd) 2011 29 1 Tim Jackson (tie, 50th) 2010 30 3 Tim Jackson (tie, 32nd) 2009 28 3 Tim Jackson (tie, 11th) 2008 29 6 Danny Green (tie, 37th) 2007 31 5 Danny Green and George Zahringer (tie, 33rd) 2006 33 1 Randy Reifers (tie, 47th) 2005 30 4 Greg Reynolds and George Zahringer (tie, 31st) 2004 25 1 Patrick Tallent (tie, 54th) 2003 33 0 ----- 2002 29 2 Bob Clark (tie, 56th) 2001 26 4 Paul Simson (tie, 40th) 2000 26 4 Kemp Richardson (tie, 47th) 1999 23 2 Kemp Richardson (tie, 46th) 1998 30 1 Joel Hirsch (tie, 59th) 1997 29 4 Marvin (Vinny) Giles III (tie, 55th) 1996 32 3 Marvin (Vinny) Giles III (tie, 54th) 1995 40 3 Bob Housen (tie, 38th) 1994 36 4 Johnny Stevens (tie, 28th) 1993 39 5 Marvin (Vinny) Giles III (tie, 35th) 1992 38 4 Morris Beecroft (tie, 32nd) 1991 37 5 Jim Patti (tie, 34th) 1990 39 5 Gary Cowan (tie, 31st) 1989 43 10 Jim McMurtrey (tie, 28th) 1988 47 10 Bob Housen (tie, 25th) 1987 43 9 Dennis Iden (tie, 42nd) 1986 37 7 Robert Hoff (tie, 37th) 1985 53 7 William Hyndman III (tie, 18th) 1984 54 13 Dale Morey and Fordie Pitts Jr. (tie, 13th) 1983 46 9 Robert Rawlins (tie, 15th) 1982 42 4 John Harbottle (42nd) 1981 45 6 Glenn Johnson (tie, 16th) 1980 67 16 William C. Campbell (2nd) SECTIONAL QUALIFIERS – Larry Mize, the 1987 Masters champion, Todd Hamilton, the winner of the 2004 Open Championship at Royal Troon, and Bob Gilder, who has won a combined 16 events on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions, are among the 89 Senior Open sectional qualifiers. Mize, who won four times on the PGA Tour, defeated Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros to win the Masters when he converted a 140-foot chip shot for a birdie on the second playoff hole. Hamilton made four pars in a four-hole aggregate playoff with Ernie Els to win the 2004 Open. Gilder, who competed in 21 U.S. Opens, recorded six PGA Tour victories. Glen Day was the top finisher among sectional qualifiers in the previous two U.S. Senior Opens. He tied for sixth last year at Salem Country Club and tied for 18th at Scioto Country Club in 2016. Note: In 2002, Don Pooley was the last player to win the U.S. Senior Open as a sectional qualifier. Sectional Qualifiers at Senior Open Year Number Made Cut Low Finisher 2018 89 --- ----- 2017 80 14 Glen Day (6th) 2016 80 15 Glen Day, Jeff Gallagher (tie, 18th) 2015 85 24 Grant Waite (tie, 3rd) 2014 86 20 Marco Dawson (tie, 5th) 2013 85 15 Bart Bryant (tie, 9th) 2012 85 16 Lance Ten Broeck (tie, 9th) 2011 86 15 Steve Pate (tie, 9th) 2010 92 25 J.L. Lewis and John Morse (tie, 12th) 2009 83 16 Russ Cochran (3rd) 2008 85 17 Jeff Klein (tie, 9th) 2007 91 21 Jim Woodward (tie, 11th) 2006 89 16 Andy Bean (tie, 5th) 2005 87 21 Perry Arthur (tie, 14th) 2004 86 16 John Harris (11th) 2003 81 15 R.W.