The Golf Association of Philadelphia

Overbrook GC’s Thompson heads
U.S. Senior Open Qualifier

Andy Thompson

DOYLESTOWN, Pa.–Andy Thompson of Newtown Square, Pa. carded an even-par 72 at Doylestown CC (par 72, 6,514 yards) on Friday to earn medallist honors in a Qualifier for the U.S. Senior Open Championship. George Forster of Villanova, Pa. would be the second qualifier earning a spot after surviving a six-hole, four-man playoff.

A field of 73 players (23 pros, 50 amateurs) competed in the qualifier with hopes of advancing to the U.S. Senior Open Championship set for July 6-9 at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan.

An amateur from Overbrook GC, Thompson now sets his sights on his first appearance at the Championship next month.

Riding his accurate play off the tees, the 57-year-old would hit all but three fairways, carding two birdies and as many bogeys during his field-low round.

"There’s a premium to hitting the ball in the fairway here," Thompson said. "That’s probably one of my strengths. [Accuracy] is obviously a necessity here with the rough being as thick as it is."

Even on that rare occasion when Thompson found himself in the thick rough, lady luck would come to his aid.

With his ball in the rough 175 yards from the pin on No. 7 (par 4, 381 yards), Thompson would lace a 5-iron that skipped across the water hazard much like a rock on a calm lake.

"I caught a huge break there," he exclaimed.

George Forster

And although he avoided penalty there, the hole would still prove to be a challenge, as his third shot sailed over the green leaving him a difficult chip. A shot that he would then drain for par.

Forster, 50, of Radnor Valley CC, who said he has never had much luck in playoffs, outlasted a feisty Robin McCool of Bethlehem, Pa., in a six-hole playoff for the final qualifying spot.

"I really just felt like if I hit the fairway and kept the ball below the hole I would have a shot," Forster said.

Forster earned a spot in the Championship after he birdied the sixth playoff hole (No. 18, par 5, 519 yards) when he hit his 9-iron from 129 yards out to within 5-feet of the pin.

The U.S. Senior Open dates back to 1980 on the East Course of Winged Foot Golf Club. The event is open to any professional or amateur with a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 3.4, who turns 50 on or before the first day of the championship.

Qualifiers
Rank	Name	Hometown	Total
1	Andy Thompson	Newtown Square, PA	72
T2	George Forster*	Villanova, PA	75

Alternates (in order)
T2	Robin McCool*	Bethlehem, PA	75
T2	Warren Choate*	Montoursville, PA	75

Failed to qualify
T2	Kevin Scanlon	Media, PA	75
T2	Drew Panebianco	Dresher, PA	75
T7	Chip Lutz	Reading, PA	76
T7	Don Deangelis	Skippack, PA	76
T7	Ed Chylinski	Gulph Mills, PA	76
T7	Ken Peyre-Ferry	Marlton, NJ	76
T7	Mark Aebli	Crystal River, FL	76
T7	Rick Vershure	Armonk, NY	76
T13	Joe Sommers	Stamford, CT	77
T13	John Kulhamer	Bethlehem, PA	77
T13	Richard Stevens	Middlebury, CT	77
T13	Thomas Bartolacci	Washington Crossing, PA	77
T17	Brian Rothaus	Huntingdon Valley, PA	78
T17	Donald Ashley	King of Prussia, PA	78
T17	Francis Mc Fadden	Newtown Square, PA	78
T17	Scott Carney	Hatboro, PA	78
T17	Tom Borsello	Wilmington, DE	78
T22	Chris Lange	Bryn Mawr, PA	79
T22	David Brookreson	Huntingdon Valley, PA	79
T22	Michael Thompson	Exton, PA	79
T22	Michael Tucci	Erial, NJ	79
T26	Fred Robinson	North Wales, PA	80
T26	Kerry Johnston	Indio, CA	80
T26	Thomas Dicinti	Voorhees, NJ	80
T26	Tom Yellin	New York, NY	80
T30	Bruce Eck	Macungie, PA	81
T30	Chick Kozloff	Hobe Sound, FL	81
T30	Chuck Tait	Harrisburg, PA	81
T30	J R Delich	Newtown Square, PA	81
T30	John Bodin	Falls, PA	81
T30	Roger Simpkins	Bethlehem, PA	81
T30	William Holmberg	New York, NY	81
T37	Blake Campbell	Langhorne, PA	82
T37	Bob Hibschman	Hatboro, PA	82
T37	James Graham	Rye, NY	82
T37	Jeffrey Ranck	Lewisburg, PA	82
T37	Jim Haynie	North Wales, PA	82
T37	Michael Domenick	Phoenixville, PA	82
T43	Bill Gordon	Chadds Ford, PA	83
T43	Frank Polizzi	Bryn Mawr, PA	83
T43	Gerald Garrison	Little Rock, AR	83
T43	Jerry Janeski	Lititz, PA	83
T43	Michael Rose	Huntingdon Valley, PA	83
T43	Rich Thon	Swarthmore, PA	83
T43	Richard Custer	Royersford, PA	83
T43	Roc Irey	Furlong, PA	83
T43	Thomas Mallouk	Doylestown, PA	83
T43	Vince Scarpetta	Moosic, PA	83
T53	Gary Daniels	Berwyn, PA	84
T53	Raymond Thompson	Springfield, PA	84
T55	Charles Dowds	Glenside, PA	85
T55	Joe Viechnicki	Bethlehem, PA	85
T57	Geoffrey Jones	Wescosville, PA	86
T57	Nick Paolucci	Pottstown, PA	86
59	Bruce Tripp	Bridgeport, PA	88
T60	George Petrole	Lehighton, PA	89
T60	Vince Yost	Harleysville, PA	89
T62	Bob Howe	Larchmont, NY	DQ
T62	David Braham	Chappaqua, NY	DQ
T62	David Robie	Lancaster, PA	WD
T62	Donald Larcher	Dorothy, NJ	NC
T62	Gary Daniels	Center Valley, PA	WD
T62	Greg Doughty	Wayne, PA	WD
T62	James Prendergast	Limerick, PA	NC
T62	Jeffery Edmonds	Carlisle, PA	WD
T62	Matt Froncek	Greenfield Twp, PA	DQ
T62	Monte Roe	North Brunswick, NJ	NC
T62	Robert Falls	West Chester, PA	WD
T62	Ron Cusick	Marlton, NJ	NC

*-advanced in a playoff
WD-withdrawal; DQ-disqualified; NC-no card

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Overbrook GC’s Thompson heads
U.S. Senior Open Qualifier

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Overbrook GC’s Thompson heads U.S. Senior Open Qualifier

Overbrook GC’s Thompson heads
U.S. Senior Open Qualifier