Brookreson heads USGA Sr. Am. Qualifier

  MT. HOLLY, N.J.– David Brookreson of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., carded a 1-over-par 71 to earn medallist honors Monday to advance to his third USGA Senior Amateur Championship.

Brookreson eyes his birdie putt on the par 4 16th hole (425 yards).

  Brookreson, the 2004-05 Golf Association of Philadelphia Senior Player of the Year, fired four birdies and was on track to finish in red numbers before his lack of local course knowledge came into play on No. 18 (par 4, 315 yards) when his approach shot landed hole-high but right of the green in thick rough causing him to card a double bogey.

  "This is a great golf course with good par 4s," said Brookreson, GAP’s three-time Senior Silver Cross Award winner (2004-06). "I just didn’t realize the green on No. 18 went as far left as it did and I left it in a tough spot."

O. Gordon Brewer

  On No. 16, the 2005 GAP Senior Amateur Champion stroked a smooth 6-iron from 163 yards out to within four feet right of the cup, leaving him a tap-in birdie putt to help him advance to his third USGA Senior Amateur Championship.

  "I’m just going to go out there and try my best," Brookreson said.

Robert Ockenfuss

  Bartolacci, who was 1-under on the 12^th tee, pulled a 5-iron out of bounds, hit his second shot off the rocks into the drink and two-putted for a 7.

  "It’s all my caddie’s fault," joked Bartolacci of his troubles on No. 12. "Today was a really good test of golf for us old guys."

Thomas Bartolacci

  The 2007 USGA Senior Amateur Championship is scheduled for Sept. 1-6 at Flint Hills National GC in Andover, Kan. The inaugural USGA Senior Amateur was held in 1955 at Belle Meade CC in Nashville, Tenn. The event, for those who are 55 or older on or before the day the championship begins, is open to those with a USGA Handicap Index of 7.4 or lower.

  Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional golf association in the United States and serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. Its 135 Member Clubs and 60,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The purpose of the Association is simple: To promote, protect and preserve the game of golf in the region.