Conley, Lange take U.S. Senior Open Qualifier spots

  Chris Lange an amateur from Bryn Mawr, Pa., and a longtime top player in the Golf Association of Philadelphia from Overbrook GC, captured the other qualifying position with a 4-under-par 67. The two advanced from the 73-player field of 50 amateurs and 23 professionals.

  This U.S. Senior Open Championship Qualifier is one of 42 national qualifying sites to determine the remaining 77 positions available for the 156-player field.

  The 50-year-old Conley, who is in the midst of driving to the Bank of America Championship in Concord, Mass., for this weekend’s event, made the turn in 1 under before finishing with four birdies in his final eight holes.

  Conley, who started on the back nine, made eight pars and one birdie (on the 15^th, par 3, 210 yards) on the front side when he knocked a 4-iron to six feet on the long 15^th for his lone red figure.

  Turning for hole, Conley made birdies on each of the even holes. He hit a 4-iron on No. 2 (par 3, 202 yards) to six feet; lobbed a wedge from 125 yards to 10 feet on No. 4 (par 4, 400 yards); knocked a 3-iron from 225 yards to the back of the green and two putted on No. 6 (par 5, 516 yards) and hit a wedge from 122 yards to six feet on No. 8 (par 4, 415 yards).

  "I haven’t played this well all year long, and the one time I have to, I do," said Conley. "I’ve played in two U.S. Opens and one British Open but that extended over a 25-year career. I turned 50 and I already have played in the Senior PGA Championship, the U.S. Senior Open and I’m planning on going over for the British Senior."

  Conley won two NIKE Tour, now Nationwide Tour, events. His last victory came in 1996 in the NIKE Gateway Classic in St. Louis.

  For Lange, 52, this marks the second time in three years he’s qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open. He also made it 2005.

  "It’s always fun. It’s great to go and play with guys you watch on TV," said Lange.

  Lange made the Championship field with a stirring late-round push. He birdied three of his final four holes.

  That on the heels of an eagle on No. 1 (par 1, 550 yards), his 10^th hole of the day.

  Lange sunk a sand wedge from 93 yards after his ball landed three feet past the flag and spun back into the cup.

  On the sixth hole, he rocketed a 22-degree hybrid from 220 yards to just short of the green 35 feet short of the pin. He two putted for a birdie four. On No. 7 (par 3, 182 yards), he stuffed a 7-iron from 165 yards to three feet and then followed that up with another 7-iron to 20 feet on his closing 9^th hole (par 3, 167 yards). He made the ensuing 20 footer.

  In all, Lange has played in more than a dozen USGA Championships.

  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.