NORTON, Massachusetts – When the USGA closed its registration for the 2018 U.S. Senior Open Championship on May 16, the organization announced that it had received more than 2,700 entries for competitors looking to qualify for this year’s Championship Proper, being contested at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado from June 28-July 1. Last year, Kenny Perry claimed his second Francis Ouimet trophy when he won the 38th U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club right here in Massachusetts.
With this year’s Championship in sight, the Bay State will once again be hosting one of the 34 local qualifiers across the United States on June 5 when the Bay Club at Mattapoisett will welcome 84 competitors to its Southeastern Massachusetts facility for the 18-hole qualifier. Of the 84 in the field, 41 list their residency in Massachusetts. 41 is also the number of competitors who are of amateur status.
Competitors will be vying for two qualifying spots and an additional two alternate spots.
On June 5, dreams for playing at the 2018 @USGA #USSeniorOpen Championship will become a reality for two players qualifying from the Bay Club at Mattapoisett
Preview: https://t.co/5ktmr9vVpm
Tee Times: https://t.co/8bLSxY1oSo#MassGolf pic.twitter.com/lWSed8bgw2— Mass Golf (@PlayMassGolf) May 24, 2018
Of the 84 in the field, Hatherly Country Club Head Golf Professional Chip Johnson, of Hingham, will look to return to his third career U.S. Senior Open Championship after earning medalist honors at last year’s local qualifier, which was contested at Salem’s Kernwood Country Club. He also advanced to the 2015 Championship Proper.
Other notable players in the field include Marshfield’s Geoffrey Sisk, a six-time Massachusetts Open champion who has played in six U.S. Opens and two U.S. Senior Opens, and amateurs Frank Vana (Boxford) and Ronald LaVerdiere (Amherst), who competed in last year’s U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at The Minikahda Club in Minnesota.
The U.S. Senior Open is open to professional golfers, and amateurs with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 3.4 who are 50 years of age at the start of championship play. Eleven past champions are among the 75 players who are currently exempt into the championship.
Mass Golf will provide coverage for the U.S. Senior Open qualifier being contested in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts on June 5. Visit MassGolf.org and follow @PlayMassGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest information. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #MassGolf and #USSeniorOpen.
