LONGMEADOW, Massachusetts (April 28, 2025) – Early-season golf always comes with uncertainty — swings still in progress, putters heating up or cooling off without warning. But at Monday’s U.S. Senior Open Local Qualifying at Longmeadow Country Club, the new format gave players a little more breathing room and a few more chances to find their form when it mattered.
In total, 15 players, including five players currently affiliated with Massachusetts, advanced to the Final Qualifying stage for this year’s championship. One year after over 3,000 entries were accepted for the U.S. Senior Open at historic Newport Country Club (RI), the USGA decided this year to implement an additional qualifying stage in 2025, similar to the Local and Final Qualifying used for the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur.
Monday’s event was one of 32 sites for Local Qualifying. Final Qualifying will take place over 12 sites nationwide between May 19 and June 12. The closest Final Qualifying event to Massachusetts is June 10 at Deal Golf & Country Club in New Jersey. The Championship Proper is set for June 26-29 at two-time previous host The Broadmoor (East Course) in Colorado Springs. The field includes professionals and amateurs at least 50 years old whose Handicap Index® does not exceed 2.4.
Corey Harris, the head golf professional at The Washington Club in Western Connecticut, was medalist with a score of 1-over-par 71, spearheaded by a pair of birdies on the 3rd and 4th holes. David Borrelli (Alamo, CA) was the low amateur in the field, knocking down three birdies to finish with a 72.
Frank Dully, II, the head golf professional at Kernwood Country Club, led all Massachusetts players with a score of 72. Dully stood at 3-over through the front nine, but added three birdies on the back, including the 15th and 17th, to give himself plenty of cushion to advance. Dully has earned alternate status multiple times in what was previously Sectional Qualifying, including in 2017 when the Championship Proper was held at Salem Country Club.
Brian Higgins (Franklin Country Club), a two-time Massachusetts Mid-Amateur winner (2008 & 2009), is among the new crop of senior players who are 50 this year. With a birdie on the par-3 13th, Higgins was able to get above the playoff line for the final spot with a score of 74. James Burke (Newton, MA), the former Harvard men’s golf coach who played in the 2006 Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston, also shot 74 with birdies on the short par-3s (4th, 130 yards & 16th, 110 yards).
On paper, it seems Pat Bates (Oklahoma City) had the longest travel among qualifiers, but Monday was actually a homecoming of sorts. Bates, the 1993 Mass Open champion, grew up caddying at Essex County Club and played out of Bass Rocks in Gloucester. He was a three-time All-American at the University of Florida (1988–1991) and later earned his PGA Tour card and went on to coach at the University of Central Oklahoma. His Mass Open victory at Tedesco Country Club was an emotional one as it came just a month after his father’s sudden passing and was Bates’ first tournament since the loss.
Massachusetts amateurs Keith Burch (Crumpin-Fox Club) and Doug Briggs (Trull Brook Golf Course) also kept relatively clean cards, shooting 73 and 74, respectively, to advance. John Hadges (Thorny Lea Golf Club) put on a furious rally by shooting 2-under 33 on the back nine to bounce back from a 42 on the front and earn a spot in a 4-for-1 playoff. However, Vermont golf instructor Jonathan Brisbane (Rutland, VT) snagged the final spot, making a tap-in birdie on the second playoff hole (17th) to edge amateur Keith Kepley (Charlotte, NC).
COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM LONGMEADOW CC
QUALIFIER (Name, City, Score)
Corey Harris, Washington, CT; (+1) 71
David Borrelli, Alamo, CA; (+2) 72
Frank Dully, Salem, MA; (+2) 72
Sean Quinlivan, Southampton, NY; (+2) 72
Mark Mccormick, Middletown, NJ; (+2) 72
a-Jamie Lukowicz, Newport, RI; (+3) 73
a-Keith Burch, South Deerfield, MA; (+3) 73
Benoit Boudreau, Canada; (+4) 74
a-Doug Briggs, Andover, MA; (+4) 74
James Burke, Newton, MA; (+4) 74
Martin Plante, Canada; (+4) 74
Brian Lamberti, Danbury, CT; (+4) 74
Pat Bates, Oklahoma City, OK; (+4) 74
a-Brian Higgins, Bellingham, MA; (+4) 74
*Jonathan Brisbane, Rutland, VT; (+5) 75
ALTERNATES (In Order)
**a-Keith Kepley, Charlotte, NC; (+5) 75
a-Jason Kalin, Wakefield, RI; (+5) 75
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*Advanced with a birdie on the second playoff hole
**Earned spot via participation in playoff
a- Denotes amateur
Longmeadow Country Club, a Donald Ross design dating back to 1921, remains remarkably true to its original routing, with only minor lengthening, bunker renovations, and tree removal enhancing course conditions over the years. The par-70 layout plays to approximately 6,756 yards and features standout holes like the 601-yard par-5 3rd, the demanding dogleg left 8th, the two-tiered green at the par-3 16th, and the tight, bunkerless green at the par-4 17th. Since its full opening in 1924, Longmeadow has maintained a classic Ross feel while challenging every level of player.
The club also boasts a rich championship legacy. It hosted its first Mass Amateur in 1941, won by Leo J. Martin shortly before his tragic death during World War II. The event helped spark the growth of organized golf in Western Massachusetts. Longmeadow has since hosted multiple Mass Opens, most recently in 2022 when journeyman professional Michael Kartrude rallied back from down two shots with four holes to play. Kartrude, Peter Knade, Mike Van Sickle, and Ethan Whitney all shot at least one round of 64 that week to earn a share of the course record.
Longmeadow has also hosted a pair of national championships, including the 1995 U.S. Girls’ Junior and 2005 U.S. Junior Amateur, the latter of which featured several future tour pros, including Kevin Tway (winner), Sam Saunders (Arnold Palmer’s grandson) and Russell Henley (2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational winner).
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