SANDWICH, Massachusetts (July 22, 2024) – A beautiful Monday morning on the Cape was a fine day for the first of two USGA qualifying events at The Ridge Club. The sounds of birds chirping made for a lovely summer atmosphere on the course as 68 players worked hard to earn their place in the field of the 69th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.
At the turn, David Pierce (East Bridgewater, MA) posted a 4-under score to put him two strokes ahead of 2nd place. Pierce carded five birdies over seven holes in his first nine holes. Out of 68 players, a score of 68 was the number to beat as Pierce secured medalist honors. Meanwhile, Donald Foberg (Pembroke, MA) and Doug Clapp (Manomet, MA) shot a 69 and prevailed in a 4-for-2 playoff to earn the remaining spots.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur was warming up for their turn to play for four spots in the USGA championship taking place later this summer at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton. Read more on this story later.
Online: Senior Amateur Qualifying Results | USGA Events
Pierce was beyond excited to have officially secured his spot in the field of the U.S. Senior Amateur, saying, “It’s an honor to make it in my first USGA event, so it’s very, very exciting.” He finished as the medalist and avoided the 4-for-2 playoff that the players moved right into at the end of the round.
After starting strongly, Pierce made the turn to the front nine of the course. Despite a few bogeys, he still finished ahead at 3-under. “I started with a long putter and made some putts early, and I never really felt any pressure,” he said. Even as he carded bogeys, Pierce made sure he stayed on the right side of the pressure and still finished the round in a great way.
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Teeing off from hole 1, the playoff began with four players but quickly dwindled to two. Don Foberg (Pembroke, MA) was the only golfer to make birdie on the first hole. Foberg’s second shot landed on the left side of the green, where he easily sank the putt to claim his spot. As he headed back up to the clubhouse, only two remained.
“Well, it feels fricking awesome!” said Foberg as he received his USGA certificate for making it through qualifying. “I just turned 70 and came off a bad health year last year, so I’m finally feeling like I can hit a golf ball again and did pretty well here today.”
Doug Clapp (Manomet, MA) and Joseph Iaciofano (Jupiter, FL) progressed to the second hole, while John Hadges (North Easton, MA), who had made bogey, became the second alternate. Both Clapp and Iaciofano took wedge on the tee, and while Clapp stuck it to two feet, Iaciofano went over the green into the bunker costing him the final spot.
This will be Clapp’s 22nd USGA event. “The last time I lost in a playoff to this guy [Don Foberg] and then never got off the bench,” said Clapp, who was an alternate for the 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur held locally at The Kittansett Club. “It was ironic because you add Hadges in the playoff, and it’s the two guys that I’ve not really had any luck against over the last 30 years.”
Clapp went on to say how the U.S. Senior Open is the most fun event to be able to play, but the Senior Amateur “…is the one we really should be playing, and it’s so great to get that chance,” he said.
U.S. SENIOR AMATEUR QUALIFIERS
David Pierce (East Bridgewater, MA); (-3) 68
Don Foberg (Location, MA); (-2) 69 *
Doug Clapp (Manomet, MA); (-2) 69 *
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Joseph Iaciofano (Jupiter, FL); (-2) 69*
John Hadges (North Easton, MA); (-2) 69*
*playoff
The 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship will take place August 24-29 at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee. A Pete Dye design that opened in 1983, the Honors Course will host two days of Stroke Play and three days of Match Play for the 64 players that make the cut. The championship is open to any golfer who is 55 years of age as of August 24 and whose Handicap Index® does not exceed 5.4.
The Ridge Club is located in a gated community in Sandwich, the oldest town on the Cape that was founded in 1639. The 18-hole, 71-par course was designed by Robert Von Hagge, an award-winning golf course architect who designed 250 courses in 20 countries throughout his career. The course is known for its elevation changes and signature 17th hole, which features an island green. The Club also offers a 40,000-foot clubhouse, two Har-Tru tennis courts, a swimming complex, and private event spaces. The Club is known for hosting a variety of esteemed women’s events, including the annual B.J.’s Charity Championship. The event features 12 teams comprised of Legends of the LPGA and raises money for the BJ’s Charitable Fund.
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