ROCKVILLE, Md. – Cliff Kresge, Pro Emeritus and General Manager of Golf Operation at Ridgefields Golf & Athletic Club in Kingsport, Tenessee carded five birdies and two bogeys to shoot a 3-under-par 67, to earn medalist honors at the 45th U.S. Senior Open Final Qualifier held Monday, May 19, at Manor Country Club (par 70, 6,748 yards). With five qualifying spots and two alternate spots up for grabs, the morning wave teed off under clear skies and fair weather. As morning turned to afternoon, conditions got a little tougher as the wind picked up.
After shooting even-par 35 on the front nine, Kresge made three straight birdies on Nos. 12-14 to finish the day a 3-under-par. Kresge turned professional in 1991 and has played on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour since 1997. In the 2003 U.S. Open held at Olympia Fields CC, Kregse earned a top 10 finish.
Brendan Jones of Australia earned the second spot by shooting 2-under-par 68 to advance to the 45th U.S. Senior Open. Jones was able to shoot 2-under-par on the front nine with birdies on Nos. 2,7, & 9, and a bogey on the difficult par-4 6th hole. On the back nine, he was steady, not making any mistakes and carding an even-par 35. Jones, currently a member of the Japan Golf Tour, has won 15 times, with his first win coming in 2002 and his latest win was in 2019 at the Token Homemate Cup.
Mathew Goggin of Australia carded a 1-under-par 69 to claim the third qualifying spot. Goggin made back-to-back birdies on Nos. 3 & 4, then followed up with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 5 & 6, to shoot even-par 35 on the front-nine. He then got off to a hot start on the back nine by making birdies on Nos. 10 & 11 to be at 2-under par with seven holes to play. On the difficult 16th, Goggins made bogey to end up finishing 1-under-par. Goggin finished T5 at the 2009 Open Championship held at Turnberry. He is also in the process of opening up a public golf course in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia called 7 Mile Beach.
Greg Owen of England, carded an even-par 70 to finish in the 4th qualifying spot of the day. He started the day with a birdie on No. 1, and finished the front nine one-under par. He went on to birdies Nos. 10 & 11, before bogeying Nos. 15, 17, & 18 to finish the day. Owen currently plays on the Legends Tour and recently finished in second place at the Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam this past April.
In the fifth and final qualifying spot, Glen Day of Arkansas finished at 2-over-par 72. Day shot a 2-over-par 37 on the front-nine but finished strong shooting even-par 35 to secure his spot. Day currently plays on the Champions Tour and in 1999 won the MCI Classic (now the RBC Heritage).
Earning the first Alternate spot was Christopher Erick of Hingham, Massachusetts,with a 3-over-par 73. There was a playoff for second alternate where on the first playoff hole No. 10, Mikael Lundberg of Sweeden, made a par and Kevin Dillard (a) made bogey.
Thank you to the staff and membership of Manor Country Club for hosting and for their incredible hospitality!
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