Locals competing in U.S. Senior Open
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 10, 2016) - The 37th U.S. Senior Open Championship takes place August 11-14 at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. Several Met Area professionals are among the competitors, all having earned their way into the field from the Sectional Qualifying Round at Upper Montclair Country Club on June 29.
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Bill Britton of Rumson, N.J., enters the championship fresh off a victory at the New Jersey Senior PGA Professional Championship, where he carded rounds of 67-66 to best the field by three strokes. The 1979 Met Open champion and former PGA TOUR player is no stranger to playing in major events, with his highlights including a tie for fourth in the 1990 PGA Championship, and a tie for seventh in the 1990 Masters.
Frank Esposito of Old Bridge, N.J., who competed on the Champions Tour in 2015, is now on staff with both Forsgate Country Club in Monroe, N.J., and Shackamaxon Country Club in Scotch Plains, N.J. The four-time NJPGA Player of the Year tied for fourth in last season's MGA Senior Open and just last month Esposito competed in the Senior PGA Championship.
Mike Gilmore of Bethel, Conn., is one of 56 competitors making their first start in the U.S. Senior Open. While it may be his first start in this championship, the Winged Foot head professional is certainly familiar with the national stage, having competed in the 1992 U.S. Open and the 1999 and 2002 PGA Championships. He will be the third Winged Foot head pro to play in the U.S. Senior Open, joining Claude Harmon (1980) and Tom Nieporte (1981, 1982). He is the 2000 Met Open champion, and earlier this year advanced to the semifinals of the Met PGA's Mastercard Senior Match Play Championship.
Andrew Inman of Ridgefield, Conn., who is also making his first U.S. Senior Open appearance, finished his qualifying on a tear as he played the final seven holes in 4-under par. All four competitors carded rounds of 4-under 68 to advance to the U.S. Senior Open.
Scioto, where Jack Nicklaus learned the game, will be hosting its second U.S. Senior Open. The inaugural U.S. Senior Open took place in 1981, on the East Course at Winged Foot Golf Club.