Headline: Courville, Russo and Steckowych Advance at 2009 U.S. Senior Open Qualifying at Winchester Country Club
For Immediate Release: June 29, 2009
Winchester, MA — As a prelude to the 2009 U.S. Senior Open Championship scheduled for next month, a field of more than 80 of the region's top amateur and professional senior golfers came together at Winchester Country Club to compete in an 18-hole qualifying round.
Three golfers – Gerard Courville (Westport, CT) and amateurs Daniel Russo (Hagaman, NY) and Craig Steckowych (Greenland, NH) – earned qualifying spots and have earned the right to advance to Championship Proper on July 3 through August 2 at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana.
Although no Bay State golfers earned qualifying spots today, amateur Douglas Parigian (Lowell, MA) found himself engaged in a battle with John Vaccaro (Albany, NY) in hopes of capturing the first alternate spot. Both golfers matched each other shot for shot until they arrived at the sixth playoff hole which was contested on Winchester Country Club's 386-yard, par 4 7th hole. On that hole, Vaccaro holed a 125-yard shot to secure the first alternate spot over Parigian.
Parigian, the 10-time Lowell City Golf Tournament champion, is no stranger to USGA events. After all, just one year ago Parigian qualified for and competed in the U.S. Amateur Championship at Pinehurst.
Next up for Parigian is the Massachusetts Amateur Championship on July 13-17 at The Country Club. Parigian will be one of 144 Bay State golfers battling for that prestigious crown.
2009 U.S. Senior Open Qualifying
Winchester Country Club (Winchester, MA)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Par 71 (35-36)
Qualifiers
1) Gerard Courville (Westport, CT) 34-36--70
2) a-Daniel Russo (Hagaman, NY) 35-36--71
3) a-Craig Steckowych (Greenland, NH) 37-36--73
Alternates
1st) a-John Vaccaro (Albany, NY) 38-35--73
2nd) a-Douglas Parigian (Lowell, MA) 37-36--73
a- indicates an amateur player
Click here to view full-field results for 2009 U.S. Senior Open Qualifying.