Headline: Former Massachusetts Open Champion Rich Parker Posts 5-under par 65 to Claim Medalist Honors at U.S. Senior Open Qualifying at Thorny Lea GC
For Immediate Release: June 30, 2010
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Rich Parker, shown here holding the Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy after winning the 2001 Massachusetts Open Championship, was medalist at U.S. Senior Open Qualifying. |
Brockton, MA — Former Massachusetts Open Champion Rich Parker (Lebanon, NH) fired a sizzling 5-under par 65 today to finish as medalist and one of two qualifiers at today's U.S. Senior Open qualifier held at Thorny Lea Golf Club.
Finishing three strokes back of Parker was another familiar name in New England circles – Jerry Courville (Westport, CT).
Courville posted a 2-under par 68 and will join Parker at next month's U.S. Senior Open Championship to be contested on July 29 through August 1 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington.
Under perfect skies, Parker carded an eye-popping seven birdies – including five on the back nine – and two bogies to advance to his first-ever U.S. Senior Open Championship. Last August, Parker turned 50 years old and was thus eligible to compete in this USGA Championship.
When not participating in championship events, Parker serves as head coach of the Dartmouth men's golf team and as general manager of Carter Golf Club (NH).
Over the course of his successful professional career, Parker was player of the year in both New Hampshire (1999) and Vermont (1997), captured the Greater Portland (Maine) Open, competed in the 1990 U.S. Open Championship and was elected to the Plymouth State Hall of Fame. Locally, he garnered attention back in 2001 when he made birdie on seven of his first 10 holes during the final round to capture the Massachusetts Open Championship title.
Courville, a standout amateur player on the local, regional and national stages, has enjoyed a similarly successful senior career. He was the 2009 Connecticut Senior Open Champion and finished 28th at the 2009 U.S. Senior Open Championship. He also won the 2007 Western Mass Open at Crumpin-Fox Club, holds the record for most match play wins in U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship history (he won that title in 1995) and was a two-time Walker Cup Team member.
For complete coverage of the 2010 U.S. Senior Open Championship, please visit the USGA's official web site at www.usga.org.
2010 U.S. Senior Open Qualifying
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thorny Lea Golf Club (Brockton, MA)
Par 70 (35-35)
Qualifiers
1) Richard Parker Jr (Lebanon, NH) 34-31--65
2) Jerry Courville (Westport, CT) 36-32--68
Alternates
1st) William Hadden (a) (Manchester Village, VT) 35-34--69
2nd) John Vaccaro (a) (Albany, NY) 37-34--71