Headline: Bay State Senior Amateur Standouts — Bob Linn and Alistair Catto — Prepare to Take Part in the 2010 British Senior Amateur Championship
For Immediate Release: August 9, 2010
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Bob Linn, the 2009 George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year will join Alistair Catto at the 2010 British Senior Amateur Championship this week. |
Norton, MA – If you are looking for Bob Linn (Berkshire Hills CC) or Alistair Catto (The Orchards GC) this week, you'll need an international calling plan.
The two standout Bay State senior amateurs have traveled across the Pond to take part in the 2010 British Senior Amateur Championship, scheduled for August 11-13 at the world-renowned Old Course at Walton Heath in Surrey, England.
Linn, who recently claimed the 2010 Berkshire Hills Singles Invitational at his home course, earned a place at this prestigious championship as a result of advancing to match play at the 2009 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.
Catto, meanwhile, is no stranger to excelling on this type of stage. After all, he advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2007 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.
This year's British Senior Amateur Championship will feature 144 players (aged 55 and above) from 17 countries. The competitors will play 18 holes on both August 11 and August 12 August. Following those two rounds, the leading 60 players and ties will play a final 18 holes on August 13.
The 2010 Champion will gain exemptions into the 2011 British Senior Open, which will also be held at Walton Heath, and the 2011 U.S. Seniors Amateur Championship.
For more information about the 2010 British Senior Amateur Championship, click here.
Here is a story about Linn and this special trip, courtesy of the Berkshire Eagle.
Big Stage for Linn
Berkshire Hills CC member Bob Linn is in the field at the British Senior Amateur.
Sunday August 8, 2010
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Hills Country Club member Bob Linn has proven he can play with the best seniors in New England.
And, in qualifying for match play and winning his opening match in last year's U.S. Senior Amateur, he's shown he can play with the best in the U.S.
Now, he gets to test his game against the most diverse field in amateur golf at the British Senior Amateur Championship.
Linn qualified as a result of advancing to match play at the U.S. Senior Amateur, although he didn't learn he was officially in the field until February.
Count Berkshire Hills head professional Josh Hillman among those who thinks Linn can hold his own in the 54-hole medal-play event that begins Wednesday at Walton Heath Golf Club outside of London.
"This tournament has been on his mind all winter and he has been preparing for it," said Hillman, who has worked with Linn on his game for a long time. "He also planned to go well enough in advance to adjust to a new course. Bob is a real student of the game. He thinks his way around a golf course."
Linn, 56, who captured the Berkshire Hills Singles Championship recently and was the Massachusetts Golf Association Senior Player of the Year in 2009, admitted to being pumped up about his first trip across the Atlantic.
"I'm a little excited," he said, obviously understating his feelings. "I've had the trip planned since February when I learned I could play. It should be a fun time."
Linn has been in London for about a week preparing for his first golfing experience in England.
Alistair Catto, who finished third to Linn at Berkshire Hills, is also playing. Catto, a native of Scotland, said that the British Senior usually draws players from 20-plus countries.
Hillman doesn't expect Linn to be overwhelmed by the situation.
"Bob is someone who prefers to go the highest he can up the ladder in terms of competition," Hillman said.
He also has the ultimate equalizer. Catto, a member of The Orchards in South Hadley, called Linn a "short-game wizard" after losing to him at Berkshire Hills.