The USGA has announced qualifying sites for the 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship, which will be held at Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island, from June 27 to 30.
Conducted over 18 holes, qualifying will be held at 33 sites across the United States between May 10 and June 5.
The U.S. Senior Open was introduced 44 years ago in 1980, stands as one of the five major championships in senior golf. It is recognized as a major championship by the PGA Tour Champions and the European Senior Tour.
Initially, the lower age limit was 55 in 1980, but it was lowered to 50 for the second edition in 1981, aligning with the standard age limit for men's senior professional golf tournaments. While the event is technically open to amateurs with an index of 2.4 or below, it has been predominantly dominated by professionals.
Each year, double-digit numbers of amateurs advance through the 18-hole qualifying, but there are usually just a couple left standing when the 36-hole cut is made. We recently took a look at the reasons why.
As of 2023, professional players have won all the championships.
Following the tradition of other USGA championships, it has been hosted on numerous highly-ranked courses across the United States.
2024 U.S. Senior Open Qualifying Results
Wednesday, June 5
Amateur Steve White and Matt Schalk shot 2-over 72 and advanced in a 3-for-2 playoff over David Johnson. Amateur Jon Lindstrom, who is ranked No. 5 in the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings, is the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Steve White (a) (Jackson, Wyo.) 72; Matt Schalk (Erie, Colo.) 72. FULL RESULTS
Tuesday, June 4
Oconomowoc Golf Club, Oconomowoc, Wis.
Bradley Lanning, former PGA Tour winner, current Golf Channel commentator Notah Begay III, and Duffy Waldorf all shot 3-under 67 to earn co-medalist honors and the three qualifying spots. David Morland IV is the first alternate, and amateur Robert Gregorski is the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Bradley Lanning (Hortonville, Wis.) 67; Notah Begay III (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 67; Duffy Waldorf (Rensselaer, Ind.). FULL RESULTS
Cedar Crest Golf Course, Dallas, Tex.
Tracy Phillips and amateur Scott Hoffman shot rounds of 67 and 68 to earn the first two qualifying spots. David Von Hoffmann advanced in the third and final qualifying spot in a 6-for-1 playoff, while Brad Lardon and amateur John Derrick earned the first and second alternate spots.
Qualifiers: Tracy Phillips (Tulsa, Okla.) 67; Scott Fawcett (a) (Frisco, Tex.) 68; David Von Hoffmann (Spicewood, Tex.) 69. FULL RESULTS
Monday, June 3
Terravita Golf and Country Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Jim Carter shot a 3-under 69 to earn medalist honors by two shots. Ben Walter earned the second qualifying spot, while amateurs Jeremy Defalco and Bryan Hoops earned the first and second alternate spots.
Qualifiers: Jim Carter (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 69; Ben Walter (Menomonie, Wis.) 71. FULL RESULTS
Oak Ridge Country Club, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Eric Axley took it low in Tennessee, shooting 8-under 64 to win medalist honors by four shots over amateur Jay Potter, who earned the second qualifying spot at 4-under 68. Amateur Steve Golliher and former MLB legendary pitcher John Smoltz are the first and second alternates.
Qualifiers: Eric Axley (Knoxville, Tenn.) 64; Jay Potter (a) (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 68. FULL RESULTS
Steel Club, Hellertown, Penn.
The Steel Club played tough, with no players shooting even or under par. Brian Gaffney, amateur Michael Brown, and Jason Caron all shot 1-over 72 and advanced in a 5-for-3 playoff over Gregory Bisconti and amateur Patrick Herwig. Bisconti and Herwig are the first and second alternates.
Qualifiers: Brian Gaffney (Essex Fells, N.J.) 72; Michael Brown (a) (Maple Shade Township, N.J.) 72; Jason Caron (Greenlawn, N.Y.) 72. FULL RESULTS
The Homestead, Hot Springs, Va.
Ted Tryba and Kevin Kraft both shot 5-under 66 to earn medalist honors by one shot. Amateur Jonathan Clark is the first alternate, and Cliff Kresge is the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Ted Tryba (Orlando, Fla.) 66; Kevin Kraft (Dillsburg, Penn.) 66. FULL RESULTS
Thursday, May 30
Wynlakes Golf and Country Club, Montgomery, Ala.
Two amateurs came out of Alabama, with Scott Cornette shooting 6-under 66 to earn medalist honors and Jon Olson defeating fellow amateur Robbie Cotten in a 2-for-1 playoff to earn the second qualifying spot at 4-under 68. Cotten earned the first alternate, and amateur Michael Arasin earned the second alternate spot.
Qualifiers: Scott Cornette (a) (Montgomery, Ala.) 66; Jon Olson (a) (Niceville, Fla.) 68. FULL RESULTS
Indiana Country Club, Indiana, Penn.
David Smith was the lone player to shoot under par, finishing 1-under 70 and winning medalist honors by one shot. Gordon Vietmeier earned the second qualifying spot, while Kevin Shields and Matthew Ferguson earned the first and second alternate spots.
Qualifiers: David Smith (a) (Indiana, Penn.) 70; Gordon Vietmeier (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 71. FULL RESULTS
Florence Country Club, Florence, S.C.
Matthew Goggin ran away from the field, shooting an impressive 7-under 63 with nine birdies and winning the qualifier by five shots. Jeff Williams defeated Scott Hunter in a 2-for-1 playoff to earn the final qualifying spot. Hunter is the first alternate, and Jeff O’Brien defeated Steve Larick in a playoff to earn the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Mathew Goggin (Australia) 63; Jeff Williams (Narcoossee, Fla.) 68. FULL RESULTS
The Bears Club, Jupiter, Fla.
71 was the round to beat at The Bear’s Club, with a 4-for-2 playoff happening to book both of the qualifying spots. Mark Brown and Rod Perry finished as co-medalists and advanced, while Jesus Rivas finished as the first alternate, and Jerry Springer (not that one) finished as the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Mark Brown (Hobe Sound, Fla.) 71; Rod Perry (Port Orange, Fla.) 71. FULL RESULTS
Tuesday, May 28
Goose Creek Golf Club, Jurupa Valley, Calif.
Two amateurs moved on to the U.S. Senior Open, with Tim Hogarth and David Schnider earning the two qualifying spots. Hogarth finished as the medalist after a round of 2-under 69, and Schnider advanced in a 4-for-1 playoff after shooting 1-under 70. John Hong and David Ujihara are the two alternates.
Qualifiers: Tim Hogarth (a) (Northridge, Calif.) 69; David Schnider (a) (Carlsbad, Calif.) 70. FULL RESULTS
Richmond Country Club, Richmond, Calif.
Stuart Smith was the long golfer to shoot under-par, finishing 1-under 71 and earning medalist honors by one shot. Jason Schmuhl shot even-par 72 to earn the second qualifying spot. Amateurs Ron Ewing and Mark Maguire are the first and second alternates.
Qualifiers: Stuart Smith (Reno, Nev.) 71; Jason Schmuhl (Windsor, Calif.) 72. FULL RESULTS
Thursday, May 23
Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club, Tampa, Fla.
Gene Walter and PGA Tour winner and current commentator Gary Koch finished as co-medalists after shooting rounds of 2-under 68 to secure the two qualifying spots in the field. Koch won the 223 Payne Stewart Award.
Amateur Michael Kelley is the first alternate, and Sean Whiffin is the second alternate after winning a 3-for-1 playoff.
Qualifiers: Gene Walter (Deer Island, Fla.) 68; Gary Koch (Tampa, Fla.) 68. FULL RESULTS
Wednesday, May 22
Horizon Golf Club, Horizon City, Tex.
Javier Quevedo shot 2-under 68 and earned the lone qualifying spot as the medalist after making three birdies in his last five holes and making a birdie on No. 18 to earn a spot in a 3-for-1 playoff, where he advanced. Kent Jones and Stuart Hendley earned the first and second alternate spots.
Qualifiers: Javier Quevedo (Mexico) 68. FULL RESULTS
Enagic Golf Club at Eastlake, Chula Vista, Calif.
Mike Mitchell and Chris Riley finished three shots clear of the rest of the field to earn the two available qualifying spots. Mitchell and Riley shot 3-under 69 at Enagic Golf Club. Tim Matthews and amateur Kory Frost earned the two alternate spots in a 4-for-2 playoff.
Qualifiers: Mike Mitchell (Rancho Mirage, Calif.) 69; Chris Riley (San Diego, Calif.) 69. FULL RESULTS
River Landing, Wallace, N.C.
Chris Hockaday bounced back from an early bogey to make five birdies in his last 12 holes to shoot 4-under 68 to earn medalist honors. Jason Widener defeated John Blackwell in a playoff to earn the second and final qualifying spot. Blackwell is the first alternate, and Chad Derusseau is the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Chris Hockaday (Angier, N.C.) 68; Jason Widener (Chapel Hill, N.C.) 69. FULL RESULTS
Tuesday, May 21
Metropolis Country Club, White Plains, N.Y.
Amateur Trip Kuehne earned medalist honors at the White Plains qualifier with a round of 2-over 72 as the course played incredibly difficult. Frank Bensel and Michael Muehr earned the final two qualifying spots in a 4-for-2 playoff. Amateur Dan Keogh earned the first alternate spot, and Charlie Bolling earned the second alternate spot.
Qualifiers: Trip Kuehne (a) (Dallas, Tex.) 72; Frank Bensel (Jupiter, Fla.) 73; Michael Muehr (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) 73. FULL RESULTS
Franklin Country Club, Franklin, Mass.
Fran Quinn was the only golfer to shoot in the 60s, shooting a round of 2-under 69 to earn medalist honors. Jeff Martin and Carl Pelletier advanced in a 3-for-2 playoff, while Joseph Iaciofano earned the first alternate spot. Charles Blanchard earned the second alternate spot.
Qualifiers: Fran Quinn (Holden, Mass.) 69; Carl Pelletier (Canada) 70; Jeff Martin (Attleboro, Mass.) 70. FULL RESULTS
Black Hawk Country Club, Richmond, Tex.
Kris Blanks recorded three birdies in his first five holes to shoot 4-under 68 and earn medalist honors by one shot at Black Hawk Country Club. Mark Walker and Omar Uresti each shot 3-under 69 to earn the second and third qualifying spots. Amateurs Joseph Gullion and Taylor Tipton earned the first and second alternate spots.
Qualifiers: Kris Blanks (Jupiter, Fla.) 68; Omar Uresti (Austin, Tex.) 69; Mark Walker (Celine, Tex.) 69. FULL RESULTS
Monday, May 20
San Luis Obispo Country Club, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Tommy Masters was the lone player in the field to shoot under par, carding a 3-under 69 and recording five birdies and an eagle to earn medalist honors. David Berganio Jr. defeated John Burckle in a playoff to earn the second and final qualifying spot. Burckle is the first alternate, and Casey Reamer is the second alternate after advancing in a 5-for-1 playoff.
Qualifiers: Tommy Masters (Fresno, Calif.) 69; David Berganio Jr. (Granada Hills, Calif.) 73. FULL RESULTS
Worthington Hills Country Club, Worthington, Ohio
Dan Gage shot an impressive bogey-free 6-under 65 to earn medalist honors by three shots, while amateur Brad Steven shot 3-under 68 to earn the second and qualifying spot. Amateur Rob Johnson earned the first alternate spot, and Sam Arnold is the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Dan Gage (Powell, Ohio) 65; Brad Steven (a) (Concord, Ohio) 68. FULL RESULTS
Leilehua Golf Course, Wahiawa, Hi.
Will Yanagisawa shot 1-under 71 and bounced back from a bogey on the last hole and won on the first playoff hole against Tomonori Takahashi to earn the lone qualifying spot in the Hawaii qualifier. Takahashi is the first alternate spot and Shinichi Yokota earned the second alternate spot.
Qualifiers: Will Yanagisawa (Long Beach, Calif.) 71. FULL RESULTS
Milburn Country Club, Overland Park, Kan.
Keith Horne and Judd Gibb earned co-medalist honors after shooting 2-under 70, earning the only two qualifying spots. Matt Gogel is the first alternate, and amateur Michael Gotcher is the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Keith Horne (South Africa) 70; Judd Gibb (Fort Dodge, Ia.). FULL RESULTS
Point O’ Woods Golf and Country Club, Benton Harbor, Mich.
Heath Slocum recorded five birdies to shoot 4-under 67 and win medalist honors by two shots. Michael Wright and Tom Werkmeister each shot 2-under 69 to earn the second and third qualifying spots. Michael Long is the first alternate and Chris DiMarco is the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Heath Slocum (Milton, Ga.) 67; Tom Werkmeister (Hudsonville, Mich.) 69; Michael Wright (Australia) 69. FULL RESULTS
Thursday, May 16
Oakbrook Country Club, Lakewood, Wash.
Jeff Coston was the lone golfer to shoot under par at the Lakewood qualifier, finishing 1-under 70 and one shot better than Steven Dorigo. Dorigo survived a 2-for-1 playoff over David Christenson for the second qualifying spot. Christenson and Tony Robydek is the first and second alternates.
Qualifiers: Jeff Coston (Blaine, Wash.) 70; Steven Dorigo (Citrus Heights, Calif.) 71. FULL RESULTS
Tuesday, May 14
Orchard Ridge Country Club, Fort Wayne, Ind.
The round needed to advance in the Fort Wayne qualifier was a 6-under 65. Two-time Australian Open and PGA Tour winner Greg Chalmers and amateur Craig Watkins advanced. Paul Wackerly is the first alternate, and Michael O’Toole is the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Craig Watkins (a) (Canada) 65; Greg Chalmers (Australia) 65. FULL RESULTS
Flossmoor Golf Club, Flossmoor, Ill.
David Paeglow and amateur Peter Vrdolyak each shot rounds of 2-under 70 to earn the two qualifying spots in this qualifier. Jeffrey Schmid and amateur Tom Oshinski earned the first and second alternate spots.
Qualifiers: David Paeglow (Dekalb, Ill.) 70; Peter Vrdolyak (a) (Flossmoor, Ill.) 70. FULL RESULTS
Cherokee Town and Country Club, Atlanta, Ga.
Two of the top senior amateurs in the country finished as qualifiers in Georgia, with Mike Combs earning medalist honors by one shot over Glen Day with a round of 4-under 67. Mikael Lundberg and No. 1 ranked amateur in the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings Bob Royak earned the third and fourth qualifying spots. Christian Raynor and Billy Mayfair earned the first and second alternate spots.
Qualifiers: Mike Combs (a) (Roswell, Ga.) 67; Glen Day (Alotian Club, Ark.) 68; Mikael Lundberg (Sweden) 68; Bob Royak (a) (Alpharetta, Ga.) 68. FULL RESULTS
Edinburgh Golf Course, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Mario Tiziani defeated Cameron Percy in a playoff to earn the lone qualifying spot in Minnesota. Percy is the first alternate and Ryan Jansa is the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Mario Tiziani (Shorewood, Minn.) 69. FULL RESULTS
Monday, May 13
Tualatin Country Club, Tualatin, Ore.
Richard Lee shot the only round under par in this qualifier, earning medalist honors with a round of 1-under 71. Birk Nelson survived a 2-for-1 playoff to earn the second qualifying spot. Mitch Lowe and Bob Rannow earned the first and second alternate spots.
Qualifiers: Richard Lee (New Zealand) 71; Birk Nelson (Eugene, Ore.) 72. FULL RESULTS
Big Canyon Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif.
Bob May and David Heinen each shot rounds of 2-under 70 to earn co-medalist honors and the two qualifying spots. Steve Vaughan and Neale Smith are the first and second alternates.
Qualifiers: Bob May (Las Vegas, Nev.) 70; David Heinen (Long Beach, Calif.) 70. FULL RESULTS
Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, Ocala, Fla.
Simon Griffiths of England shot 3-under 69 to win medalist honors, while David Branshaw advanced in a 2-for-1 playoff to earn the second qualifying spot with a round of 2-under 70. Guy Boros is the first alternate, and Greg Owen is the second alternate.
Qualifiers: Simon Griffiths (England) 69; David Branshaw (Oswego, N.Y.) FULL RESULTS