BLUFFTON, SC – May 1: Kirk Hanefeld hits his tee shot on the second hole during the final round for the 52nd PGA Professional Championship held at Belfair on May 1, 2019 in Bluffton, South Carolina. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
OSTERVILLE, Mass. – Kirk Hanefeld, PGA (Salem CC) shot 1-under 71 to earn medalist honors at the and secure one of two US Senior Open spots on Tuesday at the US Senior Open Sectional Qualifier at Oyster Harbors. With the win, Hanefeld qualified for the US Senior Open Championship, June 27-30 at the Warren Course at the University of Notre Dame.
“This will by my fourth one, although I haven’t played in one fir a few years, so it’s always nice to qualify for an event like this,” Hanefeld told Mass Golf after his qualifying round. “It’s tough with a one-day qualifier with only two spots and 70 or 80 guys. You can’t really make any mistakes.”
Hanefeld found himself fighting an uphill battle early, making a double-bogey on his first hole, but bounced back with birdies on two of his next three holes. He eventually made the turn in 1-over par and was 2-under on his second nine to come home in 71 and pick up the two-shot victory.
Hanefeld previously competed in the US Senior Open in 2006, 2007 and 2011.
Fellow New England PGA Professional Chip Johnson (Hatherly CC) grabbed the first alternate spot with a 2-over 74.