Don Bliss wins medal with 1-over 72
Terry Tessary headed back to the Senior Amateur; earns second spot in playoff with three golfers
Washington, MO - Chesterfield’s Don Bliss fired a 1-over par 72 Monday at Franklin County Country Club to earn one of two 
qualifying spots to the 53rd USGA Senior Amateur, to be held Sept. 1-6 at Flint Hills Golf Club in Wichita, Kan.
Collinsville’s Terry Tessary posted a 3-over 74, then outlasted three others to earn the final qualifying spot. Tessary parred the first playoff hole to eliminate Rod Maxwell of Windsor, Ill., (first alternate), Jerry Greer of Tulsa, Okla. (second alternate), and Kirkwood’s Rick Sonne.
Bliss made birdies at the par-5 fourth and 10th holes as well as at Franklin County’s short par-4 eighth to jump into a lead. Following bogeys at Nos. 12 and 13, Bliss finished with five straight pars to secure the two-shot win and a trip to his first Senior Amateur.
Tessary earned his second straight trip to the nationals after making it into the second round of match play in the 2006 event at Victoria National Golf Club in Indiana.
The Senior Amateur, open to male amateurs age 55 and older, will include a field of 156 golfers from throughout the U.S. Mike Bell, 60, of Indianapolis is the defending champion.
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Special thanks to the Members and Staff of Franklin County Country Club for providing an outstanding venue to challenge the region's top seniors.