Neeman & Mangold Are Headed to the US Senior Amateur
Glendale, MO - It was a partly cloudy to overcast day at Algonquin Golf Club for the U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier. Twenty-nine golfers came to throw their hat in the ring for the chance to play in this USGA championship. Play began at 8:00am. Two qualifying spots into the championship field were available.
Paul Neeman of St. Louis, MO came in with the low score of the day, keeping his game at bay as the day went on. Neeman went off in the first group of the day and was bogey free through seven holes. After ending his front nine on two bogeys, Neeman kicked off his back nine with a birdie on Hole 10. Heading into the final hole one-over, Neeman squeezed in one last birdie on the 18th to finish at even (E) par. He then had to wait to see what his competitors would do.
Ron Mangold of Pocahontas, AR started his day in the second group off this morning. Mangold made the turn at two-over par, but did not let that deter him. Turning the ship around, Mangold shot a bogey free back nine featuring one birdie on the 13th hole. This would bring Mangold into the clubhouse at one-over (+1) par.
As play continued into the afternoon and players continued to turn in scores, no one seemed to be able to catch Neeman and Mangold. Around 1:37pm lightning entered the area, suspending play. Luckily, the delay was not long with play resuming at approximately 2:09pm. Once all scores were in, three were tied at two-over (+2) par and just outside of the cut line. John Derrick of Waco, TX, Matt McGrath of Des Peres, MO, and Brett Allen of Columbia, MO would have to play off for the alternate spots. The playoff began on Hole 1, where Derrick would make bogey and be out of the playoff. McGrath and Allen continued on to Hole 18 for a second playoff hole. There, McGrath would claim the first alternate spot and Allen would settle for the second alternate spot.
Paul Neeman enters the 70th U.S. Senior Amateur field as the qualifying medalist. Ron Mangold will join him in Texas as the second qualifier. Matt McGrath waits on the sideline as the first alternate and Brett Allen falls in line as the second alternate.