May 26, 2015
A trio of Northern California amateurs are headed to this year’s U.S. Senior Open at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento.
Jeff Wilson of Fairfield, Jim Knoll of Sunnyvale and Terry Foreman all punched their tickets to the championship on Monday, advancing through an 18-hole qualifier held at Green Valley CC in Fairfield. The trio all came in with matching scores of 1-under 71 to share medalist honors.
Wilson is no stranger to USGA events, having played in over 30 national championships. At last year’s U.S. Senior Open at at Oak Tree National Golf Club in Oklahoma, he was the low amateur over the first three rounds before a final round 75 knocked him back to second low-amateur behind pal Mike McCoy.
Wilson was the talk of the 2010 U.S. Amateur when he posted a course record 62 during stroke play qualifying on the 7,420-yard The Home Course in Washington en route to earning medalist honors. It was the second lowest score in the 110-year history of the U.S. Amateur. Other crowning USGA moments include being the low amateur at the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links and being a three-time medalist at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. He advanced to the semifinals of each of those championships.
Knoll is a record four-time defending NCGA Senior Player of the Year. Foreman, meanwhile, just won the NCGA Senior Four-Ball Championship last week playing with partner Casey Boyns.
The first alternate spot went to professional Dana Jetter at 72. Jetter owns Spring Valley Golf Course. The second alternate spot came down to a playoff between pros Jeff Brehaut and Tim Loustalot, who’s the head pro at DeLaveaga GC. Brehaut earned the spot.
