Hinkle & Coston Qualify for U.S. Senior Open

Two former PGA Tour players battled their way around the challenging Inglewood Golf Club to qualify for the U.S. Senior Open Championship. Lon Hinkle of Big Fork, Mont., led the field of 54 players with a 1-under par 71 on the 6,706 yard, par-72 layout. He will be joined by Jeff Coston of Blaine, Wash, who carded an even-par 72.

Hinkle made the turn at 2-under par, but double-bogeyed No. 15. He was the only player to finish under par after making a birdie on the par-5 18th hole. Coston was consistent on both nines, carding 36-36. Finishing one shot back of Coston at 73 were Washington residents Chuck Milne of Vancouver, Mark Johnson of Woodway, Mike Gove of Snohomish, Rob Rushton of Olympia, Robert Burton of Everett, Tom Brandes of Bellevue, and Yong Lee of Auburn.

Hinkle and Coston will join 154 other players at the U.S. Senior Open, which will be played July 5-8 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis.

This is one of 42 sites in the U.S. where anyone who is 50 or older and has a USGA Handicap Index of 3.4 or lower (or be a professional) can earn one of 83 non-exempt spots in the 156-player field. This year the USGA accepted 2,615 entries, including those from 12 past champions.

Every year the USGA awards several exemptions into the U.S. Senior Open Championship proper. This year, 73 golfers are fully exempt, including two-time defending champion Allen Doyle. Other past Senior Open champions entered are Dale Douglass (1986), Dave Eichelberger (1999), Bruce Fleisher (2001), Hale Irwin (1998 and 2000), Peter Jacobsen (2004), Larry Laoretti (1992), Bruce Lietzke (2003), Graham Marsh (1997), Don Pooley (2002), and Dave Stockton (1996).