Five New Yorkers in Field for U.S. Senior Open at Notre Dame

July 01, 2019

SOUTH BEND, IND. (UPDATE: July 1, 2019) - Jeff Sluman and Mark Brown were the only New Yorkers to advance past the first two rounds of stroke play during this week's 40th U.S. Senior Open Championship at Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame.

Sluman finished T-33 at three-over 280 (67-71-69-73), while Brown strung together a 66, 69, 72, 76 to finish T-43 at six-over 283.

Related: Full Results / Championship Home

Michael Meehan missed the two round cut at four-over 144. Rounding up the New Yorkers were Bob Royak and Kevin VandenBerg, who came in at 145 and 157, respectively. 

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (June 25, 2019) – Five golfers from New York State will compete in the 40th U.S. Senior Open Championship at Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame this week, June 27-30 in South Bend, Indiana.

The group includes Rochester native Jeff SlumanMark Brown of Oyster Bay, Michael Meehan of Bayville, and amateurs Kevin VandenBerg of Pulaski and Guiderland native Bob Royak.

Related: Tee Times / Championship Home

The U.S. Senior Open includes both professional and amateur golfers, ages 50 and older, conducted over 72 holes of stroke play.  

The par-70 layout will be set up at 6,943 yards for this week’s championship.

Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame is the first collegiate course to host the U.S. Senior Open.

The course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, hosted the 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, as well as multiple collegiate competitions, including the 2001-2005 Big East Men's Golf Championship, the 2003-2005 Big East Women's Golf Championship, the 2005 & 2010 NCAA Men's Regionals, and the 2011 & 2015 NCAA Women's Regionals.

Sluman, who now resides in Delray, Florida, will make his 11th consecutive U.S. Senior Open apperance this weekend. In his professional career, Sluman has claimed six PGA Tour victories and six PGA Tour Champions victories. He won the 1988 PGA Championship, a T-4 at The Masters Tournament, and finished second at the 1992 U.S. Open. Sluman also won the 1978 New York State Men’s Amateur Championship.

Brown, head pro at Tam O'Shanter Golf Club, qualified out of Argyle Country Club in Silver Spring, MD with a score of 67. Brown shared the Low Club Professional honors at the 80th KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y. earlier this summer. The Boston native has competed in 17 PGA Professional Championships and six PGA Championships. 

Meehan, head professional at Old Westbury Golf and Country Club, qualified out of Bonnie Briar Country Club in Larchmont. The 50-year-old earned medalist honors after shooting 2-under 69. Meehan will make his first appearance in the U.S. Senior Open.

VandenBerg of Tuscarora Golf Club also qualified out of Bonnie Briar Country Club. The 52-year-old amateur captured the final spot after a 7-for-1 playoff in a group tied at 73. VandenBerg will make his second U.S. Senior Open appearance. He was called up as an alternate for the 2016 championship at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. He shot 80-76 to miss the two-day cut.

Royak, who now resides in Alpharetta, Georgia, qualified out of The Legends At Chateau Elan in Braselton, Georgia. Royak earned co-medalist honors with a score of 70. Royak won the 1979 New York State Junior Amateur Championship.

Listed below are the tee times for Round 1 on Thursday and Round 2 on Friday:

name hole time
Jeff Sluman

Round 1: 1

Round 2: 10

Round 1: 8:58 AM

Round 2: 2:33 PM

Mark Brown

Round 1: 10

Round 2: 1

Round 1: 1:27 PM

Round 2: 7:52 AM

Michael Meehan

Round 1: 1

Round 2: 10

Round 1: 9:42 AM

Round 2: 3:17 PM

Kevin VandenBerg

Round 1: 1

Round 2: 10

Round 1: 3:12 PM

Round 2: 9:47 AM

Bob Royak

Round 1: 1

Round 2: 10

 Round 1: 3:12 PM

Round 2: 9:47 AM