TWENTY-SEVEN QUALIFY FOR PLACES IN THIS
WEEK'S SENIOR OPEN AT MUIRFIELD

Mike Donald, who was beaten by Hale Irwin in an epic play-off for the 1990 US Open at Medinah Country Club, will have a chance to capture a Senior Major after securing one of the 27 berths on offer in today's qualifying ahead of the Senior Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management.
The 52 year old American, winner of one title on the US PGA Tour, shot a level par 71 to finish in a share of sixth place at Craigielaw and will now feature in the 144-man field for Thursday’s first round at Muirfield golf course, Gullane where the cream of international Senior golfers are competing for a prize fund of US$2,000,000.
Finishing at the top of the 102-strong leaderboard at Craigielaw were three of Donald’s compatriots, Tim Conley, Kevin King and Chuck Milne, who all returned two under par cards of 69, one better than European Seniors Tour members Jim Lapsley of New Zealand and Bob Larratt of England.
England’s Gordon Townhill, another flying the flag for the European Seniors Tour, Donald and fellow American Joe Clark juniot all carded 71s to share sixth spot, while the ninth and final qualifying place was taken by Scottish amateur J A Fraser after a three-man play-off.
Nine places were also up for grabs in each of the two other qualifying sessions at North Berwick Golf Club and Dunbar.
Two European Seniors Tour players made it through from 97 hopefuls at Dunbar, Jean Pierre Sallat of France and David Merriman of Australia the successful ones after rounds of three under par 68.
Kirk Hanefield of the United States topped the leaderboard after a fantastic six under par 65, one better than Jan Dorrestein of The Netherlands, while Enrique Alessandrini of Italy (69), Ronny Mobley of the United States and amateurs G R Blair of Scotland and Martin Galway of England all returned 69s to qualify.
The final berth went to another amateur, American Doug Pool, who edged out England’s Mike Steadman at the fourth play-off hole.
At North Berwick, where 102 played, Gary Koch of the United States led the way with a 68 followed by compatriot Mike Goodes on 69.
England’s Richard A Green and Northern Ireland’s Paul Leonard both carded 70s to share third spot, while the remaining places went to five players on 71 – John Benda of the United States and Anders Johnsson of Sweden, both members of the European Seniors Tour, and the American trio of Keith Gockenbach, Dave Kluver and John Ross.
A total of 301 players teed up at the three qualifying venues and those who were successful need only cast their minds back to 2004 for inspiration, when Pete Oakley of the United States stunned the golfing world by becoming the first qualifier to lift The Senior Open Championship.

QUALIFIERS

Dunbar (par 71)
65 Kirk Hanefield (USA).
66 Jan Dorrestein (Ned).
68 Jean Pierre Sallat (Fra), David Merriman (Aus).
69 Enrique Allessandrini (Ita), Ronny Mobley (USA), Martin Galway (Eng) (am), G R Blair (Sco) (am).
70 Doug Pool (USA) (am).

North Berwick (par 71)
68 Gary Koch (USA).
69 Mike Goodes (USA).
70 Paul Leonard (NIr), Richard A Green (Eng).
71 Dave Kluver (USA), John Benda (USA), Anders Johnsson (Swe), John Ross (USA), Keith Gockenbach (USA).

Craigielaw (par 71)
69 Kevin King (USA), Chuck Milne (USA), Tim Conley (USA).
70 Bob Larratt (Eng), Jim Lapsley (Nzl).
71 Gordon Townhill (Eng), Joe Clarke Jnr (USA), Mike Donald (USA).
72 J A Fraser (Sco) (am).