After four late withdrawals, the field for Monday's U. S. Senior Open qualifying at Golden Ocala was reduced to 80 players, all shooting for just two spots in the Open field. 

    After suffering through a one-hour rain delay, the two co-medalists were former PGA/Champions Tour player David Branshaw of Oswego, New York, and amateur Mike Finster of St. Petersburg, both with 4-under-par 68s over the tough replica course. Branshaw has made 42 of 90 cuts on Tour, has two top 5s and 3 top 10s, and most recently finished tied for 57th in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. 

    The first alternate is Tim Cantwell of Palm Beach Gardens; second alternate is former Gator Scott Dunlap of Sarasota, both with 3-under-69s. Dunlap is a Champions Tour member and is currently 60th on the money list with earnings of $100,919. In his career against the senior group, he's collected $2.9 million. 

    Best of the Ocala contingent was Steve Albright, who tied for fifth with four others at 1-over-73.  Included in that group is Doug Snoap of Apopka, a frequent Ocala competitor. 

    Among the four withdrawals was Paul Tesori, a Tour caddy for many top-echelon players over the years and who gets a great deal of TV time. 

    Among those posting 76 or higher were Daniel Owen of Ocala, former PGA player Robert Gamez, one-time winner of the Texas Open, and Joe Alfieri, two-time winner of the Henry R. Camp tournament. 

    The 43rd U. S. Senior Open is scheduled for June 29-July 2 at Sentry World in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. 

     

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