2016 Yearbook

62 / 126

the championship following rounds of 80-73, but he
admitted he can’t wait to chase qualifying in 2017.
“I didn’t play as well as I wanted, but I (along with
fellow Iowan Mike McCoy) got to play a practice
round with Tom Watson,” Elliott said. “That was a
thrill. Now I can’t wait to get back there.”
McCoy played in his fourth consecutive U.S. Senior
Open, thanks to his exemption from being the low
amateur at the event in 2015. Unfortunately, he also
missed the cut following rounds of 75-76.
Two others with ties to Iowa also participated in the
event – Jerry Smith, originally from Oskaloosa, (75-
77,) and Lonnie Nielsen, originally from Belle Plain,
(76-77) would also miss the cut at Scioto CC.
Iowa well represented at U.S. Senior
Open
Gene Elliott made a lot of putts in the summer of
2016. None were bigger than the putt that sealed his
co-medalist honors (68) at the Sectional Qualifier for
the U.S. Senior Open played at Vista Valley Country
Club in Vista, CA.
“I birdied the last hole to shoot 68 to make it into the
U.S. Senior Open,” Elliott said of the 100+ degree day
in California.
The 2016 U.S. Senior
Open was played at Scioto
Country Club in Columbus,
OH. Elliott would
eventually miss the cut at
61
U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP August 11-15, 2016
Scioto Country Club