Sam Billmeyer (pictured at left above, with USGA Senior Amateur Committee member John Webb), of Ankeny, shot a 2-under 70 on Monday at the Briarwood Golf Club in Ankeny to earn the lone qualifying spot into the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.  Billmeyer moves on to play the national event August 26-31 at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Billmeyer, who played in the first group out, didn’t get off to a great start, but closed with a flourish.  After a birdie at 3, he made bogey at 5, 6 & 9 to turn at 2-over par 38.  But then he tore up the back nine, firing a 4-under 32 with birdies at 10, 12, 14 and 16 against no bogeys.  That run was good enough for a one shot win over Joe Palmer of West Des Moines.

Palmer is the 1st alternate while Tom Norton, of Muscatine, is the 2nd alternate.  Norton shot even-par 72.

You can view complete results here.