Jim McNelis Medals in U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying at Tacoma

Jim McNelis of Gig Harbor, Wash. shot 1-under-par 71 to earn medalist honors in leading the field of 64 players who competed today in U.S. Senior Amateur sectional qualifying at the par-72 Tacoma Country & Golf Club in Lakewood, Wash.

McNelis was the only player in the field to shoot under par.

The other three players to advance from this qualifier are Brad Douglas of Redmond, Wash. who shot 1-over 73; Keith Norris, also of Redmond, who shot 2-over 74; and Jerry Close of Moses Lake, Wash., who shot 3-over 75. Close survived a five-way playoff to claim the final available spot.

These four players will now advance to play in the 2018 U.S. Senior Amateur, which will be held at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club on August 25-30.

Tom Hale of Lakewood is the first alternate from this qualifier, and Stan Denova of Oakville, Wash. is second alternate.

Click here for complete hole-by-hole scoring of this qualifier.

The U.S. Senior Amateur is open to amateur golfers with a Handicap Index not exceeding 7.4 who are 55 years of age at the start of championship play.

The Washington State Golf Association (WSGA) is the local representative of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and conducted this qualifier for the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.

Founded in 1922, the WSGA is a 501c4 non-profit, amateur golf association governed by men and women volunteers. Serving nearly 70,000 individual members at more than 550 member golf clubs and 270 golf courses throughout the state of Washington and Northern Idaho, the WSGA works to continually expand the game of golf to people of all backgrounds.

The WSGA also serves as a statewide representative of the USGA and works closely with a number of allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game.