Fink

For golfers who are at least 50 years of age, the world’s most important tournament, the U.S. Senior Open, is taking place this week at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio.

This year’s senior championship has an exciting local angle as Altoona’s Artie Fink Jr. is competing after playing well in a final-stage qualifying event at Manor Golf Club in Rockville, Maryland in mid-June.

Earning the first alternate spot in that event meant there was a high likelihood he would gain entry into the final field, and this past Saturday, Fink received a call from the USGA with the good news.

After confirming he was in the tournament field, Fink, along with his son Derek, who will be on the bag, made plans for a road trip to Columbus, where practice rounds were scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

This year’s U.S. Senior Open will be the tournament’s 46th edition. Notable past winners of this prestigious event include Arnold Palmer (1981), Jack Nicklaus (1991, 93), Gary Player (1987, 88), Lee Trevino (1990), Hale Irwin (1998, 2000) and Bernard Langer (2010, 2023).

Of the 156 golfers who are in this week’s Senior Open field, about half had already earned their exemptions by way of recent performances on the PGA Champions Tour or for strong finishes in other significant events — golfers like Stewart Cink, Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington.

The remaining spots in this, or any other U.S. Senior Open, are open to any senior golfer with a current handicap of 2.4 or less. This year, a total of 2,780 golfers filled out an application and submitted their entry fee allowing them to compete in qualifying events across the country. Beginning in April, these qualifiers began to narrow the field, and by mid-June, the final 70-plus spots into the championship were earned.

While Fink was able to play well enough to earn his place in this year’s championship, several top names failed to qualify, including former PGA Tour winners Chris DiMarco, Bob Estes and Billy Mayfair.

Qualifying for any national championship can be a career-defining accomplishment, but playing one at historic Scioto Country Club makes it even more special.

The Columbus-area course is where a young Jack Nicklaus grew up and learned the game. Scioto was designed by renowned architect Donal Ross and is also the site where legendary Bobby Jones won his second U.S. Open title in 1926.

“The USGA is excited to return to Scioto, a partnership that began in the 1920’s,” USGA chief championship officer John Bodenhamer said. “And a site that has fully embraced both professional and amateur competition.”

Fink will be among the best senior golfers in the country set to play 18 holes in the U.S. Senior Open on both Thursday and Friday. After Friday’s play, the field will be cut to the low 60 and ties before the final 36 holes are played, Saturday and Sunday.

Fink finished up his first day on Thursday by shooting 15 over which tied him for 152nd place. Round 2 begins for Fink with an 8:55 tee time in Columbus.