Superintendent Qualifies for U.S. Senior Open for the Second Time


Tommy Robinson, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Class A Superintendent at Ravinia Green Country Club in Riverwoods, Ill., qualified for his second U.S. Senior Open Championship after he sank a birdie putt to win a sudden death playoff for third place in a sectional qualifier at Inverness (Ill.) Golf Club, June 28.

"I didn't think it was a very good round," said Robinson, a 57-year-old amateur from Grayslake, Ill., with a plus-2 handicap. "I got in to the clubhouse with a 75 and figured I didn't make it. The scores turned out to be pretty high, 73 was low, and I was in a six-way tie for third. I birdied the first hole of the playoff to get the last spot."

Robinson will play in the 2010 U.S. Senior Open, July 29-August 1 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash. He won a sectional qualifier in 2008 at The Club at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha, Wis., with a 5-under-par 67 to earn a spot in that year's U.S. Senior Open at the Broadmoor Resort's East Course in Colorado Springs, Colo. Robinson missed the cut after carding 81-84 in the first two rounds. He was a first alternate for the 2009 U.S. Senior Open, but was not selected.

"I've never been there (Sahalee)," Robinson said. "I've only seen it online, but I'm excited to go. Obviously I'll be nervous on first tee, but I'm not nervous going into it this time because I know what to expect. This time I'm not a rookie and I know a lot of things that I didn't know then, so hopefully that will help me."

Robinson is a 34-year GCSAA member and has been the superintendent at Ravinia Green since 1991. He won the 2004 GCSAA National Championship presented in partnership with The Toro Co. in San Diego. His fellow GCSAA member Rich Taylor, GCSAA certified golf course superintendent at Sahalee, will welcome Robinson and rest of the USGA Championship field to the 6,857/6,866-yard, par-70 layout.

The USGA received 2,349 entries for the 2010 U.S. Senior Open. The U.S. Senior Open is open to any professional or amateur with a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 3.4 who have reached their 50th birthday by July 29, 2010. Sectional qualifying (18 holes) at 42 sites was conducted June 21 through July 12. There are 156 players in the championship field, comprised of 85 players advancing from sectional qualifying and 73 players exempt from sectional qualifying.

For more information about the GCSAA, visit www.gcsaa.org.