Mark Hensby shares lead at US Senior Open
Mark Hensby had every reason to smile today – photo USGA Steve Gibbons
Former Tamworth golfer, but long time US resident, Mark Hensby, has a share of the lead after day one of the US Senior Open at the Saucon Country Club in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, the 50 year old former Presidents Cup Team member and winner on both the PGA and European Tours, round in 67 today to be tied at the top with 68 year old Jay Haas.
The 50 year old Hensby’s great period in golf came in 2004 and 2005 when winning the John Deere Classic and the Scandinavian Masters before gaining a place in the Presidents Cup Team in 2005. He would also finish 5th at on the debut at the Masters and 3rd at the US Open that year and so he appeared on a roll before injuries in a car accident early in 2006 curtailed his further rise in the game.
He would never return to the sort of form he had during that halcyon period and in 2017 he was suspended for one by the PGA Tour for failing to comply with a drug testing procedure.
Hensby has, though, continued to play where starts became available via his very limited PGA Tour status and although he has not earned the right to play the PGA Tour Champions with any status as such he has managed to qualify for events on occasions.
He gained a start in the US Senior Open through the demanding qualifying process when finishing runner-up at his venue in Texas last month and he has taken an early advantage by putting together an impressive start to the most significant event in over-fifty golf.
Six birdies and two bogeys led to his impressive start and although joined later in the day by the impressive round of Haas, it is an encouraging start for Hensby given his lack of status on any tour at present and that he has missed the cut in three of four PGA Tour starts where he has been able to gain a start this season.
“I got off to a decent start, which always helps, especially in a tournament like this,” said Hensby after his round. “Yeah, just kind of played pretty solid. There’s a few tee shots towards the end, but hit it far enough to where I could still get it on the green somewhat.
Only just short of his 51st birthday, Hensby also started in this event last year but was forced to withdraw through medical reasons.
“I had some medical issues last year. I still do have kind of sleep issues, bad insomnia. Last year I was up for three or four days before that first round.
“It was unfortunate because I was actually playing pretty well then. This year I’ve got it under control somewhat. Yeah, it’s kind of funny how I had to withdraw and now I’m leading. Pretty cool.”
Richard Green also gained a start in the event via Final Qualifying and recovered from a disastrous quadruple bogey early in his round to add four birdies to be at even par towards the end of his round.
One of the pre-tournament favourites, Steve Alker who has taken the PGA Tour Champions by storm this year was 3 over early in his round but finished with a respectable round of 1 over 72.
