Calabria cards a 67, falls one stroke short

SARASOTA — John Calabria shook his head in disbelief. Coming off a runaway victory in the senior division of the South Florida PGA Open, Calabria was on top of his game going into the U.S. Senior Open qualifier on Monday.

His 5-under-par 67 wasn't enough. Calabria, the 58-year-old membership sales director at Fiddler's Creek, missed advancing by a single stroke at the Tournament Players Club at Prestancia.

"I can't believe it," Calabria said. "Oh, well. I played great."

Keith Gockenbach of Ponte Vedra Beach and Will Frantz of Venice each shot 6-under 66s to grab the two qualifying spots — one spot fewer than last year. The U.S. Senior Open is July 6-9 at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan.

Champions Tour player Jim Albus was fifth with a 68. Former baseball pitcher Shane Rawley had a 73.

Calabria became the oldest golfer to make it to U.S. Open sectional qualifying, then played adequately at Old Memorial Golf Club in Tampa. Last Thursday, Calabria fired a 63 to win the senior division of the South Florida PGA Open by eight shots at Naples Grande Golf Club.

Calabria didn't need a 63 on Monday, just one or two shots better than his 67.

Calabria had a double-bogey on his fourth hole, No. 13, but bounced back with an eagle on No. 15. He had three of his five birdies on his final nine.

Calabria

Calabria did not stick around for a possible playoff for the first alternate position. Joseph Combs of Jacksonville matched Calabria's 67 in one of the final groups, and received the first alternate spot by default.

Calabria is the second alternate.

Ric Nalyd of Bonita Bay Club East came the next closest out of area competitors, shooting a 3-under 69. He was 6-under coming in, but bogeyed No. 17 and double-bogeyed No. 18.

Naples' Mark Lye, a Champions Tour player and Golf Channel analyst, was among those who withdrew prior to the event.

Frantz, 53, will be making his third Senior Open appearance and sixth in a senior major. He made the cut at the 2003 Senior Open.

"I was in the top 25 after two days and I just kind of wore out," said Frantz, who tied for 54th. "I'm in better shape now."

Monday, the teaching professional at Bobcat Trail Golf & Country Club was in great shape, standing at 6-under-par after 12 holes. He three-putted for a bogey on No. 16, but sank an 18-footer for birdie on the 18th hole.

"I'm glad I made that putt," he said.

Gockenbach, a career amateur, turned professional last August after his 50th birthday. He made it to the finals of Champions Tour Qualifying School, but played poorly.

Gockenbach, who has moved to Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, made no bogeys and six birdies, despite coming off minor shoulder surgery late last year. He birdied four of the last seven holes, including No. 18.

"Just keeping calm and trying to be focused on that hole, not thinking about what number it was going to take," Gockenbach said of his approach. "I knew it was going to be something in the 60s. You can't worry about what number it's going to be."

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U.S. Senior Open Qualifier at TPC at Prestancia

Qualifiers (top two)

Will Frantz, North Port, 66; Keith Gockenbach, Ponte Vedra Beach, 66

Alternates

First — Joseph Combs, Jacksonville, 67; Second — John Calabria, Naples, 67

Other scores

68 — Jim Albus, Sarasota

69 — Bob Conforte, Riverview; Mike Donald, Hollywood; Ric Nalyd, Fort Myers; John Turk, Melbourne

70 — Thomas Loechel, Lutz; John McNaney, Baltimore, Md.

71 — Bill Buckner, Safety Harbor; Donald Sisemore, Bradenton

72 — Christopher Campbell, Vero Beach; Tom Doozan, Apollo Beach; Steve Melnyk, St. Simons Island, Ga.; Wyatt Meyer, Tampa; Michael Shannon, St. Simons Island, Ga.

73 — Peter Dennis, Bradenton; Mark Puskarich, Ellsworth, Pa.; Shane Rawley, Racine

74 — Roger Adams, Plant City; John Begley, Sarasota; Ron Cleland, Naples; Torsten Denward, Sarasota; Jeff Gibson, Thonotosassa; Jerry Impellittiere, Palm City; Frank Saxon, Clearwater; Jim Smith, Belleair; Stan Stopa, New Orleans, La.; Lance Ten Broeck, Jupiter

75 — Steve Allinder, Tampa; John Brott, Sanford; Mo Guttman, Sarasota; Allen Johnston, Tallahassee; Keith Keister, Orlando;Doug Lacrosse, Tampa; Richard McPhail, Bonita Springs; Bill Moore, Tampa; Charles Priester, Punta Gorda; Richard Radocha, Camp Hill, Pa.; Daniel Talbot, Canada

76 — Jon Benson, Wesley Chapel; John Gering, Sarasota; Bob Irving, Sarasota

77 — Edward Bass, University Park; Woody Blackburn, Jacksonville; Lee Booker, Naples; James Hill, Winter Haven; David Murray, Lakeland

78 — Michael Walters, Tampa; Harry Witkowski, Lehigh Acres

79 — Thomas Grillo, Clermont; John King, Roanoke, Va.; James Macy, Tampa; Jose Perea Salamanca, Colombia

80 — Ed McFee, Orlando; 81 — Robert Bernadino, Naples; Guy Crosby, Fort Myers; Gary Saft, Fort Myers; Marc St Martin, Fort Myers; 82 — Donald Luke, Valrico; 83 — Tom Halchak, Clearwater

84 — Ty Copeman, Port Charlotte; Charles Eade, Lutz; Bob Intrieri, Naples; Jimmy Phillips, Homosassa

85 — Rodney Haigler, North Port; 86 — Ken Mooney, Tarpon Springs; 88 — Calvin Van Slyke, Port Charlotte; 100 — Eddie Smith, Tampa; 105 — David Onan, Sarasota

NC — David Smith, Orlando; Richard Rice, Beverly Hills; Pat Tiso, Palm Harbor; Norman Dudley, Seffner

WD — Ralph Hutchins, Fort Myers; Donald Jernigan, Broken Arrow, Okla.; Anthony Brzezowski, Binghamton, N.Y.; Mark Lye, Naples; Chris Hardman, Palm Harbor