USGA Acceptes 2,876 Entries For 2005 U.S. Senior Open, Including 12 Past Champions

Entries closed at 5 p.m. on June 22. For the second year in a row, the oldest player to enter is Gus Bernardoni, 84, from Aledo, Texas. Skip Guss, 52, of Southborough, Mass., was the first entrant and Mike Cawley, 55, of Lynnfield, Mass., was the last entry at 4:55:51 p.m. on June 22. A total of 1,843 entries were received online.

A total of 72 golfers are currently fully exempt from having to qualify, including 2004 champion Peter Jacobsen and 11 other past champions. The past Senior Open champions who have entered are: Miller Barber (1982, 1984 and 1985), Dale Douglass (1986), Dave Eichelberger (1999), Bruce Fleisher (2001), Hale Irwin (1998 and 2000), Larry Laoretti (1992), Bruce Lietzke (2003), Graham Marsh (1997), Arnold Palmer (1981), Don Pooley (2002) and Dave Stockton (1996). All previous Senior Open champions are exempt, but they must file an entry.

Arnold Palmer will be playing in his 25^th consecutive Senior Open and Dale Douglass in his 20^th. Miller Barber, the only three-time winner, will be playing in his 20^th Senior Open and first since 2001. Two-time champion Gary Player is not entered for the first time since 1997.

Spots in the 156-player field are also reserved for anyone, not already exempt, who wins an official Champions Tour event through the start of the 2005 U.S. Senior Open.

Sectional qualifying at 42 sites begins July 5 and runs through July 18.

The U.S. Senior Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. Other championships include the U.S. Open, the U.S. Women's Open, and 10 amateur competitions.

Following is a list of the 72 exempt players for the 2005 U.S. Senior Open:

FULLY EXEMPT PLAYERS FOR THE 2005 U.S. SENIOR OPEN -- (72)

Key to Player Exemptions --

1.Former winners of the U.S. Senior Open.

2.Winners of the U.S. Open in the last 10 years. (1996-2005)

3. Winners of the U.S. Amateur in the last 10 years. (1995-2004)

4. Winners of the Masters Tournament in the last 10 years (1996-2005)

5. Winners of the British Open in the last 10 years (1995-2004)

6. Winners of the PGA Championship in the last 10 years. (1995-2004)

7.Winners of the PGA Seniors Championship in the last 10 years. (1996-2005)

8Winner of the 2004 British Senior Open Championship.

9.The 25 lowest scorers and ties from the 2004 U.S. Senior Open.

10.From the 2004 U.S. Open, any amateur returning a 72-hole score

11. The low amateur at the 2004 U.S. Senior Open.

12.From the U.S. Amateur Public Links, U.S. Mid-Amateur and USGA Senior Amateur, the winners from the last two years and the semifinalists from the most recent championships

13. Playing members of the 2001 and 2003 USA Walker Cup teams and 2002

and 2004 USA World Amateur Teams

14.Playing members of the five most recent U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams in the

15.The top 30 money leaders from the 2004 Champions Tour money list.

16.The top 50 players on the Champions Tour all-time money list through June 22

17.The top 20 money leaders on the 2005 Champions Tour money list through June 22

18.Winners of Champions Tour events in the last three years (2002-2004) and the current calendar year.

19.The leading money winner from the 2004 Senior PGA European Tour Order of Merit

20.Winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored events in the last five years (2000-2004) and during the current calendar year.

21.Any player in his first five years of age eligibility for U.S. Open winners

22.Any player turning 50 in the last calendar year who has won a U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, Masters Tournament, British Open, British Amateur, or PGA Championship (one-time exemption)

23.Special exemptions as selected by the USGA Executive Committee.