Esposito Leads Britton In Senior Open At Trump-colts Neck

Fresh off an impressive showing in the Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores, Frank Esposito Jr. of Brooklake, winner of two tournaments already this spring, fired a two-under-par 70 in the first round of the 36-hole NJSGA/NJPGA Senior Open Championship and grabbed a one-stroke lead over four-time and defending champion Bill Britton on Britton’s home course, the 6,955-yard Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck.

This past weekend, Esposito tied for 39th place and at one point on Friday was tied for the lead with Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer and eventual champion Colin Montgomerie in the Senior PGA Esposito, 51, winner this season of the New Jersey PGA Match Play and Head Pro championships, is playing in this event for the first time. He missed being eligible last year by one week.

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Britton, Director of Instruction at Trump National-Colts Neck for the past six years, has won the past three Senior Opens.

In third place is Mark Yannotta of Essex Driving Range at even-par 72, followed by Don Brigham of Battleground and Dave Laudien of Howell Park at 73. A total of 56 golfers who shot 81 or better return for Wednesday’s final round.

Esposito’s round included just one bogey, on the par-4 12th hole, when he misdirected a drive. He carded birdies on the par-5 second hole, the par-5 13th and the par-5 18th hole. On 13, he drained a 20-foot putt.

“I was happy about how I played at the Senior PGA. But I left too many shots out there. It was a learning experience. I learned you can’t turn your 67s into 72s,” said Esposito, who has won 15 New Jersey majors including the 2013 State Open. Last year, he also was victorious in the New Jersey PGA sectional championship and Senior Championship.

Esposito said he will pick up his play for the PGA Champions Tour by attempting to get through Monday qualifiers beginning in July.

“Every mistake costs you out there. I’ve got to learn to get comfortable. When you want to get to another level, you’ve got to work at it,” he said. “I got a little tired out there today. I haven’t played here in six years. I know this is Bill Britton’s home course. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It will be fun.”

Britton, who played in the morning, was back on the practice green in the afternoon while Esposito was on the course.

“The course was hard today. I was surprised how long it played and that the rough was thick and deep. The greens are beautiful , a little fast and firm. It was tough for a lot of guys my age. It would be great for a State Open of a PGA Sectional Championship,” said Britton, who shot a course-record 64 at the course in a pro-am last year and has won the event the past three years.

Britton has won the championship in 2006, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and is the biggest winner in the 25-year history of the event. No other player has won the event more than twice.

Britton, who spent 15 years on the PGA Tour, winning the Centel Classic in Tallahassee in 1989, and finishing second in four other events.

On May 13, Britton was one of six golfers who qualified for the U.S. Open through the local qualifier at Bedens Brook.

Britton’s round included three birdies and two bogeys. He birdied the par-3 11th hole by draining a 40-foot putt. He bogeyed the par-five 18th hole when he went for it in two, instead finding the lake on the left side of the fairway.

“Our members are excited to be hosting the tournament here,” Britton said. “I didn’t play over the winter so shooting a 71 feels good.”