Mcgovern, Dachisen, Yannotta Share Lead At Senior Open

A trio of club professionals, Jim McGovern of White Beeches, Chris Dachisen of North Jersey and Mark Yannotta of Anchor Golf Center, all shot one-under-par 71s to share the lead at the 36-hole NJSGA/NJPGA Senior Open Championship on Tuesday, May 26, at the 6,556-yard Metuchen Golf and Country Club in Edison.

Tied for third in the field of 131 golfers at one-over-par were a pair of amateurs, Ron Vannelli of Forsgate and Jim Craffey of Arcola.

A total of 42 golfers made the cut to return for Wednesday’s final round by shooting 79 or better.

COMPLETE SCORING PHOTO GALLERY

Defending champion Frank Esposito of Brooklake is now playing full time on the PGA Champions Tour.

McGovern, who turned 50 in February, spent 20 years on the PGA Tour including one victory, the 1993 Shell Houston Open. On Tuesday, he carded two birdies and one bogey.

This year, he won the New Jersey PGA Head Pro Championship at Alpine and last week qualified for the U.S. Senior Open at Arcola. In 2014, McGovern played in the PGA Championship at Valhalla, earning a berth after a strong finish at the National Club Pro Championship.

“I didn’t play well early today, but I hit it better on the back. I had a lot of chances to make birdie, but didn’t make many of them. The greens are tricky. A little local knowledge goes a long way here,” McGovern said. “On this golf course, you’ve got to be real smart and do a lot of thinking out there.”

Dachisen, 58, won this event, which began in 1989, in 2008. He has won two State Opens, three Senior NJPGA titles (2009-11), the NJPGA Section Championship, and two NJPGA Players Championships.

“I had a lot of good saves. I missed the first four greens and was only one over. I made a lot of good putts and kept the ball in front of me,” said Dachisen, who is now injury free after suffering a hand injury in 2013. He had four birdies against three bogeys yesterday.

Yannotta, 51, last year played in the National Club Pro Championship. In 2013, he was medalist in the U.S. Open local qualifier at Morris County Golf Club.

“I’m getting smarter out there with my course management. My swing flaws are working themselves out,” said Yannotta, who recorded six birdies against three bogeys and a double. One bogey came on the par-3 18th hole due to a three-putt.

“The wind was tricky. In the afternoon I was just holding on with the crosswind. The course is in great shape. What hurt me is I haven’t been playing that much,” Yannotta said.

Vannelli, 67, is a 19-time former club champion at Metuchen. He won the New York City Senior Amateur this past weekend and has played on 17 NJSGA Compher Cup teams. He won the Met Am in 2005.

“Whether you know the course of not, you still have to strike it well and putt well here,” he said.