Three From N.J. Playing In U.S. Senior Amateur At Hidden Creek

John O’Malley of Mantoloking, Adam Kugler of Closter and Tom Hyland of Marlton have all qualified for the 2015 61st U.S. Senior Amateur to be conducted in New Jersey September 26-30 at Hidden Creek Country Club in Egg Harbor Township.

More than 2,250 men 55 and over played in qualifiers to be among the field of 156. Players who make it play 36 holes of medal play, with the low 64 scorers advancing to match play.

O’Malley shot 74 and was among seven who qualified at White Manor Country Club in Malvern, Pa. Kugler and Hyland both shot 71 and were among five who qualified at Garden City Country Club in Garden City, N.Y. Jim Craffey of Annandale also shot 71 there and is first alternate.

O'Malley, Hyland and Kugler all tee off in the first round of stroke play on Saturday afternoon and in he second round of stroke play on Sunday morning:

Tee Times: Saturday (Sept. 26), hole #1 / Sunday (Sept. 27), hole #10

12 p.m./7:10 a.m. – Randal Lewis, Alma, Mich.; Cy Kilgore, Beverly, Mass.; John O'Malley, Mantoloking, N.J.

12:40 p.m./7:50 a.m. – Kenneth Phillips, Lancaster, Pa.; Michael Staskus, Los Altos, Calif.; Thomas Hyland, Marlton, N.J.

1:40 p.m./8:50 a.m. – Pat Thompson, Asheville, N.C.; Roc Irey, Furlong, Pa.; Adam Kugler, Closter, N.J.

Hidden Creek will be the first course to employ hole-by-hole live scoring instead of nine-hole updates as previously employed at U.S. Senior Amateurs.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Hidden Creek to the rest of the world,” said owner Roger Hansen. “When I approached Crenshaw and Coore to design the course two decades ago, they were just coming into their own and I think I picked two of the best golf-course architects in the world.

“Almost every course they have designed is on a Top 100 list,” said Hansen. Golfweek Magazine ranked Hidden Creek 82nd on the list of America's 100 Best Modern Courses in 2011.