Hamden, Connecticut (May 27, 2026) – On a warm late May day, five players – Ryan Gracey, Scott Berliner, Thomas Gögele, Patrik Sjöland, and Bob Rittberger – earned spots in the 46th U.S. Senior Open set to be played from July 2-5 at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio.
Playing at New Haven Country Club, both Ryan Gracey and Scott Berliner turned in 4-under 66s to pace the 46th U.S. Senior Open Final Qualifying field.
Ryan Gracey (Hockessin, DE) was the first to post 4-under 66, and he did so thanks to a surge in the middle of his round.
It was an up-and-down beginning for Gracey. Starting his day on the par-5 10th, Gracey birdied his opening hole only to double the next. Gracey would remain at 1-over until he finished his opening nine with consecutive birdies on Nos. 17 and 18.
Now in the red, Gracey continued his run with three consecutive birdies on Nos. 2-4 to reach 4-under, where he would remain thanks to a string of pars to close out his day.
“I’m still in shock.” Ryan Gracey said after his round. “I’ve been chasing professional golf for 30 years. Back in my 20s, I kind of gave it up due to family and kids, and I was a stay-at-home dad for 15 years with my son. But when I turned 50, my wife pushed me to do it again. I struggled the past couple of years, so today I told myself I was just going to come out and play golf. And I played golf, and here I am.”
Joining Gracey on the medalist stand was an emotional Scott Berliner (Lake Luzerne, NY). One year ago, Berliner missed out on qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open by a single shot.
Tragically, the week of the 2025 U.S. Senior Open, Berliner’s sister passed away.
“There’s a reason why I missed by one, I guess,” Berliner said as he choked back tears. “So, yeah, it is just nice to finally get it done when I know that I needed to play well. I just kept my head down.”
Berliner, a teaching pro at the 1912 Donald Ross designed Glens Falls Country Club and an assistant coach at Skidmore College, bogeyed his first hole but quickly bounced back with a birdie on No. 2.
Birdies on No. 4 and 6 followed before a bogey on No. 9 dropped the all-time leading major winner in the NENY PGA to 1-under as he made the turn.
Needing to make a move on the back nine, Berliner did just that with a chip-in eagle on No. 10. A long par putt on the challenging par-4 13th helped keep Berliner’s momentum, and a birdie on No. 14 solidified his spot atop the leaderboard.
“It’s my first ever major, which is really cool,” Berliner said with a smile. “It took me however many years to do it. I feel like I’m a good enough player that I should have played in a few PGA Championships up until this point, but everything happens for a reason. Hopefully, this will be the start of qualifying for some majors.”
One stroke behind the co-medalist were a trio of players who signed for 3-under 67s.
Thomas Gögele (Germany) punched his ticket thanks to a six-birdie, three-bogey effort.
Beginning on the par-5 10th hole, Gögele, who played in the 1997 Open Championship, started slow, and through nine holes, he was 1-under. That all changed on Gögele’s second nine as he converted four birdies against just two bogeys to play the side in 2-under 32.
Patrik Sjöland (Sweden) earned a spot in the U.S. Senior Open for the second time in three years with a nearly flawless performance. Starting his round on the par-5 10th, Sjöland opened his day with a birdie on his way to an opening nine bogey-free 3-under 33.
Sjöland continued to play steadily on his second nine, playing the side in level par 34 with a birdie on No. 5 and a bogey on No. 8.
For Sjöland, this will be his third USGA Open. Previously, he played in the 2024 U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club, where he finished T57. He also played in the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. That same year, Sjöland, a two-time European Tour winner, finished T18 at the 1999 Open Championship, made famous by the Jean van de Velde collapse on the final hole at Carnoustie.
Also, earning a spot was Bob Rittberger (Solon, OH). After a tough start with bogeys on Nos. 1 and 3, Rittberger found another gear as he played the last 15 holes in a flawless 5-under. His birdies came on Nos. 4, 7, 10, 14, and 15.
Two alternate positions were also determined at New Haven CC, with 1993 European Ryder Cupper Joakim Haeggman (Sweden) earning the first alternate spot, while low amateur Trevor Randolph (Franklin Lakes, NJ) took the second alternate spot. Both players shot 2-under 68s.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
