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NEWPORT, R.I. – Five golfers from the Empire State will be in the field June 27-30 at the 44th U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island. 

Related: U.S. Senior Home / Tee Times / Qualifying Results

Jeff Sluman, a native of Rochester and one of New York State’s most successful professional golfers, will tee it up for his 15th U.S. Senior Open. The 18-time professional winner has twice finished in the Top 10 at a US Senior Open. He finished runner-up at the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and won the 1988 PGA Championship at Oak Tree GC in Oklahoma. Before he turned professional, Sluman proved his mettle in New York Amateur play. He won the 1971 RDGA Boys’ Sub-Junior Championship, 1977 RDGA Amateur Championship and 1978 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship at Moon Brook CC. Sluman, 66, was inducted into the NYSGA Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Sluman earned exemption into this year’s U.S. Senior Open thanks to his status as one of the PGA Tour Champion’s top 40 all-time money leaders.  

Bob Royak, a Guilderland native who resides in Alpharetta, GA, will make his fourth appearance at a U.S. Senior Open. While the former NYS Champion is searching for his first made cut at the event, he did take home the 65th U.S. Senior Amateur in 2019. The 62-year-old is coming off a recent victory at the Georgia Senior Match Play Championship, and also secured the North and South Senior Men’s Championship in 2023. Royak won the NYS Boys’ Junior Amateur Championship at Soaring Eagles GC. 

Royak turned in a three-under 68 in sectional qualifying at Cherokee Town & Country Club (GA) to earn his position in the field. 

David Branshaw of Oswego will be partaking in his second U.S. Senior Open. The 54-year-old had a solid showing at last year’s tournament, finishing T35 at SentryWorld Golf Course in Wisconsin. Branshaw won twice on the Nationwide Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour), including the Tour Championship in 2005, and earned PGA Tour Champions status in 2021. 

Branshaw qualified with a 70 (-2) at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club (FL) back in May. 

Frank Bensel Jr., a native of White Plains who lives in Jupiter, FL, will be making his inaugural U.S. Senior Open appearance. Bensel, 56, who teaches out of Century CC in Purchase, has played in four major championships, including three PGA Championships and one US Open. Bensel has won three Connecticut Open Championships (‘14, ‘11, ‘09) and has three PGA of America National Championship victories. 

Bensel Jr., fired a three-over 73 to qualify at the Metropolis Country Club SQR in Westchester County. 

Jason Caron of Greenlawn is the final NYS player in the field. Caron, 51, has two appearances in his maiden season on the PGA Tour Champions and will be making his first start at a U.S. Senior Open. He is 2/2 in made cuts this season and finished T4 at the Senior PGA Championship in May. Prior to earning PGA Tour Champions status, Caron made 65 starts on the PGA Tour, including at three PGA Championships and one U.S. Open. Caron plays out of Mill River Golf Club, where he is the Head Golf Professional. 

Caron secured co-medalist qualifying honors at the Steel Club (PA) sectional qualifier to earn his position in the tournament. 

Newport Country Club has a storied and rich history in American golf. The club was established in 1893 and hosted both the inaugural U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championship in 1895. Newport was one of the five founding members of the Amateur Golf Association, which later became the United States Golf Association (USGA). 

Tiger Woods won his second of three consecutive U.S. Amateurs at Newport in 1995, 100 years after the first playing of the tournament at the same site. The club went on to host the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open (won by Annika Sorenstam) and was scheduled to host the U.S. Senior Open in 2020 before it was canceled due to COVID-19. 

The U.S. Senior Open was introduced in 1980, and is administered by the USGA. The tournament is recognized as one of five major championships in senior golf. 

Starting Times on Thursday (6/27) and Friday (6/28)