Utah pro qualifies for U.S. Senior Open

Mike Borich won a spot in this month's U.S. Senior Open by firing a 5-under-par 67 at Talons Cove Golf Course Monday.

The 51-year-old Borich, who works as a teaching pro at Meadow Brook Golf Course, will play in the tournament July 27-Aug. 2 at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind.

At Monday's qualifying tournament, Borich had three 2s on his card, including a birdie at the 217-yard par-3 No. 6 hole when he hit within 2 feet of the hole. He birdied three of the last four holes to win by three shots.

Three players tied for second, including John Graham of Idaho Falls, Spanish Fork's Roy Christensen and Blaine McAllister, a former PGA Tour regular from Ft. Stockton, Texas. Amateur Steve Watts was next with a 72. Graham won a sudden-death playoff for the first alternate spot.

For Borich it will be the second USGA event he's played in the past decade. In 2000, he qualified for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Calif. Last year Borich lost in a playoff to Jeff Thomsen for the lone berth out of Utah for the Senior Open.

— Mike Sorensen