Not a whole lot of work got done yesterday morning at the Stan Taylor Insurance Agency in Raleigh, N.C. That's because the company's president, Paul Simson, was playing in the first round of the U.S. Senior Open at Caves Valley Golf Club.
"We don't have cable in the office, but I am sure they're all hooked up to USGA.org to see how I'm playing," said Simson, an amateur, who also had 20 friends from Northridge Country Club, his home course, bus up for the first two rounds.
There's a chance, though, that some of Simson's friends might have to find their own way back if they want to see their pal play the entirety of the Open. Simson - the reigning Senior Open low amateur, which qualified him for this year's event - shot a 1-under-par 70 yesterday to put himself in solid position to make the weekend cut.
"I hadn't been playing that well lately," he said. "In fact, I had my first lesson in 20 years over the phone with the pro from home Monday."
Whatever Simson and the pro tweaked telephonically must have worked for the 51-year-old. Simson shot an "easy" 68 in his Tuesday practice round. He shot 2-under 34 yesterday on the front nine, his final nine holes, with birdies on 2, 3 and 5. Simson, who had three birdies and two bogeys on his card, needed a 10-foot downhill par putt on the ninth to preserve a round in red figures.
"I just want to improve upon my performance from last year," said Simson, who shot 14-over at Salem Country Club in Peabody, Mass., at the 2001 Open. "This was a scrapper round, but I hit the ball pretty well."
His sub-par day paled in comparison to his playing partner's. Simson was paired with R.W. Eaks, the first-round leader, who broke the course record with a 7-under 64.
Winning notice
Wearing green plaid knickers, green knee-high socks and a white polo with the "Nesquik Bunny" patch on it, James Mason sported one of the more colorful outfits.
He also had one of the best scores. Mason, 51, took advantage of a 7:15 a.m. tee time to shoot a 3-under 68 in his second Senior Open. He missed the cut last year.
"I think last year I made one birdie in 36 holes, so I made a few more this year," said Mason, who had six birdies in the first round, nearly carding an ace on the par-3 8th hole.
"I hit a 6-iron about 2 inches from the hole," said the Dillard, Ga., resident. "The gallery let me know it was right close."
Mason was playing Monday qualifiers this year until a win at the NFL Golf Classic in New Jersey a month ago locked up exemptions for the next year.
Almost making it
Fred Gibson made it 17 holes without a bogey yesterday before making a 5 on the par-4, 455-yard 18th hole.
Gibson mishit his approach from the fairway, skipping it up 10 yards short of the green. From there, he chipped up 20 feet past the hole and two-putted back down the hill to finish his round at 2-under 69.
"I got up and down a lot and hit a lot of putts. That's what you have to do," said Gibson, who lived in Frederick until 1986, when he moved to Orlando, Fla. "I just hope I can continue this."
The waiting game
It was a long day for Doug Johnson. Johnson became the first alternate into the field after four other alternates were called in as replacements earlier in the week.
The former club pro from Florida who is in his second year on the senior tour arrived at Caves Valley before 6 a.m. yesterday with hopes of getting into the Open. By 1:30 p.m., those hopes had been dashed.
"I've gone through this about 15 times the past two years where I've been the first alternate," said Johnson. "This is getting a little old."
Johnson planned on driving to Michigan today, where he will try to qualify on Monday for the AT&T; Canadian Open across the river in Ontario.
Sun staff writer Don Markus contributed to this article.