Dwayne Pearman missed out in his bid to qualify for the 41st US Senior Open at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Florida, yesterday.

The 58-year-old professional carded a six-over 78, which included four birdies, five bogeys, a triple bogey and a double bogey to finish tied for 23rd at the 18-hole qualifier at the par-72, Ron Garl-designed layout.

“I would’ve liked to have scored a little bit better, but that’s golf,” Pearman said. “I’ll take what I got and just keep plugging along.”

He added: “I shot 78 but I hit it a lot better than I scored.

“I made four birdies first time playing the golf course and I had triple and a double bogey on par-threes. But outside of that I hit every fairway pretty much and hit the ball pretty solid, so I was happy the way I hit the ball not seeing the golf course, really.

“I also putted a lot better and today was my first test for my putting because I have been struggling with my putter for a while. But I really felt that putted OK.

“It was a good day. The weather was great and it was really a nice golf course, which I enjoyed.”

Pearman bookended his round with birdies but it was in between where danger lurked. He got to the 13th only three over, but a sequence of bogey, bogey, double bogey ended any chance of him carding a total that might have put him in contention.

The Tucker’s Point professional was accompanied by golf-loving politician Zane DeSilva, who acted as his caddie.

“He didn’t do a good job, so that’s probably one reason why I didn’t qualify,” Pearman quipped.

Also among the field was European Senior Tour player Delroy Cambridge, who has previously competed in Bermuda at the Gosling’s Invitational. The Jamaican finished tied for 65th at 15 over.

Amateurs Chad Frank and Chad Ibbotson finished as joint winners at even par to clinch the two automatic qualifying spots up for grabs from the 18-hole qualifier.

Tib Cobb finished third at one over and fellow amateur Mike Finster tied for fourth a further shot back to finish as the two alternates.

The 41st US Senior Open will be held at the Omaha Country Club in Omaha, Nebraska, from July 8 to 11.

Pearman is one of two local professionals competing in US Senior Open qualifiers this week, as Ocean View Golf Club’s Brian Morris is scheduled to tee off in a 18-hole qualifier today at the Crown Colony Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida.

“I am feeling good, did some practice and hitting the ball solid,” said Morris, who is battling Stage 4 brain cancer. “My expectations are to qualify. I’m not going there just to play, that’s for sure.

“If I don’t qualify, 100 per cent I would be disappointed. But that’s my intentions and that’s why I came out here, this is why I am doing it.

“It’s a dream of mine. But it’s not to just meander around the golf course fulfilling a dream.

“The dream was to get here to enter a qualifying event and to qualify for the US Senior Open, so that’s not mission accomplished until I qualify.

“If I don’t then whatever, life goes on and I’m cool with that and will try again.

“But my expectations are to play well and to qualify. I’m teeing off to come first, regardless.”