Francis Marion's Bert Atkinson to play in US Senior Open

Francis Marion graduate and former Patriot golfer Bert Atkinson will play in the U.S. Senior Open this week in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Atkinson, who this year turned 50 and is now eligible to play in Senior events, lives in Charleston and is president of O'Connor Inc.

The 72-hole event begins on Thursday (July 31) at the par 70, 7,254-yard Broadmoor East Course.  It is the longest course in U.S. Senior Open history.  Television coverage will be on ESPN (Thursday and Friday 1-5 p.m. EDT) and NBC (Saturday and Sunday 3-6 p.m. EDT).

Atkinson transferred to Francis Marion for his senior year (1978-79).  He led the Patriots that season with a 74.0 stroke average and was named an NAIA All-American.  He was also named to the NAIA District Six All-District Team and was selected as the Francis Marion team MVP.

He helped lead the Patriots to the District Six team championship and to an eighth-place finish at the NAIA National Tournament in Greensboro, N.C.  Atkinson placed seventh in the individual standings at the national tournament, seven strokes behind the medalist.

To qualify for his first U.S. Senior Open, Atkinson carded a 68 during sectional qualifying at the Hampton Hall Club in Bluffton, S.C.  He was the runner-up at the 1991 U.S. Mid-Amateur where he lost to Jim Stuart 1-up.  He advanced to the round of 16 at the 1998 U.S. Amateur, and set a stroke-play medalist record at the 1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur with a 36-hole total of 132.  He has been named the South Carolina Player of the Year three times: 1991, 1995, and 1999.

"We are all very proud of Bert and wish him the best of luck this week," said current FMU golf coach Mark Gaynor.  "It is an exciting time for both him and the Patriot golf program."