Iowa Professional Gibb Outlasts PGA Tour Vets Herron and Smith to Advance to U.S. Senior Open

May 19, 2021 | 4 min.

 
By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  PRIOR LAKE, Minn. – An early eagle helped Judd Gibb to a round of 3-under 69 Wednesday at The Wilds Golf Club, narrowly missing a birdie on the final hole. Gibb put himself in position to claim the lone qualifying spot for the 2021 U.S. Senior Open, but instead had to square off against PGA Tour Champions members Tim Herron and Jerry Smith in a playoff.
 
Gibb watched Herron three-putt for bogey on the first playoff hole and Smith's approach find the water on third playoff hole, where Gibb would chip inside of three feet for a tap-in par to claim his spot in the national championship in early July at Omaha Country Club.
 
“There wouldn’t have been as much pressure on myself if [Herron and Smith] weren’t Tour players,” Gibb said Wednesday. “To beat those two guys in a playoff is a tall order.
 
“This is going to be my first USGA championship, so I’m really looking forward to it and can’t wait to get to Omaha.”
 
Playing in the final group Wednesday, Gibb, a 52-year-old PGA professional from Fort Dodge, Iowa, reached the par-5 second in two and converted his eagle chance before carding birdie at the fourth to quickly get to red figures at 3-under.
 
Turning with a share of the lead, Gibb grabbed the outright lead at the 12th by rolling in a short birdie putt, but would fall back following a bogey at the 15th when his approach found the water left of the green.
 
Unable to capitalize on a pair of birdie chances on the final two holes Wednesday, Gibb finished in a three-way tie with Herron and Smith at 3-under 69.
 
Gibb escaped danger on the second playoff hole when Smith’s short birdie chance slid right of the cup to force another extra hole. Smith’s approach on the third playoff hole came up short of the 18th green, leaving the door open for Gibb, who had missed the green to the left.
 
In between clubs, Gibbs opted for his everyday 56-degree wedge and chipped to tap-in range to claim the sole qualifying spot at the 41st playing of the U.S. Senior Open.
 
“Yesterday when I played a practice round, I thought, ‘This is a very difficult golf course,’” Gibb said following his round Wednesday.  “But if you hit it well, you’re going to have some opportunities for birdies.
 
“I putted really well today—these greens are difficult and every lag putt was inside of two feet. I didn’t have much stress with that.”
  
Gibb qualified for the PGA Championship last year at Harding Park near San Francisco, shooting an opening-round 74 before missing the weekend cut with an 84. He was also scheduled to play in the Senior PGA Championship before the tournament was cancelled.
 
“This will be my first senior major. I’ve always wanted to play in a USGA event, so it should be a lot of fun. It’ll be close to home and hopefully I’ll be able to have some people come. At the [PGA Championship] I was by myself—my wife couldn’t even come with.”
 
Herron overcame an early bogey at the third to turn in 1-under before sinking an 8-footer for birdie at the par-3 11th to pull within one shot of the lead. After a key up-and-down at the 13th, Herron rolled in his fourth birdie of the round at the 14th.
 
Looking for a bid to his first U.S. Senior Open Championship after turning 51-years-old in February, Herron’s hopes were dashed with a costly bogey on the first playoff hole.
 
A Wayzata, Minn., native, Herron has started 18 events on the PGA Tour Champions during the 2020-21 season, earning more than $250,000 in winnings with his best finish coming at the Sanford International where he tied for 12th. He currently sits 57th on the Charles Schwab Cup Money List.
 
Earning a share of the lead thanks to three birdies during his front nine Wednesday, Smith would play his final nine holes at even par with two birdies against a pair of bogeys to shoot 3-under 69.
 
In 123 career starts on the PGA Tour Champions, Smith has one victory and collected more than $2.7M in prize money. This season he’s appeared in four events with one top-25 finish and currently sits 85th on the money list.
 
Tom Whaley, the 2009 Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Amateur champion, posted a round of even par 72 Wednesday to finish in a tie for fourth to earn a share of low-amateur honors with defending MGA Senior Players’ champion Jay Gregory, as well as professionals David Morland and Jeffrey Schmid.
 
Smith and Herron, finished as first and second alternates, respectively.


 

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