Erickson secures early lead at Senior Metropolitan Open

Ed Erickson fired a 2-over-par 74 Thursday to secure an early lead in the Open Division for the Senior Metropolitan Open at Mountain View GC.

Erickson leads Bob Gosselin (74), Norman Dunn (77), David Krausse (78) and Ray Pyontek (78) as players challenged the testy par-72 layout.

The popular tournament requires all players aged 50-59 to compete in the Open Division and play from the back tees while any older players have an option to play in their particular age group and from forward tees. Players aged 60-69 competed from the white tees and those 70 and above played from the gold tees.

Erickson said Mercer County Tournament Director John Kostin had penciled him in for a round from the white tees.

“I may be old but I had to tell John I’m not quite ready to move up. I’m not accepting my age well just yet,” Erickson said.

Mark Cubberley had a similar decision with a competent golf game that produces success from any distance. Cubberley, 60, literally polled people before making the decision to move up and play from the white tees. His quorum choice led to a 2-over-74 and a one-shot lead over George Carroll (75). John Gianacaci (76), Richard Trimbrell (78), Fred Wass (79) and Kevin Pappas (79) follow.

Bruce Seamen leads the 70-andabove division with a 1-underpar-71, the lone under par round of the day while Jim Byer (74) and Terry Law (79) trail.

Players also compete in six different age divisions. The top-eight scorers in each division continue play on Saturday and Sunday.

Scores from the Senior Metropolitan Open Tournament at the par72 Mountain View GC.

L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com. Mark Cubberley 74 George Carroll 75 John Gianacaci 76 Fred Wass 79 Brian Rafferty 83 Jim Kopania 83

Joe Donahue 84 Karl Thomas 91 Garnett Griffith 93 Joe Ward 99 Okechukwu Ilonzo 112 Steve Erickson WD

Richard Trimbell 78 Kevin Pappas 79 Neil Pomphrey 81 Ansley Jessup 82 Colin Clark 82 Tim Megargle 82 Astor Ho Sang El 83 Paul Moscarello 86 Bill Stewart 87 Joe Ruggear 87 Jay Davidson 88 Bill Harley 94 Barry DiDonato 98 Jack Loncosky 101 Tony Stacey 121

Bruce Seamen 71 Jim Byer 74

Terry Law 79 George Matucheck 80 Dal Shin 82 Cortland Coleman 82 Larry Martin 82 George Argalias 83 Steven Furst 86 Alan Tormandson 93 Frank Slimak 96 Fred Bastedo 103

Rich Jannotti 87 John O’Keefe 90 Dave Pullen 92 Vincent Buzzo 92 Ed Wyszynski 94 Spencer Person 107