The trio were the only three competitors to post rounds in red numbers in the championship’s first visit to Princess Anne.

Thomas, 59, a VSGA member at military course Aeropines Golf Course in Virginia Beach, birdied two of the last three holes, the par-4 16th as well as the par-3 17th, to equal the low round of the day. Towler, 62, an alternate in USGA Senior Amateur Championship sectional qualifying earlier this month, followed much the same route, also birdieing Nos. 16 and 17 to shoot two under.

Fischer (pictured right), the 1996 VSGA Senior Amateur champion, equaled his age with his opening round score. He scorched the outward half, shooting 4-under 31 which included four birdies in a six-hole stretch at Nos. 2, 3, 6 and 7.

Three other competitors opening with even-par 70, including northern Virginian Pat Tallent (Vienna), the 2007 VSGA State Am champion and reigning Middle Atlantic Golf Association Senior Amateur champion. Tallent, 56, is playing in his second year in which he is eligible for the event; he reached the age eligibility requirement of 55 in ’08 and advanced to the event semifinals last year.

Play was suspended for two hours, eight minutes in the afternoon due to severe weather, with the suspension starting at 3:17 p.m. EST. When play resumed at 5:25 p.m., Richmond’s Tony Aguiar led the afternoon wave, firing 2-over 72.

Following Tuesday’s second round of stroke play qualifying, 32 players will advance to match play; 33 competitors shot a score of 4-over 74 or better in the first round.

The first and second rounds of match play are set for Wednesday, Aug. 26, followed by the quarterfinals and semifinals on Thursday, Aug. 27 and the scheduled 18-hole championship match on Friday Aug. 28.

VIRGINIA BEACH –– Results following the first round of stroke play qualifying at the 62nd VSGA Senior Amateur Championship at Princess Anne Country Club (5,968 yards, par 35-35—70) on Monday, Aug. 24.

Greg Thomas (Virginia Beach), 35-33—68
Stan Fischer (Richmond), 31-37—68
Terry Towler (Dillwyn), 35-33—68
Bill Johnson (Fredericksburg), 33-37—70
J.W. Entsminger (Lexington), 34-36—70
Pat Tallent (Vienna), 37-33—70
William Engel (Alexandria), 37-33—70
Harry Cain (Williamsburg), 36-35—71
Mike McDonald (Williamsburg), 36-36—72
Bert Wilson (Mechanicsville), 36-36—72
John Long (Centreville), 38-34—72
John Casstevens (Glen Allen), 36-36—72
George B. Owens (Virginia Beach), 38-34—72
Bill Cowardin (Newport News), 35-37—72
Tony Aguiar (Richmond), 34-38—72
Jay Rickles (Hampton), 38-35—73
David Stewart (McLean), 39-34—73
Worth Banner (Virginia Beach), 35-38—73
Bob Moyers (New Market), 34-39—73
Bill Dickinson (Virginia Beach), 37-36—73
Nick Wright (Virginia Beach), 35-38—73
Pat Parcells (Newport News), 38-35—73
Lynn G. Wessman (Arlington), 39-35—74
Bill Love (Blacksburg), 37-37—74
Alvin Wall (Virginia Beach), 37-37—74
O.D. Gardner (Newport News), 39-35—74
Vinny Giles (Richmond), 37-37—74
Tom Grady (Marshall), 39-35—74
J.P. Leigh (Suffolk), 37-37—74
Charles E. Green III (Tazewell), 39-35—74
Leon Roday (Richmond), 39-35—74
Steve Isaacs (Richmond), 37-37—74
Fritz Hirchert (Virginia Beach), 38-36—74
Freddie Veraque (Virginia Beach), 36-39—75
Bobby Bleiler (Suffolk), 37-38—75
Jeff Fleishman (Williamsburg), 39-36—75
Jerry Flowers (Virginia Beach), 37-38—75
Jim Groves (Chesapeake), 36-39—75
Ron Burniske (Virginia Beach), 38-37—75
Roger Pitkin (Springfield), 39-36—75
Doug Banks (Ashburn), 37-39—76
Tim Hollinger (Spotsylvania), 39-37—76
Sam Robinson (Glen Allen), 41-35—76
John Cuomo (Richmond), 38-38—76
Dick Ogden (Chesapeake), 36-40—76
Doug Kendrick (Danville), 38-38—76
Stephen Smith (Arlington), 39-37—76
Jay Hehn (Hampton), 37-39—76
George Kapetanakis (McLean), 38-38—76
Charles Ballou (Alexandria), 37-39—76
Garrett McGehee (Portsmouth), 37-39—76
Murray Rudisill (Portsmouth), 41-36—77
John Whitmore (Alexandria), 37-40—77
Moss Beecroft (Newport News), 40-37—77
Larry Brinn (Chesapeake), 39-38—77
Billy McClanan (Virginia Beach), 39-39—78
Michael W. Ancel (Newport News), 40-38—78
Thomas Kidd (Richmond), 37-41—78
Ed Markowski (Virginia Beach), 39-39—78
Bill Thomas (Chesapeake), 41-37—78
Bill Smiley (Richmond), 36-42—78
Keith Reynolds (Richmond), 39-39—78
Keith Austin (Lynchburg), 42-36—78
Don Kelly (Alexandria), 39-39—78
Pat Rennie (Charlottesville), 41-38—79
Jim Lazour (Arlington), 42-37—79

Tom Hackett (Powhatan), 38-41—79
John Price (Chantilly), 39-40—79
Larry Dye (Tazewell), 38-41—79
Tommy Thomson (Virginia Beach), 40-39—79
Top Allaun (Wicomico), 41-38—79
Bill Kellam (Williamsburg), 38-41—79
Taylor Jennings (Herndon), 39-41—80

Len Isaacs (Richmond), 37-43—80
Don Jeanes (Fairfax), 36-44—80
Jeff Nemoytin (Elkton), 39-41—80
Bill Mallon (Springfield), 37-43—80
Brian Maloney (Reston), 39-41—80
James Walker (Virginia Beach), 38-42—80
John Miller (Potomac Falls), 41-39—80
Robert Tucker (Great Falls), 43-38—81
Paul Smith (Chesapeake), 42-39—81
Bill Belmonte (Emporia), 39-42—81
George Deryckere (Woodbridge), 41-40—81
Archie McDowell (Virginia Beach), 43-38—81
Stewart Fleming (Lexington), 39-42—81
David Banks (Galax), 44-38—82

Chalmers Nunn (Lynchburg), 42-40—82

Marshall Fleming (Portsmouth), 45-37—82
Robert Murphy (Leesburg), 41-41—82
Phil Gregg (Newport News), 39-43—82
Walt Martin (Oakton), 41-42—83
Marc Halley (Leesburg), 39-44—83
John Hauser (Virginia Beach), 39-44—83
John Bolino (Suffolk), 40-43—83
Don Pretsch (Alexandria), 43-40—83
Gordon Huey (Virginia Beach), 40-43—83
Hank Webb (Fairfax), 43-40—83
Tom Witt (Powhatan), 43-41—84
Donnie Simpson (Chesapeake), 40-44—84
Vernon Roberts (Leesburg), 43-41—84
Cruger Ragland (Kilmarnock), 46-38—84
Mark Whitehurst (Chesapeake), 42-42—84
Chuck McKinney (Virginia Beach), 41-44—85
Bill Stramm (Cape Charles), 45-40—85
Steve Wilson (Annandale), 40-45—85
George Kemp (Virginia Beach), 41-45—86
Bob Sears (Newport News), 40-46—86
James Wheat (Richmond), 44-42—86
Jerry Estep (Mount Jackson), 43-43—86
Gerald Kesten (Arlington), 43-43—86
Jeff Weidig (Williamsburg), 45-42—87
Barry Shea (Danville), 48-47—95
Fred Dunning (Alexandria), 53-48—101
David A. King (Sterling), WD

Jim Kite (Wolftown), NC

VIRGINIA BEACH –– Groupings and starting times for the second round of stroke play qualifying at the 62nd VSGA Senior Amateur Championship Princess Anne Country Club (5,968 yards, par 35-35—70) on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

ALL TIMES EDT

Tuesday (Aug. 25), hole No. 1

8 a.m. – Bill Thomas (Chesapeake); Marc Halley (Leesburg); Marshall Fleming (Portsmouth)

8:10 a.m. – Robert Tucker (Great Falls); Bill Stramm (Cape Charles); Bill Mallon (Springfield)

8:20 a.m. – Bill Belmonte (Emporia); Brian Maloney (Reston); Steve Wilson (Annandale)
8:30 a.m. – Donnie Simpson (Chesapeake); Fritz Hirchert (Virginia Beach); Bob Moyers (New Market)

8:40 a.m. – Moss Beecroft (Newport News); Stephen Smith (Arlington); John Hauser (Virginia Beach)
8:50 a.m. – George Deryckere (Woodbridge); John Bolino (Suffolk); Keith Reynolds (Richmond)

9 a.m. – Vernon Roberts (Leesburg); Archie McDowell (Virginia Beach); Stewart Fleming (Lexington)

9:10 a.m. – Charles Ballou (Alexandria); Jerry Estep (Mount Jackson); Gerald Kesten (Arlington)
9:20 a.m. – Gordon Huey (Virginia Beach); Hank Webb (Fairfax); Fred Dunning (Alexandria)

12 p.m. – Bill Johnson (Fredericksburg); Jim Lazour (Arlington); Jay Rickles (Hampton)

12:10 p.m. – Bill Love (Blacksburg); Taylor Jennings (Herndon); David Banks (Galax)

12:20 p.m. – Len Isaacs (Richmond); Murray Rudisill (Portsmouth); Alvin Wall (Virginia Beach)

12:30 p.m. – Billy McClanan (Virginia Beach); Tom Witt (Powhatan)

12:40 p.m. – O.D. Gardner (Newport News); John Price (Chantilly); George Kemp (Virginia Beach)

12:50 p.m. – John Long (Centreville); J.P. Leigh (Suffolk); John Casstevens (Glen Allen)

1 p.m. – John Cuomo (Richmond); Leon Roday (Richmond); Dick Ogden (Chesapeake)

1:10 p.m. – Walt Martin (Oakton); Michael W. Ancel (Newport News); Larry Dye (Tazewell)

1:20 p.m. – Stan Fischer (Richmond); William Engel (Alexandria)

1:30 p.m. – Worth Banner (Virginia Beach); Tommy Thomson (Virginia Beach); Terry Towler (Dillwyn)

Tuesday (Aug. 25), hole No. 10

8 a.m. – Top Allaun (Wicomico); Ed Markowski (Virginia Beach); Jim Groves (Keswick)

8:10 a.m. – Robert Murphy (Leesburg); Chuck McKinney (Virginia Beach); Ron Burniske (Virginia Beach)

8:20 a.m. – Jeff Weidig (Williamsburg); Paul Smith (Chesapeake); Tony Aguiar (Richmond)

8:30 a.m. – Roger Pitkin (Springfield); Bob Sears (Newport News); Jim Wheat (Richmond)

8:40 a.m. – Bill Dickinson (Virginia Beach); Bill Smiley (Richmond); Bill Kellam (Williamsburg)

8:50 a.m. – Nick Wright (Virginia Beach); Pat Parcells (Newport News); Larry Brinn (Chesapeake)

9 a.m. – Keith Austin (Lynchburg); James Walker (Virginia Beach); Jay Hehn (Hampton)

9:10 a.m. – Don Kelly (Alexandria); George Kapetanakis (McLean); Cruger Ragland (Kilmarnock)

9:20 a.m. – Phil Gregg (Newport News); Don Pretsch (Alexandria); Mark Whitehurst (Chesapeake)

9:30 a.m. – John Miller (Potomac Falls); Barry Shea (Danville); Garrett McGehee (Portsmouth)

12 p.m. – Doug Banks (Ashburn); Pat Rennie (Charlottesville); Lynn G. Wessman (Arlington)

12:10 p.m. – David Stewart (McLean); Tim Hollinger (Spotsylvania); Mike McDonald (Williamsburg)

12:20 p.m. – J.W. Entsminger (Lexington); Bert Wilson (Mechanicsville); Sam Robinson (Glen Allen)

12:30 p.m. – Harry Cain (Williamsburg); Freddie Veraque (Virginia Beach); Chalmers Nunn (Lynchburg)

12:40 p.m. – Tom Hackett (Powhatan); Don Jeanes (Fairfax); Greg Thomas (Virginia Beach)

12:50 p.m. – Vinny Giles (Richmond); Tom Grady (Marshall)
1 p.m. – Charles E. Green III (Tazewell); Pat Tallent (Vienna); Bobby Bleiler (Suffolk)

1:10 p.m. – Steve Isaacs (Richmond); George B. Owens (Virginia Beach); Jeff Fleishman (Williamsburg)

1:20 p.m. – Jeff Nemoytin (Elkton); Bill Cowardin (Newport News); John Whitmore (Alexandria)