Frank Abbott, a Silverado Resort member, won a U.S. Senior Amateur Sectional Qualifier Monday, shooting a 1-under-par 71 at Marin Country Club in Novato.

Abbott, a Napa resident, went out in 2-under 34 and finished one shot in front of Dan Bieber, who was at even-par 72. Also advancing were Thomas Lyons (73) and Bruce Wold (73).

A field of 66 golfers played for four spots into the Senior Amateur, a U.S. Golf Association event that will be played Sept. 20-25 at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Anything that gets you into the tournament is a good round,” said Abbott. “I feel really good.”

Abbott said the key to his round was putting. Three of his birdie putts came from 6-8 feet. He had three par-saving putts, including a 20-footer that traveled downhill and broke about three feet on the 14th hole. He then made a putt from seven feet to save par on the next hole.

“I got it back on track after that,” said Abbott, who works in software consulting. “I was able to make a few good par putts coming in, so I putted well and hit the ball OK.”

His round consisted of four birdies and three bogeys. This will be Abbott’s ninth USGA event and his fourth senior amateur.

The inaugural USGA Senior Amateur was held in 1955 at Belle Meade Country Club in Nashville, Tenn. The event, for those who are 55 or older on or before the day the championship begins, is open to those with a USGA handicap index of 7.4 or lower.

Abbott lost to Kemp Richardson, of Laguna Niguel, in 19 holes, at the 2003 senior amateurin Bristol, Va. The tournament was played on the Tom Fazio-designed 6,914-yard, par-71 layout.

Abbott qualified for match play in 2004 and 2005 at the senior amateur. He played in the 2004 U.S. Senior Open at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. He was exempted into the field because of his second-place finish in the U.S. Senior Amateur the year before. In April, Abbott shot 144 and finished second in the senior division of the California Mid-Amateur.