The Massachusetts Super Senior Amateur was first contested in the fall 10 years ago at Cohasset Golf Club and has continued to grow in popularity since. Over the past eight days, 35 players combined earned an automatic spot in the three 18-hole qualifying events held for this year’s championship.
Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg will host this year’s championship, which is open to golfers who age 65+ as of October 1, 2024, who have an active Mass Golf Membership and a Handicap Index® not exceeding 12.0 (at the time of registration).
On Tuesday, August 13, at Brockton CC, Edward Whittemore (The Ridge Club) earned medalist honors in qualifying for the second time in three years to lead 10 players who advanced. Playing in the first group of the day, Whittemore made 14 pars and a birdie to shoot 2-over-par 74.
Among a pack of three finishing with a 76 was John Crook (Cape Cod National Golf Club), a veteran Mass Golf Rules Official and a representative on Mass Golf’s Board of Directors. Raymond Thompson (Widows Walk Golf Course) also shot 76 with an eagle on his second pass at the short par-4 5th hole (252 yards). Michael Ryan (Plymouth Country Club) shot 77 to qualify in his first year eligible, while Mark Lemons (Cyprian Keyes Golf Club), who played along Whittemore, qualified on the number with a 78.
On Monday, August 19, at Country Club of Wilbraham, Al Alminas (Franconia/Veterans Golf Course) finished five strokes clear of the field by shooting 2-under 69 and leading eight players who qualified. Alminas began the round with a birdie and added three more to shoot 1-under on both nines.
Del Kinney (Wyantenuck Country Club), 83, a longtime Mass Golf volunteer and a former Executive Director for the Connecticut State Golf Association, finished tied for second by shooting 74. He finished tied with Steve Hallquist (Amherst Golf Club). Edward Sheehan (Wahconah Country Club) made birdie on the 16th, and Doug Farmer (Bedrock Golf Club) poured one in on the 17th to qualify on the number with a 78.
On Wednesday, August 21, at Wedgewood Pines Country Club, home club member Joe Seckler led the way by shooting 1-over 73 that included a pair of birdies to finish the best out of 17 qualifiers. Bob Magnuson (Ferncroft Country Club) and Tim Walsh (Butter Brook Golf Club) were the next-best finishers at 76 and 77. At 65 years old, they’re among a new crop of eligible super senior players.
Other qualifiers who are 65 years old included Douglas Parigian (Long Meadow Golf Club), Steve Howard (Granite Links Golf Club), Steve Cameron (Thomson Country Club), Kris Hales (The Ridge Club), and Bill Crosby (Concord Country Club).
Len Ladd (Bradford Country Club) also qualified on his 79th birthday, shooting one stroke better than his age to advance to the Championship Proper.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS FROM THIS WEEK:
QUALIFIER (Brockton CC-Par 72)
Edward Whittemore, The Ridge Club; 74
John Crook, Cape Cod National Golf Club; 76
Raymond Thompson, Widows Walk Golf Course; 76
Michael Donovan, Wachusett Country Club; 76
Michael Murphy, Bayberry Hills / Bass River; 77
Cy Kilgore, Tedesco Country Club; 77
Michael Ryan, Plymouth Country Club; 77
Mark Lemons, Cyprian Keyes Golf Club; 78
Kevin O’Neil, Pocasset Golf Club; 78
David Jubinville, Orchards Golf Club; 78
ALTERNATES
John Greene, Westborough Golf Club; 79
Kenneth Clark, George Wright Golf Course; 79
QUALIFIER (CC of Wilbraham-Par 71)
Al Alminas, Franconia/Veterans Golf Course; 69
Steve Hallquist, Amherst Golf Club; 74
Del Kinney, Wyantenuck Country Club; 74
Michael Corbin, Mount Pleasant Golf Club; 75
Peter Sherman, Twin Hills Country Club; 78
Edward Sheehan, Wahconah Country Club; 78
Doug Farmer, Bedrock Golf Club; 78
Ray Lacourse, Wyckoff Country Club; 78
ALTERNATES
Ronald Soderman, Wachusett Country Club; 79
Jeffrey Gold, Amherst Golf Club; 79
QUALIFIER (Wedgewood Pines CC-Par 70)
Joe Seckler, Wedgewood Pines Country Club; 73
Bob Magnuson, Ferncroft Country Club; 76
Tim Walsh, Butter Brook Golf Club; 77
Len Ladd, Bradford Country Club; 78
Douglas Parigian, Long Meadow Golf Club; 79
Mike Harney, Blackstone National Golf Club; 80
Rick Fleischman, Hopkinton Country Club; 81
Steve Howard, Granite Links Golf Club; 81
Steve Cameron, Thomson Country Club; 81
Steve Barber, Franklin Country Club; 81
Kris Hales, The Ridge Club; 83
Wayne Burgess, Long Meadow Golf Club; 85
Bill Crosby, Concord Country Club; 85
James Grant, Bradford Country Club; 85
Larry Hall, Shaker Hills Country Club; 85
George Koerner, Merrimack Valley Golf Club; 85
Steven James, Woodland Golf Club; 85
ALTERNATES
Dan Costa, Franconia/Veterans Golf Course; 86
Charles Costello, Ferncroft Country Club; 86
Paul Rodgers, Marlboro Golf League; 86
Rob Rickless, Quail Ridge Country Club; 86
Robert Wight, Salem Country Club; 86
Thomas Taylor, Westborough Golf Club; 86
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