Headline: MGA to Assume Event Operations of Ouimet Memorial Tournament Beginning in 2017; Two Bay State Organizations to join forces to transition #OMT into the MGA’s 13th State Championship Proper by 2018

For Immediate Release: August 31, 2016

MGA and Ouimet Fund officials celebrate with the 2016 #OMT champions.

Norton, MA — Following the 49th annual edition of the Ouimet Memorial Tournament, officials from the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund and the MGA announced that the two organizations will be transitioning management responsibilities for this prestigious golf event which debuted in 1968.

Beginning with the 2017 golf season, the MGA will assume lead management of the Ouimet Memorial and will work closely with Tournament chairman Richard Connolly and Ouimet Fund executive director Bob Donovan as the event prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary next July.

“This management change will enable the Ouimet Fund to concentrate on the Ouimet Golf Marathon, and our Club Relations and major gifts efforts which are much closer to our core mission of fund raising for our college scholarships,” said Greg Gailius, president of the Ouimet Fund. “We are happy to have the MGA continue this great tradition, and look forward to celebrating the 50th Ouimet Memorial next year.”

The MGA will utilize its corps of volunteer rules officials and full-time championship and communications staff plus its event operations system to manage the event, which is contested over a three-day period each July and concludes at Woodland Golf Club, the longtime home golf club of Francis Ouimet.

“The Tournament is one of the most respected and tradition-laden events in the region,” said Tom Bagley, the MGA’s president. “The MGA is looking forward to adding our management resources and expertise.”

Connolly will continue to serve as Tournament chairman, a role he has served since 1979.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Ouimet Memorial,” said Connolly. “Having two outstanding organizations like the MGA and Ouimet Fund work together will only strengthen this tournament.”

In the 2018 golf season, the event will become part of the MGA Championship Proper schedule that includes marquee events such as the MGA Amateur Championship and MGA Open Championship.

“Our goal is to elevate the Ouimet Memorial, and we can’t think of a better way to accomplish that than to make it our 13th State Championship and to align it with our full Championship Schedule available to MGA competitors throughout the Commonwealth,” said Jesse Menachem, the MGA’s executive director. “By working together with the Ouimet Fund, we can ensure the vitality of this championship for many years to come.”

Future changes and enhancements to the Ouimet Memorial Tournament will be considered, such as the make-up of the field, eligibility requirements and the conditions of competition.

“We have had 49 wonderful years with the Ouimet Memorial Tournament, but the expectations and needs of tournament management today are much more than our small staff can handle,” said Donovan. “We only do one competitive golf event a year, and feel the tournament and the field will be better served with the nationally recognized MGA team managing it.”

For more information about the following organizations, please use these links.

Massachusetts Golf Association – mgalinks.org

Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund – ouimet.org