Headline: MGA Officials Prepare to Take Rules Officiating Skills to the National Stage at the 2017 U.S. Senior Open Championship

For Immediate Release: June 25, 2017

From top: Karen Ammerman, Dick Osborn and Dave Fite will be key volunteers at the 2017 U.S. Senior Open Championship.

Norton, MA — This week several of the world’s top senior golfers will travel to the Bay State for the 38th playing of the U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club, seeking the treasured Francis Ouimet Memorial Trophy.

There, the four-day USGA Championship Proper will see the likes of David Toms, Gene Sauers and Tom Lehman, among many other famed golfers, once again compete for the opportunity to enshrine their names in golf history.

On a local level, Hatherly Country Club professional Chip Johnson and Stowe (Vt.) Country Club professional Ron Philo, who both qualified at Kernwood Country Club on May 24, will also give the tens of thousands in expected attendance something to root for from the opposite side of the ropes.

However, the 156 players in the field aren’t the only ones inside the ropes that members of the golf community will recognize when next week’s Championship Proper kicks off.

Beginning on Monday, June 26 – the first day of practice rounds - four Massachusetts Golf Association officials will be among the more than 2,000 volunteers who will be working to ensure the national championship runs smoothly.

Dave Fite, Dave Miller, Dick Osborn and Karen Ammerman – all longtime officials who have worn several hats over the course of their time with the MGA, will also be providing their skills on the North Shore next week.

“Year in and year out, our MGA officials continue to be the backbone of our operation in our dozens of Championship and qualifying events and are a major reason for our success” said Jesse Menachen, the MGA's Executive Director. “These four individuals have each given back to the sport in numerous capacities and their willingness to volunteer at a national event is another example of their tireless dedication. We are thrilled that they’ll be able to showcase their talents on a national level.”

While all have four have served as MGA officials for several years, their work has not been limited to just making rulings and assisting players in competitions.

All four volunteers will serve as USGA Rules Officials, while their specific assignments are expected to be released over the weekend.

More about the officials:

Dave Fite is the current Treasurer for the New England Golf Association and among many roles, serves on the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Board of Directors. He is also an experienced course rater for the Massachusetts Golf Association.

Past MGA and NEGA President Dick Osborn (2006-07) is the 2015 recipient of the Andrew J. Blau MGA Volunteer of the Year Award and is a longtime OIC for the MGA Member Day program. He has also been a volunteer at the former Deutsche Bank/ now Dell Technologies Championship that takes place at TPC Boston over Labor Day Weekend and has serve in that capacity since its inception in 2003.  

Dave Miller has been an active volunteer and rules official in MGA, NEGA and USGA events for several years in addition to the Northeast Amateur Championship. This will be his ninth USGA Senior Open Championship that he has been asked to officiate while he has also served at 10 US Senior Amateur Championships, the Curtis Cup and has held a prominent role at both men and women’s Amateur Championships as well. He has been on the US Senior Open Committee and continuously scored in the 98 and 99 percentiles on the annual Rules of Golf exam administered by the USGA.

Last but not least, Karen Ammerman, a former USGA Executive Committee Member serves on the NEGA Board as the Massachusetts NEGA Association Representative and most recently on the Senior Women’s Amateur Championship Committee for last year’s Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.  

In addition to the four officials inside the ropes, several other MGA staff and volunteers will be assisting in the operation of the US Senior Open Championship at Salem Country Club, the site of the 2001 US Senior Open Championship.

The 2017 US Senior Open Championship will take place from June 29-July 2 at Salem Country Club in Peabody. Three days of practice rounds begin on Monday, June 26. For more information on the Championship Proper or to purchase tickets, visit: http://2017ussenioropen.com/.