About Us: News - 2010 Archives
Headline: Players, Officials, Friends and Family Comes Together to Celebrate the 2009 Season at the MGA's Salute to Champions Dinner
For Immediate Release: January 7, 2010
Norton, MA — The temperatures outside may have been chilly, but the more than 200 individuals who attended the MGA's Salute to Champions Dinner did not seem to mind.
Photo Caption: Mike Dowling has served as Master of Ceremonies at the Salute to Champions Dinner 13 out of 15 years.
For the 15th straight year, the MGA welcomed the 2009 champions and their friends and families as well as scores of MGA rules officials, club personnel and special guests to this annual event, which was held on January 7 at Wellesley Country Club.
The Salute to Champions Dinner, first held in 1995, is a way for the organization to honor each champion from the MGA and New England Golf Association events as well as the Women's Golf Association of Massachusetts Amateur and Junior Champions and the MGA and WGAM Players of the Year.
Salute to Champions Links:
Here are just a few highlights from this year's Salute to Champions Dinner.
- For the 13th year, Mike Dowling – the principal sports reporter for WCVB-TV’s NewsCenter 5 – served as master of ceremonies.
- As part of the evening's festivities, Jim Gaquin received the Frank H. Sellman Distinguished Service Award. This honor was established in 1988 in order to recognize individuals who have exhibited exemplary service to the game of golf during the course of their careers. Jim was joined at the podium by his wife Lois, who serves as co-director of the Cape Cod Open and Cape Cod Senior Open.
Photo Caption: Brian Higgins (left), the 2009 Mid-Amateur Champion, catches up with fellow competitor Dan Falcucci, who also serves on the MGA's Junior Golf Sub-Committee.
- During dinner, attendees enjoyed a 12-minute video – courtesy of MGA photographer/videographer David Colt – that provided highlights from the 2009 MGA Championships.
- The evening was capped off by honoring the MGA and WGAM Players of the Decade, Tara Joy Connelly and Frank Vana, Jr.
- A moment of silence was observed to honor the recent passing of three golf legends – Dave Adamonis, Sr., Fordie Pitts and Andy Blau.
- For the first time in 15 years, Evening Chairman Don Page was not in attendance. Page, a longtime member of Wellesley Country Club, was the engineer behind the introduction of the Salute to Champions Dinner back in 1995. His wife, Meredith, passed away that morning due to complications from a stroke suffered on New Year's Eve.
- In addition to the MGA, NEGA and WGAM champions, several other competitors were recognized throughout the night including.
- The 12 members of the victorious Team Massachusetts which captured the 2009 Tri-State Team Matches title at Pleasant Valley Country Club in October. Members of Team Massachusetts include: Team Captain Richard Osborn, Mike Calef, Mike Cole, John Gilmartin, John Hadges, Brian Higgins, Robert Linn, Paul Murphy, Paul Nunez, Ryan Riley, Ben Spitz, Frank Vana, Jr. and Kevin Velardo.
- The three-member men's team made up of Frank Vana, Jr., Brian Higgins and John Hadges who finished T6 at the 2009 USGA Men's State Team Championship... and the three-member women's team made up of Tara Joy Connelly, Pam Kuong and Chelsea Curtis, who finishd T16 at the 2009 USGA Women's State Team Championship.
- Champions of the various Regional Events that are included as part of the Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year points system were recognized. Those champions in attendance included: Kevin Carey (Norfolk County Classic), Frank Vana, Jr. (New England Invitational); Doug Parigian (North Shore Amateur); Brian Higgins (Tarlow Invitational), Steve Tasho (Southeastern Amateur); and Brian Secia (Cape Cod Amateur).
- Six out of the 20 Bay State competitors who advanced to USGA Championship events in 2009 were recognized. Those qualifiers include Mike Calef (U.S. Amateur), Bob Linn (U.S. Senior Amateur), Paul Nunez, Jr. (U.S. Senior Amateur), Brian Higgins (U.S. Mid-Amateur), Herbie Aikens (U.S. Mid-Amateur) and Andrew Diramio (U.S. Mid-Amateur).
Thank you to all the attendees for making it such a special evening. See you on the course in 2010!
