Senior Association

*To register for events and any additional information about current events, schedules and fees, please contact Senior Association Tournament Director Larry Ringer, PGA at 304-279-7524 or larryringerpga@hotmail.com. Entries will be taken two weeks before each event.

In the early 1990s an idea became reality when the longtime golf professional at Chantilly National GC, Dick Canney, PGA came up with the idea to create more playing opportunities for those over the age of 50. His idea became what is now called the MAPGA Senior Association. His tireless energy, along with the efforts and thoughts of Bill Wallace, PGA, Keith Eynon, PGA, Leo Steinbrecher, PGA and Al Fenstomocher, PGA helped to create the opportunities we have today throughout the Middle Atlantic in the form of playing and socializing with fellow senior professionals within the Section. Mike Wynn, PGA, formerly of the PGA Tour and not yet of age, also had a part in helping this association become reality.

The formats for these events were to have a couple of pro-only tournaments and possibly five or six pro-ams and a senior championship just for that group of professionals who joined this association. Professionals would be allowed to use their home course handicaps for all tournaments and for all pro-am and team competitions. One of the most avid players at that time was the longtime professional at Chevy Chase, Ward Burgess, PGA. He was one of many who supported these events under that format.

At the time of inception, the association dues were only $25, and the monies would go to small expenses and for future championships, which included the end-of-the-year Championship. The initial enrollment in this group was about 35 professionals, and the average participation was approximately 20 players per event. At the time of the creation of this association, the Section Board of Directors agreed the group would incur no Section fees and that has continued through today.

The first chairman of this association was Dick Canney, PGA, and Bob Benning, PGA followed up two years later. After serving the group for a few years, Bob Schuh, PGA took on the responsibilities and handled the scheduling and operation for a number of years. After Bob decided to step down due to new responsibilities at his course, Dave Walker, PGA took over and did a terrific job for many years, increasing purses and adding events throughout the Northern and Central Chapters of our Section. Many attempts were made to increase events in the South, but not much interest was there, so most of the events have stayed North of Fredericksburg, Virginia. All during these years that the association operated, one person did the scoring and tabulations of winners until about 2011, and that was Bobby Kennedy, PGA. He went to almost every event, played in that event, scored the event, and helped to give out any prizes that were to be distributed that day.

After Dave Walker decided to step down, Larry Ringer PGA took over in 2010 and continues to be the chair and the tournament director today. This cannot be done with one person, so many other professionals have stepped up to the plate to help and they are: Butch Butler, PGA; Mike Fischer, PGA; Bill Horney, PGA; Pat Owen, PGA; Roger Hatcher, PGA; Mike Nardone, PGA; and Frank Blind, PGA.

Although there are few, if any records of these events until about 2010, the following is what has been recollected and submitted by Dick Canney just recently. If there are any other records available, please submit them to Larry Ringer so that he can get them published.

1995 Ted Britt Mid Atlantic Seniors Championship – Played at Chantilly and Evergreen

Winner: Dick Canney, PGA
Runner-Up: David Jimenez, PGA

1996 Ted Britt Mid Atlantic Seniors Championship – Played at Chantilly and International

Winner: Bob Bilbo, PGA
Runner-Up: Dick Canney, PGA

1997 Ted Britt Mid Atlantic Seniors Championship – Played at Chantilly

Winner: Leo Steinbrecher, PGA (won in a 4 hole playoff)
Runner-Up: Dave King (Amateur)

Currently, the MAPGA Senior Association has 15 to 20 events in the Middle Atlantic Section and is largely centered around one day events with minimal entry fees and fields up to 20 players per day. These events are spread out through the Spring, Summer and Fall months and culminate in a Fall Finale of 36 holes, which has been played at Ocean City GC the last few years. Also, the Fall Finale included at one time a one day event hosted by Quin Sullivan, PGA at Nassawango GC for many years.