MGA Senior Series comes to the Metro East
By Back Nine Contributor - Adam Frillman

The Missouri Golf Association launched their new Senior Series of two, one day events throughout the state in 2007 and was welcomed with open arms by golfers aged 50+.  "We wanted to create a series of competitive yet casual events to give the states senior players more opportunities to enjoy friendly competition," said MGA Executive Director Scott Hovis.

This week the Senior Series visited the Metro St. Louis area with two, one-day events at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course in Alton and Gateway National Golf Links in Madison, Illinois.  Over 60 players participated in each event providing a great field for competition and camaraderie.  Players traveled from across the state including Springfield, Camdenton, Columbia and as far as Mission Hills, Kansas. 

Players are able to compete in age divisions of 50 - 54, 55 - 59, 60 - 64, 65 - 69 and 70+ and there are gross and net divisions in each age group.  The Gross Divisions were dominated by St. Louis area players like JJ Vastyan, Terry Tessary, Norton Balber, Carl Benbrook and Don Dupske all won their age brackets at Spencer T Olin while Russ Woodbury of Aurora, MO was the only out of towner to win a gross division bracket.

The Net Division was a different story as a variety of St. Louis residents and out of towners won their respective divisions.  On Tuesday, at Gateway National play was highlighted by a sizzling 69 by Terry Tessary of Collinsville, Illinois and a hole in one on the 12th hole by Gary Mears. 

The Senior Series has four more cities to visit as they head to Kansas City on June 30th and July 1st, Cape Girardeau on July 10th and 11th, Branson on August 25th and 26th and the Lake of the Ozarks on September 2nd and 3rd.  For more information on how to get involved in the Senior Series visit www.mogolf.org.