Dunedin Golfers Tee Off on Shot at U.S. Senior Open

Spectators can watch Monday as two Dunedin golfers vie to qualify for a shot at the USGA Senior Open.

They are among 84 from around the world in the qualifying rounds at Dunedin Golf Club on June 24. The top two qualifiers advance to the U.S. Senior Open in Omaha, NE, July 8-14, which will air on ESPN2 and NBC Sports.

Rod Spittle, who once competed on the Champions Tour, and Ken Palladino, residing Dunedin champion, are local representatives in the Senior Open Qualifying Tournament.

Spittle, a Canadian native, and Palladino, an amateur from Dunedin, qualified for the U.S. Senior Open three years ago, Randolph said. Palladino has maintained his amateur status.

Matt Mitchell of Palm Harbor is another local entry to watch. Mitchell holds the Dunedin course record of 62.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Dunedin Golf Club is hosting the tournament, Ronald Randolph, general manager, said. Most hail from Florida, but some are traveling from as far as Colombia and the Republic of Korea.

Want to Watch?

Spectators are welcome, but they must make sure they are quiet while the players are hitting, said Randolph.

• When: Monday, June 24
• Where: Dunedin Golf Club
• Tee Times: Two groups of three will tee off starting at 8 a.m., from holes 1 and 10 respectively. Groups will continue with start times slated every 9 minutes until the last groups begin at 9:57 a.m.

Tee Times for Local Participants: 

• Rod Spittle tees off from tee 1 at 8:18 a.m. with Douglas Snoap of Apopka and Steve Sharp, an amateur from Flint, MI; 
• Matt Mitchell tees of from 10 at 8:27 a.m. with Bill Shriver of Grafton, WV, and Adam Grant, an amateur from Noblesville, IN; 
• Ken Palladino tees off from 1 at 9:30 a.m. with Gil Foushee of Lakeland and Tom Case, an amateur from Fort Myers.