Headline: Former Massachusetts Amateur and Massachusetts Open Champion Rob Oppenheim Prepares for Professional Debut on the Nationwide Tour
For Immediate Release: January 19, 2010
Norton, MA — Rob Oppenheim (Andover, MA) had a good reason for missing this year's MGA Salute to Champions Dinner.
Instead of returning home to Andover earlier this month to be honored for his victory at the 2009 Massachusetts Open Championship, Oppenheim remained in Florida in order to prepare for his debut on the Nationwide Tour.
This marks yet another giant step in the 30 year old's golf career.
Just last season, Oppenheim became only the sixth player in the 100-year history of the Massachusetts Open Championship to capture both the Massachusetts Amateur and Massachusetts Open titles. Included in that impressive list of champions are Francis Ouimet, Jesse Guilford, Charles Volpone, Jim Hallet, Kevin Johnson and now Rob Oppenheim.
Joining Oppenheim on the Nationwide Tour this season will be another familiar Bay State native – Justin Peters. Those two players will take the place of two other Massachusetts competitors – Kevin Johnson and Fran Quinn – who played their way onto the 2010 PGA Tour after strong seasons on the 2009 Nationwide Tour.
Here is an article – written by long-time MassGolfer magazine contributor and golf historian Gary Larrabee – which chronicles Oppenheim's journey from 2002 Massachusetts Amateur Champion to Nationwide Tour player.
News and notes:Oppenheim ready to tee off full time on Nationwide Tour
January 13, 2010
By Gary Larrabee
It’s been a long, arduous journey to get this far, but Andover’s Rob Oppenheim has finally taken a major step forward in his career as a playing professional. By placing 64th at the 2009 PGA Tour Qualifying School, Oppenheim gained full playing privileges on the 2010 Nationwide Tour, the PGA Tour’s version of Triple A baseball.
“I’m closer to fulfilling my dream of getting on the PGA Tour,” Oppenheim told North Shore Golf magazine after finishing 15-under over three rounds to cash the $8,500 winner’s check in the first event on the 2010 Hooters’ Tour in chilly Florida, a tuneup for the Nationwide inaugural January 28-31 at the New Zealand Open.
“It’s the one direct route for playing my way onto the PGA Tour.”
If Oppenheim, who turns 30 on January 12, can finish among the top 25 money winners in 2010, as Massachusetts-bred 40-somethings Kevin Johnson (13th, $266,000) and Fran Quinn (25th, $191,000) did in 2009, he’ll punch his ticket onto the Big Show, Tiger Woods or no Tiger Woods.
“After bouncing around on the Canadian Tour and assorted mini-tours the last several years, this is where I need to be to find out how good I can be,” said Oppenheim, who grew up just off the fairways at Indian Ridge, and whoworks with Andover CC pro Mike Menery.
“This is my first chance on the Nationwide. The opportunity is there. It’s up to me to take advantage.”
Oppenheim, the son of a prominent local golfing clan that include father Jim and his late uncle, Peter, has the game, most observers agree. The former Rollins College standout has had moderate success in his professional travels, including victory in the 2009 Massachusetts Open at Belmont. That made him one of only five players, including Johnson and Francis Ouimet, to win both the Mass. Open and Mass. Amateur (2002 at Winchester). But now he faces the ultimate challenge of his career. It wasn’t easy getting there. He’d never reached the third and final stage of Q-School until December. He’d been to the second stage five times and never made it to the climactic 108-hole finale. Oppenheim was in fact in great shape to earn his PGA Tour card last month after middle rounds of 69 and 67 placed him seven under after four rounds. But he slipped to 75 and 73 finishing up.
“Even with that finish, I was encouraged,” Oppenheim said, when I finished one-under for the last three holes, knowing I was shooting for as high a slot in the Nationwide Tour pecking order as I could attain.” He also got to play the last two rounds in what was considered the “headline” pairing with Rickie Fowler, considered by some as the next Rory McElroy. Fowler finished strong and earned his PGA Tour card. “That was a good experience,” Rob said.“I feel as good as I’ve ever felt,” said Oppenheim, who was given a rousing sendoff by family and friends at Long Meadow Golf Club in Lowell, one of his former stomping grounds.
“I’ll have no excuses if I don’t make the most of this opportunity.”
Oppenheim, who also works with Tom Garner at Bay Hill in Orlando, Rob’s southern base, plans to play in most every one of the 29 events scheduled. One he’ll miss is the Mexico Open the end of June so that he can attend his sister Jill’s wedding in Aruba.
“I’ve been very fortunate over the years,” Rob, Salem-born, said. “I’ve had every chance to make the most of my game thanks to my parents, above everyone else, and the many people who’ve supported me from the Greater Andover area. Now it’s my turn to return that support with the best season of my life.”
Quinn, Johnson and James Driscoll, the Bay State’s standard bearers on the PGA Tour in 2010, are anxious to welcome Oppenheim to their exclusive club.
Congratulations to all of these great champions. The MGA thanks them for representing the Bay State so well on the national stage!