Around the country, several Southern Nevada Golf Association rules officials have made a name for themselves by being selected to officiate some of the top United States Golf Association events of the year. In 2024, Sue May, Tim Quinn and Rusty Beckel will be on hand to help oversee the tournaments. –By Brian Hurlburt, LasVegasGolfInsider.com
“It’s a real privilege to represent the USGA and the SNGA at these tournaments,” said Tim Quinn, who is also a former SNGA president. “We work very hard to get there, and it’s very fulfilling to be recognized and assigned to those tournaments.”
According to Tim Brand, assistant SNGA Executive director, the three will be assisting at events that include the U.S. Adaptive Open, U.S. Senior Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Amateur, U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur. He also affirmed that the USGA only selects the best to officiate the nation’s golf championships, so it is a feather in the cap of Quinn, Beckel and May. And the SNGA.
“I love the SNGA and I want to represent them well and doing so on a national level is an honor,” said May, a 2019 Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame inductee. “It is always a thrill to stand up when they ask where we are from and say, ‘the Southern Nevada Golf Association.’”
In addition to her rules’ duties, Beckel also serves as the Women’s Southern Nevada Golf Association president and deeply understands the importance of an official’s role during a USGA event.
“It’s a very serious responsibility because there is a lot on the line for the players,” Beckel said. “We must be professional and make the correct decisions because it is very important. We need to know the rules plus exercise proper caution with anything and everything that we are doing to provide the fairest rulings.”
According to Quinn, a USGA vibe is palpable. As of this article being posted, Quinn was at Sand Creek Station Golf Club in Kansas for the U.S. Adaptive Open.
“Everybody is there for the players and to watch them compete, and it is special to realize that those players are all fighting for their national championships, whichever competition they may be playing in,” Quinn said.
Beckel appreciates the top-level competition she witnesses during a USGA event, but also enjoys the relationships she and other officials make along the way.
“One of the most exciting parts about being a referee is being able to see players on a national stage who you have come to know in your own geographical areas,” Beckel said. “Seeing people like Ronda Henderson or Regina Quintero or players from up North make it through the qualifying process is very exciting. To witness them play on a national level first hand is a special opportunity. Over time, you also get to know players who repeatedly qualify. There is also a lot of camaraderie developed amongst all of the rules officials.”
Visit USGA.org for complete information about the many national championships that are being played—or have been played—in 2024.
Also, stay tuned later in the year for a recap of the events that Quinn, May and Beckel worked during the summer and fall.
