Mark Gardiner

Began playing the game of golf around the age of 18 and credits his parents for introducing him to the game. Stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska because his father was in the Army. Gardiner and his sister would caddie for their parents when they were teens and he originally began playing a lot after his mother took a full-time job at the Fort Lewis Golf Course. Retired Chief Master Sergeant from the U.S. Air Force after 26 1/2 years and both his wife, Michelle, and son, Jaime, are serving on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. Also has a daughter Casie and son, Dustin. Says his most memorable golf experience was when he played golf for the military, he won four Air Force Championships and played as part of the Armed Forces Golf team 11 times. Had the opportunity to play throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. When he's not playing golf, likes to spend as much time with his wife and kids as possible as well as playing and coaching all sports. Actually won a qualifier and bowled in a Professional Bowlers Association event in St. Louis in 2004. His best golf buddy, Tim Clepper, will caddie for him at the 2014 U.S. Senior Open.
Gardiner has enjoyed a lot of success over his amateur golf career. He has won a total of 22 Club Championship titles and four Air Force Golf Championships, one as recent as 2007. Claimed the runner-up position at the Armed Forces Golf Championship four times as well, including in both 2010 and '11. In 2013, he won the Southern Illinois Golf Championship and the Missouri Senior Amateur. So far in 2014, he defended his Southern Illinois Golf Title and T-4th in the Mid-Amateur division of the Greystone Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama. He also recently made the quarterfinals of the Missouri Amateur at Norwood Hills CC in St. Louis, Mo.