Not even a chance for a state golf championship pulled Sammamish resident Spencer Weiss from the Plateau last week.

The 14-year-old, who qualified two weeks ago for the Washington State Junior Golf Association state tournament, received another offer simply too good to pass up.

Weiss was one of a handful caddies from the area selected to carry clubs, fill divots and rake bunkers for competitors during the 2010 U.S Senior Open at Sahalee Country Club. Most golfers bring their own caddies to events of this magnitude.

“It was fun,” said Weiss, an incoming freshman at Inglewood Junior High. “I was nervous at first, but the practice rounds were fun and we got to play with Fred (Funk).”

Weiss caddied for 67-year-old Lynchburg, Va., amateur Vinny Giles, who played the first two rounds with Fred Funk and Portland professional Peter Jacbosen.

Despite amateur status, Giles has impressive resume of his own. He won the 2009 U.S. Amateur championship, and has played in nine Masters tournaments and nine U.S. Senior Opens.

Even with all Giles’ experience, Weiss, whose family owns a membership at Sahalee, would like to think he assisted the veteran a little. In round one, on hole No. 14, he helped Giles line up his only birdie of the tournament.

“I was just telling him to aim it there and whatever,” Weiss said.

The high-profile grouping also earned Weiss a little airtime on ESPN2. Announcer Sean McDonough talked about the 14-year-old for a good 30 seconds.

“It’s pretty cool, people keep telling me that I got on TV,” Weiss said.

The U.S. Senior Open afforded some other rare opportunities for other local residents.

Pat Bangasser, the head golf coach at Eastlake High School, zipped around Sahalee all week in a cart delivering NBC television video and sound people to various locations.

“I drove the lead camera crew,” he said. “It was to fun to learn about what they do.”

Bangasser said he contacted Washington State Golf Association asking what he could do to help. The position helping NBC just sort of fell into his lap.

“I got lucky at the right time,” he said.

Carolyn Leon of Redmond signed up over a year ago to volunteer for the U.S. Senior Open. She worked in caddy hospitality all week.

“We do everything from when they check in, to giving them their credentials, to giving them their bibs, to collecting their bibs when they come back,” she said.

A self-described golf fan, Leon enjoyed being the center of the action all week.

“It is interesting,” she said, smiling. “Most everybody has to come through here. Because I’m older I recognize all the older players.”

More than 3,000 volunteers from all corners country helped out at the U.S. Senior Open — providing memories many will not soon forget.

“It’s a lot of fun because you really get to go up close and personal with the tournament,” Bangasser said.