The Massachusetts State Amateur Championship, better known as the Massachusetts Amateur, is a golf championship held in Massachusetts for the state's top amateur golfers. The tournament is run by Mass Golf in mid-July each year. The amateur championship is the biggest and most subscribed event on the Mass Golf calendar.
Tournament entries are open to any amateur golfer who holds membership in a Mass Golf Member Club and has an up-to-date Mass Golf/USGA GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 3.6.Mass Amateur Championship page
History In 1903, the inaugural Massachusetts Amateur was held at the Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, Massachusetts. It was won by Arther Lockwood. Thirty-eight contestants entered from the 42 MGA member clubs. The most famous winner of the championship is six-time champion Francis Ouimet. Other notable winners include Jesse Guilford, Dick Chapman and Eddie Lowery. Fred Wright holds the record with seven titles.
Since 1992, six Massachusetts Amateur champions have turned professional: Trevor Gliwski, Flynt Lincoln, James Driscoll, Jim Salinetti, Rob Oppenheim, and Michael Thorbjornsen who plays full-time on the PGA Tour in 2025. The 2008 tournament marked the 100th playing of the Massachusetts Amateur. Today the tournament holds a field of 144 players from 400 golf facilities across the state. The championship starts with two days of stroke play. The low 32 scores continue on to match play competition.
In 2021, Michael Thorbjornsen defeated Matt Parziale, 8 and 6, at Brae Burn Country Club in a rare final between past USGA champions. Thorbjornsen, the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, made 18 birdies over 30 holes against Parziale, the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion.
In 2023, Molly Smith became the first woman to qualify for the tournament. Ryan Downes became the event's youngest winner at age 17. He won the title again in 2025 at his home club.
Winners Year Winner ScoreRunner-up Venue Ref.2026Aidan Emmerich8 & 6Zac GeorgantasWinchester Country Club2025 Ryan Downes (2) 7 & 6 Patrick Kilcoyne GreatHorse2024 Matthew Naumec 1 up Ricky Stimets Framingham Country Club 2023 Ryan Downes 6 & 5 Matthew Naumec Essex County Club 2022 Conner Willett 4 & 2 Ryan Downes Concord Country Club 2021 Michael Thorbjornsen 8 & 6 Matt Parziale Brae Burn Country Club 2020 Matthew Organisak 2 up Nick Maccario The Kittansett Club 2019 Steven DiLisio 3 & 2 Jimmy Hervol The Country Club 2018 Patrick Frodigh 4 & 3 Herbie Aikens George Wright Golf Course 2017 Matt Parziale 4 & 3 Matt Cowgill Charles River Country Club 2016 Brendan Hunter 4 & 3 John Kelly Taconic Golf Club 2015 Nick McLaughlin 4 & 3 Patrick Frodigh Oak Hill Country Club 2014 John Kelly 3 & 2 Doug Clapp Kernwood Country Club 2013 Mike Calef (2) 8 & 7 Ian Thimble Longmeadow Country Club 2012 Mike Calef 3 & 1 Mark Souliotis Tedesco Country Club 2011 Ryan Riley 4 & 3 Frank Vana Jr. Wyantenuck Country Club 2010 John Hadges 2 & 1 Dan Head Myopia Hunt Club 2009 Bill Drohen 4 & 3 Frank Vana Jr. The Country Club 2008 John Hadges 1 up Matt Parziale The Kittansett Club 2007 Burgess Houston 1 up Frank Vana, Jr. Concord Country Club 2006 Ben Spitz 5 & 4 Burgess Houston Worcester Country Club 2005 Frank Vana, Jr. (2) 6 & 5 Ben Spitz Essex County Club 2004 Frank Vana, Jr. 5 & 4 Mike Cole Taconic Golf Club 2003 Andy Drohen 1 up Frank Vana Jr. The Country Club 2002 Rob Oppenheim 1 up Brian Higgins Winchester Country Club 2001 Brendan Hester 3 & 2 Jim Renner The Orchards Golf Club 2000 Jim Salinetti (3) 2 up Larry Nuger Worcester Country Club 1999 Jim Salinetti (2) 9 & 8 Ed Fletcher The Kittansett Club 1998 James Driscoll (2) 1 up Joe Keller Belmont Country Club 1997 Jim Salinetti 5 & 3 Bob Bradley Weston Golf Club 1996 James Driscoll 7 & 5 Joe Keller Myopia Hunt Club 1995 Ed Fletcher 1 up John Curley Concord Country Club 1994 Douglas Preston 1 up Jim Ruschioni Charles River Country Club 1993 Flynt Lincoln 40 holes Jason Kissell Essex County Club 1992 Trevor Gliwski 2 & 1 Flynt Lincoln Longmeadow Country Club 1991 John Salamone 11 & 9 George Popp Brae Burn Country Club 1990 Ray Wright 6 & 5 Jon Fasick The Kittansett Club 1989 Jim McDermott (3) 5 & 4 Ray Richard Worcester Country Club 1988 Kevin Johnson (2) 6 & 5 Joe Keller Thorny Lea Golf Club 1987 Kevin Johnson 6 & 5 Fran Quinn, Jr. The Country Club 1986 Fran Quinn 3 & 2 Bill Martin Winchester Country Club 1985 Steve Tasho (2) 7 & 6 Jim Ruschioni Myopia Hunt Club 1984 Jim McDermott (2) 2 & 1 Geoffrey Sisk Country Club of Pittsfield 1983 Jim Hallet (2) 3 & 2 Jim Bombard Woodland Golf Club 1982 Jim Hallet 6 & 5 Paul Murphy Tedesco Golf Club 1981 Steven Tasho 7 & 6 Fran Quinn Taconic Golf Club 1980 Jim McDermott 5 & 3 Kevin Klier Salem Country Club1979 Ed Polchlopek 7 & 6 Joe Henley Vesper Country Club 1978 Dave Brilliant 1 up Randy Stevenson The Kittansett Club 1977 Gary Burnett 8 & 6 Peter Teravainen Weston Country Club 1976 Bruce Douglass (2)37 holes Peter Teravainen The Country Club 1975 Bruce Douglass2 & 1 Bobby Caprera Winchester Country Club 1974 Bill Mallon (2) 4 and 3 Fran Quinn, Sr. Pleasant Valley Country Club 1973 Bill Mallon 3 and 2 Ron Micheals Belmont Country Club 1972 Gary Burnett 1 up Joe Browning Longmeadow Country Club 1971 Tracy Mehr 7 & 5 Alan O'Neil Taconic Golf Club 1970 John Tosca, Jr. 1 up Tom Cavicchi Essex County Club 1969 Peter Drooker 1 up Allen Doyle Brae Burn Country Club 1968 Mike Ohanian 2 up Alan O'Neil Nashawtuc Country Club 1967 Barrie Bruce 6 & 5 Bob Kirouac The Country Club 1966 Warren Tibbetts 5 & 4 Ted Crangelo Charles River Country Club 1965 Ted Carangelo 1 up Andy Gard Woodland Golf Club 1964 William Foley 7 & 5 Matty Ciociolo Worcester Country Club 1963 Bruce Dobie 2 & 1 Robert Kirouac Vesper Country Club 1962 Joe Carr 11 & 9 Jim OBey Salem Country Club1961 Ted Bishop (3) 11 & 10 Dave Sullivan Oak Hill Country Club 1960 Pat Granese 6 & 5 Gerry Anderson Tedesco Golf Club 1959 John Tosca, Jr. 2 up Jay Dolan Taconic Golf Club 1958 William G. Harding 2 & 1 Dave Sullivan The Kittansett Club 1957 David Sullivan 3 & 2 Dick Kinchla Longmeadow Country Club 1956 Charles Volpone 6 & 5 Fred Wright Belmont Country Club 1955 Ed Connell 2 & 1 Billy Horne Myopia Hunt Club 1954 Rupert Daniels 2 up Dave Sullivan Country Club of Pittsfield 1953 Ernie Doherty 7 & 6 Andy Gard Salem Country Club1952 Tom Mahan, Jr. 5 & 4 Leo Grace Winchester Country Club 1951 Eddie Martin (2) 39 holes Ernie Doherty Vesper Country Club 1950 Dick Chapman 37 holes Eddie Martin Brae Burn Country Club 1949 Bobby Knowles 3 & 2 Dick Chapman The Country Club 1948 Eddie Martin 1 up Clarence Earley Worcester Country Club 1947 John Chew 2 & 1 George Curley Commonwealth Golf Course 1946 Ted Bishop (2) 7 & 6 Eddie Martin Charles River Country Club 1942–45: Cancelled due to World War II1941 Leo J. Martin 4 & 3 Milton Reach, Jr. Longmeadow Country Club 1940 Ted Bishop 5 & 3 Leo J. Martin Salem Country Club1939 Ted Adams 6 & 5 Ray Marad Tedesco Golf Club 1938 Fred Wright, Jr. (7) 4 & 2 Emory Stratton Essex County Club 1937 Dave Whiteside 1 up Fred Wright Winchester Country Club 1936 Clark Hodder 1 up Leo J. Martin Charles River Country Club 1935 Edward Stimpson 20 holes Mel Merritt Brae Burn Country Club 1934 Bill Blaney 4 & 3 John Nies The Country Club 1933 Joseph P. Lynch 5 & 4 Eddie Lowery Worcester Country Club 1932 Edward P. Kirouac 2 & 1 Bill Blaney Kernwood Country Club 1931 Fred Wright, Jr. (6) 3 & 2 Eddie Lowery Winchester Country Club 1930 Fred Wright, Jr. (5) 7 & 5 Bill Blaney Salem Country Club1929 Fred Wright, Jr. (4) 8 & 6 Emery Stratton Belmont Spring Country Club 1928 Fred Wright, Jr. (3) 5 & 4 Joe Norton, Jr. Essex County Club 1927 Eddie Lowery 4 & 3 Billy Whitcomb Charles River Country Club 1926 Fred Wright, Jr. (2) 3 & 2 Frank C. Newton Brae Burn Country Club 1925 Francis Ouimet (6) 4 & 3 Winthrop Hersey The Country Club 1924 Jesse Guilford (3) 9 & 8 Ray Gorton Woodland Golf Club 1923 Karl E. Mosser 3 & 1 R.W. Brown Brae Burn Country Club 1922 Francis Ouimet (5) 12 & 11 Clark Hodder Kernwood Country Club 1921 Jesse Guilford (2) 10 & 8 A. Perley Chase Worcester Country Club 1920 Fred Wright, Jr. 2 & 1 Parker Schofield The Country Club 1919 Francis Ouimet (4) 8 & 6 Jesse Guilford Winchester Country Club 1917–18: Cancelled due to World War I1916 Jesse Guilford 10 & 9 S. Trafford Hicks Wollaston Golf Club 1915 Francis Ouimet (3) 6 & 5 Bill Chick Woodland Golf Club 1914 Francis Ouimet (2) 5 & 4 Ray Gorton Brae Burn Country Club 1913 Francis Ouimet 10 & 9 Frank Hoyt Wollaston Golf Club 1912 Heinrich Schmidt 1 up Francis Ouimet Brae Burn Country Club 1911 John G. Anderson (2) 3 & 2 George V. Rotan Essex County Club 1910 H.W. Stucklen 5 & 3 Percival Gilbert Brae Burn Country Club 1909 Percival Gilbert 6 & 4 Joseph Thorp Oakley Country Club 1908 Thomas R. Fuller 3 & 2 H.H. Wilder Wollaston Golf Club 1907 John G. Anderson 6 & 4 Frank Hoyt Woodland Golf Club 1906 Arthur G. Lockwood (3) 7 & 6 L.J. Gilmer Brae Burn Country Club 1905 Arthur G. Lockwood (2) 4 & 3 Hugo R. Johnstone The Country Club 1904 Andrew Carnegie II 8 & 7 T.G. Stevenson Essex County Club 1903 Arthur G. Lockwood 7 & 5 Hugo R. Johnstone Myopia Hunt Club Source:
References
External links Massachusetts Golf Association