Mass. Amateur Preview

The Massachusetts Amateur will be held at GreatHorse (Hampden, Mass.) from July 7-11. Players will play 36 holes of stroke play before the field is cut to the top 32 for match play to decide a champion.

It’s becoming harder and harder to qualify for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. There are more exemptions up for grabs, but that means that sites have fewer slots available for qualifiers.

Some quick math showed that in 2014 the average qualifying score was nearly 75 and now it’s closer to a 71.

Last year, at Framingham CC, three mid-amateurs - Matt Parziale, Matt Naumac, and Ricky Stimets - and one college player - Ethan Whitney - reached the semi-finals. Matt Naumac, a former pro who lost in the 2023 Mass. Amateur final to Ryan Downes prevailed on his home course.

Framingham CC is a tight, tree-lined course that can take driver out of the hands of the longest players. Accuracy was important, and maybe that’s why three of the last four standing were older than 25 (and all former professionals).

This year, GreatHorse will provide a different challenge. The big, brawny course gives plenty of space to spray driver (within reason). There aren’t many trees, but there are plenty (hundreds?) of bunkers and acres of angry fescue.

I heard from one talented New England golfer who played GreatHorse last week that the rough is very thick and the greens are dialed and firm. The weather seems like it will cooperate, too.

Earlier this week, I wrote about GreatHorse, including its history, what makes it so challenging, and four holes that might tilt the championship. Read it here.

A few quick facts about the field:

🏌️‍♂️ There are 144 players in the field

🏆️ Former Mass. Amateur Winners in the field: Steve Tasho (1981 and 1985), Andy Drohen (2003), Ben Spitz (2006), Mike Calef (2012 and 2013), Nick McLaughlin (2015), Matt Parziale (2017), Ryan Downes (2023), and Matt Naumac (2024).

🐴 Eight players from GreatHorse will compete in the tournament.

🐎 Guy Antonacci, the club's owner who helped transform GreatHorse into what it is now, will compete in the event. If anyone knows the last time a course owner competed in the Mass. Amateur on the course they own, please share. He’s a .5 handicap according to GHIN. Pretty cool.

🇺🇸 The winner of the Mass. Amateur earns a berth into the U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club in San Francisco in August.

2️⃣ Since 1999, three players have defended their Mass. Amateur title: Jim Salinetti (1999 and 2000), Frank Vana Jr. (2004 and 2005), and Mike Calef (2012 and 2013).

🏌️ Ethan Whitney and 2022 champion Connor Willett recently turned professional, so they are not in the field. Whitney was on Willett’s bag in 2022 when he won, and Willett returned the favor in 2024 when Whitney made a run to the semi-finals.

The rest of this post is for paid subscribers. It includes 14 bios of players to watch and a selection of great tee times to follow if you plan to attend on Monday or Tuesday.

Between now and July 7, when the Mass. Amateur starts, I am offering a few discounts.

🥂 Get $15 off the Supporter Tier ($35) for a year. Link here.

🥳 Use code BSG20 for 20% off in the Bay State Shop.

I plan to head to GreatHorse for the quarterfinals and semi-finals on Thursday, July 10. Your support makes these trips possible and allows me to provide coverage that you can’t find anywhere else.

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