The Massachusetts State Amateur Championship or Massachusetts Amateur or Massachusetts State Amateur is a golf championship held in Massachusetts for the state's top amateur golfers. The tournament is run by the Massachusetts Golf Association (MGA) in mid-July each year. The amateur championship is the biggest and most subscribed event on the MGA calendar. Tournament entries are open to any amateur golfer who holds membership in an MGA member club and has an up-to-date MGA/USGA GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 4.4. [1]
The first event was held in 1903 at the Myopia Hunt Club and won by Arther Lockwood. Thirty-eight contestants entered from the 42 MGA member clubs. The most famous winner of the championship was six-time champion Francis Ouimet. Other notable winners include Jesse Guilford, Dick Chapman and Eddie Lowery. Fred Wright holds the record with seven titles (1920, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, and 1938).
Since 1992, five Massachusetts Amateur Champions have turned professional: Trevor Gliwski, Flynt Lincoln, James Driscoll, Jim Salinetti and Rob Oppenheim. 2008 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 2023, Molly Smith became the first woman to qualify for the tournament. [2]
Year | Champion | Venue | Location | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Ryan Downes | Essex County Club | Manchester | ||
2022 | Conner Willett | Concord Country Club | Concord | ||
2021 | Michael Thorbjornsen | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
2020 | Matthew Organisak | The Kittansett Club | Marion | ||
2019 | Steven DiLisio | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
2018 | Patrick Frodigh | George Wright Golf Course | Boston | ||
2017 | Matt Parziale | Charles River Country Club | Newton | ||
2016 | Brendan Hunter | Taconic Golf Club | Williamstown | ||
2015 | Nick McLaughlin | Oak Hill Country Club | Fitchburg | ||
2014 | John Kelly | Kernwood Country Club | Salem | ||
2013 | Mike Calef | Longmeadow Country Club | Longmeadow | ||
2012 | Mike Calef | Tedesco Country Club | Marblehead | ||
2011 | Ryan Riley | Wyantenuck Country Club | Great Barrington | ||
2010 | John Hadges | Myopia Hunt Club | South Hamilton | ||
2009 | Bill Drohen | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
2008 | John Hadges | The Kittansett Club | Marion | ||
2007 | Burgess Houston | Concord Country Club | Concord | ||
2006 | Ben Spitz | Worcester Country Club | Worcester | ||
2005 | Frank Vana, Jr. | Essex County Club | Manchester | ||
2004 | Frank Vana, Jr. | Taconic Golf Club | Williamstown | ||
2003 | Andy Drohen | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
2002 | Rob Oppenheim | Winchester Country Club | Winchester | ||
2001 | Brendan Hester | The Orchards Golf Club | South Hadley | ||
2000 | Jim Salinetti | Worcester Country Club | Worcester | ||
1999 | Jim Salinetti | The Kittansett Club | Marion | ||
1998 | James Driscoll | Belmont Country Club | Belmont | ||
1997 | Jim Salinetti | Weston Golf Club | Weston | ||
1996 | James Driscoll | Myopia Hunt Club | South Hamilton | ||
1995 | Ed Fletcher | Concord Country Club | Concord | ||
1994 | Douglas Preston | Charles River Country Club | Newton | ||
1993 | Flynt Lincoln | Essex County Club | Manchester | ||
1992 | Trevor Gliwski | Longmeadow Country Club | Longmeadow | ||
1991 | John Salamone | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
1990 | Ray Wright | The Kittansett Club | Marion | ||
1989 | Jim McDermott | Worcester Country Club | Worcester | ||
1988 | Kevin Johnson | Thorny Lea Golf Club | Brockton | ||
1987 | Kevin Johnson | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
1986 | Fran Quinn | Winchester Country Club | Winchester | ||
1985 | Steve Tasho | Myopia Hunt Club | South Hamilton | ||
1984 | Jim McDermott | Country Club of Pittsfield | Pittsfield | ||
1983 | Jim Hallet | Woodland Golf Club | Auburndale | ||
1982 | Jim Hallet | Tedesco Golf Club | Marblehead | ||
1981 | Steven Tasho | Taconic Golf Club | Williamstown | ||
1980 | Jim McDermott | Salem Country Club | Peabody | ||
1979 | Ed Polchlopek | Vesper Country Club | Tyngsborough | ||
1978 | Dave Brilliant | The Kittansett Club | Marion | ||
1977 | Gary Burnett | Weston Country Club | Weston | ||
1976 | Bruce Douglass | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
1975 | Bruce Douglass | Winchester Country Club | Winchester | ||
1974 | Bill Mallon | Pleasant Valley Country Club | Sutton | ||
1973 | Bill Mallon | Belmont Country Club | Belmont | ||
1972 | Gary Burnett | Longmeadow Country Club | Longmeadow | ||
1971 | Tracy Mehr | Taconic Golf Club | Williamstown | ||
1970 | John Tosca, Jr. | Essex County Club | Manchester | ||
1969 | Peter Drooker [3] | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
1968 | Mike Ohanian | Nashawtuc Country Club | Concord | ||
1967 | Barrie Bruce | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
1966 | Warren Tibbetts | Charles River Country Club | Newton | ||
1965 | Ted Carangelo | Woodland Golf Club | Auburndale | ||
1964 | William Foley | Worcester Country Club | Worcester | ||
1963 | Bruce Dobie | Vesper Country Club | Tyngsborough | ||
1962 | Joe Carr | Salem Country Club | Peabody | ||
1961 | Ted Bishop | Oak Hill Country Club | Fitchburg | ||
1960 | Pat Granese | Tedesco Golf Club | Marblehead | ||
1959 | John Tosca, Jr. | Taconic Golf Club | Williamstown | ||
1958 | William G. Harding | The Kittansett Club | Marion | ||
1957 | David Sullivan | Longmeadow Country Club | Longmeadow | ||
1956 | Charles Volpone | Belmont Country Club | Belmont | ||
1955 | Ed Connell | Myopia Hunt Club | South Hamilton | ||
1954 | Rupert Daniels | Country Club of Pittsfield | Pittsfield | ||
1953 | Ernie Doherty | Salem Country Club | Peabody | ||
1952 | Tom Mahan, Jr. | Winchester Country Club | Winchester | ||
1951 | Ed Martin | Vesper Country Club | Tyngsborough | ||
1950 | Dick Chapman | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
1949 | Robert W. Knowles, Jr. | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
1948 | Ed Martin | Worcester Country Club | Worcester | ||
1947 | John Chew | Commonwealth Golf Course | Newton | ||
1946 | Ted Bishop | Charles River Country Club | Newton | ||
1942–45: Cancelled due to World War II | |||||
1941 | Leo Martin | Longmeadow Country Club | Longmeadow | ||
1940 | Ted Bishop | Salem Country Club | Peabody | ||
1939 | Ted Adams | Tedesco Golf Club | Marblehead | ||
1938 | Fred Wright | Essex County Club | Manchester | ||
1937 | Dave Whiteside | Winchester Country Club | Winchester | ||
1936 | Clark Hodder | Charles River Country Club | Newton | ||
1935 | Edward S. Stimpson | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
1934 | William O. Blaney | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
1933 | Joseph P. Lynch | Worcester Country Club | Worcester | ||
1932 | Edward P. Kirouac | Kernwood Country Club | Salem | ||
1931 | Fred Wright | Winchester Country Club | Winchester | ||
1930 | Fred Wright | Salem Country Club | Peabody | ||
1929 | Fred Wright | Belmont Spring Country Club | Belmont | ||
1928 | Fred Wright | Essex County Club | Manchester | ||
1927 | Eddie Lowery | Charles River Country Club | Newton | ||
1926 | Fred Wright | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
1925 | Francis Ouimet | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
1924 | Jesse Guilford | Woodland Golf Club | Auburndale | ||
1923 | Karl E. Mosser | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
1922 | Francis Ouimet | Kernwood Country Club | Salem | ||
1921 | Jesse Guilford | Worcester Country Club | Worcester | ||
1920 | Fred Wright | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
1919 | Francis Ouimet | Winchester Country Club | Winchester | ||
1917–18: Cancelled due to World War I | |||||
1916 | Jesse Guilford | Wollaston Golf Club | Milton | ||
1915 | Francis Ouimet | Woodland Golf Club | Auburndale | ||
1914 | Francis Ouimet | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
1913 | Francis Ouimet | Wollaston Golf Club | Milton | ||
1912 | Heinie Schmidt | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
1911 | John G. Anderson | Essex County Club | Manchester | ||
1910 | H.W. Stucklen | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
1909 | Percival Gilbert | Oakley Country Club | Watertown | ||
1908 | T.R. Fuller | Wollaston Golf Club | Milton | ||
1907 | John G. Anderson | Woodland Golf Club | Auburndale | ||
1906 | Arthur G. Lockwood | Brae Burn Country Club | West Newton | ||
1905 | Arthur G. Lockwood | The Country Club | Brookline | ||
1904 | Andrew Carnegie II | Essex County Club | Manchester | ||
1903 | Arthur G. Lockwood | Myopia Hunt Club | South Hamilton |
The Masters Tournament is one of the four men's major golf championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week in April, the Masters is the first major golf tournament of the year. Unlike the other major tournaments, the Masters is always held at the same location: Augusta National Golf Club, a private course in the city of Augusta, Georgia.
The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later the venue rotated between a select group of coastal links golf courses in the United Kingdom. It is organised by The R&A.
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open national championship of golf in the United States. It is the third of the four men's major golf championships, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour. Since 1898 the competition has been 72 holes of stroke play, with the winner being the player with the lowest total number of strokes. It is staged by the United States Golf Association (USGA) in mid-June, scheduled so that, if there are no weather delays, the final round is played on the third Sunday. The U.S. Open is staged at a variety of courses, set up in such a way that scoring is very difficult, with a premium placed on accurate driving. As of 2024, the U.S. Open awards a $21.5 million purse, the largest of all four major championships.
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. It is one of the four men's major golf championships.
Francis DeSales Ouimet was an American amateur golfer who is frequently referred to as the "father of amateur golf" in the United States. He won the U.S. Open in 1913 and was the first non-Briton elected Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the major championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the most prestigious tournaments in golf. Historically, the national open and amateur championships of Great Britain and the United States were regarded as the majors. With the rise of professional golf in the middle of the twentieth century, the majors came to refer to the most prestigious professional tournaments.
The United States Amateur Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Amateur, is the leading annual golf tournament in the United States for amateur golfers. It is organized by the United States Golf Association and is currently held each August over a 7-day period.
The Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which has been held annually in the United Kingdom since 1885 except during the two World Wars, and in 1949 and 2019 when Ireland hosted the championship. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur. It normally has the widest international representation of any individual amateur event, with 38 golf federations from all six continents represented in the 2018 championship.
Allen Michael Doyle is an American professional golfer. Though a talented golfer, Doyle elected not to turn pro after graduating from Vermont's Norwich University. He moved to the south where he owned and operated a driving range in Georgia. In his free time he played in elite amateur events, winning the Georgia Amateur and Sunnehanna Amateur several times each. At the age of 46, Doyle turned professional and had extraordinary success as a pro, winning three events on the Nike Tour and 11 events on the Champions Tour, including the U.S. Senior Open twice.
William Lawson Little Jr. was an American professional golfer who also had a distinguished amateur career.
The Western Open was a professional golf tournament in the United States, for most of its history an event on the PGA Tour.
The Country Club, located in Brookline, Massachusetts, is the oldest golf-oriented country club in the United States. It holds an important place in golf history, as it is one of the five charter clubs that founded the United States Golf Association, and has hosted numerous USGA tournaments including the 1913 U.S. Open won by then-unknown Francis Ouimet. Although the club has 1300 members, it is known for its exclusivity.
The Massachusetts Open is the Massachusetts state open golf tournament. The brothers Donald Ross and Alex Ross had much success early in the tournament's history, winning the first eight events between them. In the mid-1910s, the Massachusetts Golf Association opened the event to golfers outside the state. The tournament evolved into an event of national significance as legendary golfers like Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, and Byron Nelson won during the era. In the 1940s, the event evolved into more of a local affair though many of the top pros from Massachusetts played. In the late 20th and early 21st century, PGA Tour pros from the state like Paul Harney, Dana Quigley, and Geoffrey Sisk won the event several times times each.
The Metropolitan Open is a golf tournament organized by the Metropolitan Golf Association. In the early 20th century it was one of the top events in the country and was retroactively given PGA Tour-level status.
Frank Strafaci was an American amateur golfer, who competed against the top amateurs of his time. He is remembered as one of Brooklyn's top amateur golfers.
Vesper Country Club is a private club in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. The club derives from two late 19th century institutions, Vesper Boat Club and Lowell Country Club, which merged in 1894. The following year, members started creating a golf course originally consisting of six "links." In the late 1910s, the course commissioned Donald Ross to create a full 18-hole course. Though the course met with praise the ensuing decades were hard for Vesper. In the 1920s the clubhouse burnt down and in the 1930s a flood nearly destroyed the course. Since then, however, the club's history has been largely stable and the course has hosted several notable events, including the Massachusetts Open and Massachusetts Amateur several times.
Jon Rahm Rodríguez is a Spanish professional golfer. He was number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for a then record 60 weeks and later became world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking, first achieving that rank after winning the Memorial Tournament in July 2020. In June 2021, Rahm became the first Spanish golfer to win the U.S. Open. In 2023, he won the Masters Tournament, his second major championship. On 7 December 2023, Rahm announced that he was joining LIV Golf. In 2024, he was ranked the world's second highest-paid athlete by Forbes.
Rose Zhang is an American professional golfer. She won the 2020 U.S. Women's Amateur, and both the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Division I Championships, becoming the first woman to win the individual title twice. She competed in the 2019 U.S. Women's Open and was on the gold medal team at the 2019 Pan American Games. Less than two weeks after turning pro, she became the first player to win in her professional debut on the LPGA Tour since 1951.
Cameron Young is an American professional golfer. He has twice finished in the top three in major championships and has several other runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour. He has also won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour. He was voted PGA Tour Rookie of the Year for the 2021–22 season.
Clark Hodder was an American athlete, coach, and administrator who won the Massachusetts State Amateur Championship in golf and played and coached hockey at Harvard College.