The following individuals are exempt for the 2018 Open Championship.
Although exempt according to the conditions and regulations of the event, these players are only eligible to compete in Championship Proper if they submit the stipulated entry form and fee prior to the entry close date.
Category #1
Twenty (20) lowest scorers and ties in the 2017 Massachusetts Open Championship
Jason Thresher
Chris Houston
Josh Salah
John Clare
Billy Walthouse
Chelso Barrett
Eric Barlow
Michael Thorbjorsen
Robin Byrd
Bobby Gage
Geoffrey Sisk
Brad Adamonis
Cian Curley
Thomas Stirling
David Schuster
Blake Morris
Louis Kelly
Frank Dully
John Flaherty
Pat Wilson
Burgess Houston
Shawn Warren
Category #2
Past Massachusetts Open Champions (Effective in 1993, Champions earn a 10-year exemption; pre-1993 Champions are exempt for life)
2017 – Jason Thresher
2016 – Jason Thresher
2015 – Joe Harney
2014 – Ian Thimble
2013 – Evan Harmeling
2012 – Michael Welch
2011 – Kyle Gallo
2010 – James Hazen
2009 – Rob Oppenheim
2008 – James Renner
Category #3
NEPGA Section Champions 2013 to 2016, and the top five (5) finishers and ties in the 2017 NEPGA Championship
2013 – Shawn Warren
2014 – Rich Berberian, Jr.
2015 – Shawn Warren
2016 – Matt Doyle
2017 NEPGA Championship (Top 5 & ties)
1 – Liam Friedman
2 – Ron Philo
3 – Rich Berberian, Jr.
4 – Robert Bruso
5 – Sean McTernan
Category #4
Top twenty (20) finishers and ties in the 2017 Skip Wogan point standings
Rich Berberian, Jr.
Eric Barlow
Shawn Warren
Kirk Hanefeld
Liam Friedman
Jeffrey Martin
Jeff Seavey
Matt Zdon
Matt Arvanitis
John Hickson
Frank Dully
Brian Owens
Matt Doyle
Ron Philo
Chris Carter
Chris Trout
Robert Bruso
Sean McTernan
Greg Farland
Troy Pare
Category #5
2017 NEPGA Assistants Champion
Shawn Warren
Category #6
2017 Berkshire Chapter Champion of the NENY PGA
Josh Hillman
Category #7
2017 State Open Champions from the New England States
MA – Jason Thresher
RI – Michael Carbone
NH – David Pastore
VT – Peter French
CT – Jeff Evanier
ME – James Dornes
Category #8
2017 Cape Cod Open Champion
Joshua Eure
Category #9
Amateur Champions of the last five (5) years
2017 – Matt Parziale
2016 – Brendan Hunter
2015 – Nick McLaughlin
2014 – John Kelly
2013 – Mike Calef
Category #10
2017 Amateur Semifinalists
Billy Walthouse
Matt Cowgill
Jackson Lang
Matt Parziale
Category #11
2017 Junior Amateur, Senior Amateur, Mid-Amateur, and Amateur Public Links Champions
Jr – Dillion Brown
Sr – Keith Smith
Mid – Colin Brennan
APL – Benjamin Spitz
Category #12
Top ten (10) finishers and ties in the 2017 Richard D. Haskell Player of the Year standings
Matt Parziale
Billy Walthouse
Matt Cowgill
Herbie Aikens
Matt Naumec
Jackson Lang
David Spitz
Nick Maccario
Mark Turner
Steven DiLisio
Category #13
2017 Player of the Year, Junior Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year
Matt Parziale
Mark Turner
Frank Vana, Jr.
Category #14
2018 Open Qualifying Host Professionals (one per site)
Eastward Ho!
CC of Wilbraham
Indian Pond CC
Pleasant Valley CC
Kernwood CC
Nashawtuc CC
