The following individuals are exempt for the 2024 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 2023 Massachusetts Open Championship
David Pastore
Jason Thresher
Nicholas Pandelena
Mike Van Sickle
Ricky Stimets (a)
Brad Adamonis
John Clare
Jack Bougler (a)
JT Barker
Berk Harvey
Peter French
Joey Lane
Joey Lenane (a)
Ethan Whitney (a)
Jacob Finard (a)
Jack Tobin (a)
Ben Reichert
Chris Wiatr
Max Theodorakis
John Broderick (a)
Category #2
Past Massachusetts Open Champions (Effective in 1993, Champions earn a 10-year exemption; pre-1993 Champions are exempt for life)
2023 – David Pastore
2022 – Michael Karturde
2021 – Rob Labritz
2020 – Event not held
2019 – Michael Martel
2018 – Jason Thresher
2017 – Jason Thresher
2016 – Jason Thresher
2015 – Joe Harney
2014 – Ian Thimble
Category #3
NEPGA Section Champions 2019 to 2022, and the top five (5) finishers and ties in the 2023 NEPGA Championship
2019 – Shawn Warren
2020 – Shawn Warren
2021 – Rich Berberian
2022 – Liam Friedman
2023 NEPGA Championship (Top 5 & ties)
Rich Berberian
Eric Barlow
Brendon Ray
Robert Bruso
Sean Irons
Shawn Warren
Category #4
Top twenty (20) finishers and ties in the 2023 NEPGA Skip Wogan Player of the Year standings
Rich Berberian
Shawn Warren
Robert Bruso
Eric Barlow
Jeff Martin
Brendon Ray
Ed Kirby
David Jankowski
Kirk Hanefeld
Frank Dully
Jason Calhoun
Greg Kelly
Robert Tramonti
Liam Friedman
Andrew Stolze
Dan Venezio
David Bennett
Peter Ruymann
Ben Egan
Frank Leja
Category #5
2023 NEPGA Assistants Champion
Liam Friedman
Category #6
2023 Berkshire Chapter Champion of the NENY PGA
Eric Mabee
Category #7
2023 State Open Champions from the New England States
MA – David Pastore
RI – David Pastore
NH – Lachy Barker
VT – Matthew Paradis
CT – Brett Stegmaier
ME – Caleb Manuel
Category #8
2023 Jim & Lois Gaquin Memorial Cape Cod Open Champion
Event not held
Category #9
The top Mass Golf member club affiliated finisher in the 2023 Connectitcut Section PGA Player of the Year Standings. Ties in the standings will be broken by the 2022 POY standings (then 2021 etc.).
Chris Tallman
Category #10
Amateur Champions of the last five (5) years
2023 – Ryan Downes
2022 – Conner Willett
2021 – Michael Thorbjornsen
2020 – Matthew Organisak
2019 – Steven DiLisio
Category #11
2022 Amateur Semifinalists
Ryan Downes
John Broderick
Joe Harney
Matthew Naumec
Category #12
2023 Junior Amateur, Senior Amateur, Mid-Amateur, and Amateur Public Links Champions
Junior – Carson Erick
Senior – Scott Copeland
Mid-Am – Ricky Stimets
APL – Ben Spitz
Category #13
Top ten (10) finishers and ties in the 2023 Richard D. Haskell Player of the Year standings
Ricky Stimets
John Broderick
Ryan Downes
Joey Lenane
Matt Parziale
Nick Maccario
Matt Naumec
Bill Drohen
Joe Harney
Weston Jones
Category #14
2023 Player of the Year, Junior Player of the Year, and Senior Player of the Year
POY – Ricky Stimets
Junior POY – Ryan Downes
Senior POY – Frank Vana, Jr.
Category #15
2024 Open Qualifying Site Host Professional Staff (one per site)
Kernwood CC
CC of Pittsfield
Walpole CC
Pleasant Valley CC
Allendale CC
Pocasset GC
