NORTON, Massachusetts – It’ll be a tall task to follow up 2022, which saw the U.S. Open and the U.S. Senior Amateur take place in the Bay State plus several thrilling qualifying events. But once again Mass Golf has assembled a series of standout qualifiers that will test regional players vying for a spot in this year’s national championship events.
Among the host sites this year are two spectacular municipal courses: George Wright Golf Course in Hyde Park and Veterans Memorial Golf Course in Springfield. Veterans, which underwent a significant $1 million renovation project along with fellow city course Franconia Golf Course, will be hosting USGA Qualifying for the first time, as the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur will take place June 26. George Wright will host U.S. Mid-Amateur and U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying on August 7.
In total 13 different clubs will host USGA qualifying for this year’s championships.
“USGA qualifiers are a service Mass Golf takes great pride in each year,” said Greg Howell, Mass Golf’s Assistant Director of Rules & Competitions. “We have seen countless players move on from these events to have success on the national stage, and these players are always great ambassadors for Mass Golf when they are representing us.”
With the first wave of registration for USGA qualifiers opening up a few short weeks from now on February 15, check out our deep dive into the USGA qualifying events in Massachusetts and what to look forward to this year.
Note: Participants must register for USGA events at www.usga.org, and requests for withdrawals and refunds must be done through the USGA. Questions about a specific local/final qualifier can be directed to Greg Howell, ghowell@massgolf.org or 774-430-9016.
Local Qualifier: May 3, LeBaron Hills Country Club (Lakeville)
Local Qualifier: May 9, Orchards Golf Club (South Hadley)
Registration Opens: February 22
Entries Close: April 12
Requirements: Any amateur or professional whose Handicap Index does not exceed 1.4.
Final Qualifying: Multiple Locations
Championship Proper: The Los Angeles Country Club (Los Angeles, CA)
Past Winners From Massachusetts: Joe Lloyd (1897), Alex Ross (1907), Francis Ouimet (1913)
2022 Championship Appearances: Wellesley amateur Michael Thorbjornsen, a junior at Stanford, and Holden’s Fran Quinn, a Champions Tour player, qualified for the U.S. Open through Final Qualifying in New York. Thorbjornsen missed the cut by three strokes, but shot a 1-under 69 in the second round, going 4-under over his final seven holes.
Notes: LeBaron Hills, which has hosted several Mass Golf tournaments, qualifiers and members days, leads off the qualifying slate this year. … LeBaron hosted Mass Open qualifying last year, with only two players shooting even-par or better. … The Orchards hosted the Mass Women’s Amateur last year and was the site of the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open. … Orchards has hosted qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur and U.S. Amateur over the past decade-plus.
Event Home: usopen.com
Qualifier: June 7, Duxbury Yacht Club
Registration Opens: February 15
Entries Close: May 10
Requirements: Female professionals and amateurs whose Handicap Index does not exceed 2.4.
Championship Proper: Pebble Beach Golf Links, July 6-9
Past Winners From Massachusetts: Pat Bradley (1981)
2022 Championship Appearances: Megan Khang (Rockland, MA) earned her third consecutive top-10 finish in the championship, placing T8 at Pine Needles (NC).
Notes: Duxbury most recently hosted U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur qualifying in 2014 and 2015, with several Bay State women advancing both years, including Shannon Johnson (Thorny Lea Golf Club), who won the title in 2018 … Duxbury co-hosted the Mass Four-Ball with Marshfield Country Club in 2022. … Duxbury hosted the Mass Women’s Amateur in 1980.
Event Home: usga.org/2023/us-womens-open
Qualifier: May 31, Vesper Country Club (Tyngsborough)
Registration Opens: February 21
Entries Close: May 3
Requirements: Any amateur or professional with a Handicap Index not exceeding 3.4 and has turned 50 years of age or older by June 29, 2023.
Championship Proper: SentryWorld (Stevens Point, WI).
Past Winners From Massachusetts: Allen Doyle (2005, 2006)
2022 Championship Appearances: Weymouth native and professional Brian Spitz was the lone Bay State representative to compete in 2022. Spitz shot 79-81–160 at Saucon Valley Country Club (PA) but did not make the cut.
Notes: Vesper Country Club most recently hosted U.S. Senior Open qualifying in 2012 when Brian Secia (Nantucket) and Mark Morse (West Roxbury) advanced. … Vesper was established in 1875 and hosted the first-ever Mass Open in 1905, with legendary golf course architect Donald Ross winning the title.
Event Home: usga.org/2023/us-senior-open
Qualifier: August 3, Allendale Country Club (N. Dartmouth)
Registration Opens: February 15
Entries Close: July 5
Requirements: Open to any female professional or amateur who is 50 years of age on or before Aug. 24 and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 7.4.
Championship Proper: August 23-27, Waverley Country Club (Portland, OR)
2022 Championship Appearances: After advancing to the championship proper in 2021, Danielle Lee (Renaissance) earned an alternate spot but did not get into the 2022 championship.
Notes: Allendale has hosted four different USGA qualifiers since 2011, including U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2015 and U.S. Senior Amateur qualifying in 2018. … First contested in 2018, the U.S. Senior Women’s Open is one of the newest national championships on the schedule, with Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies among its champions. … Pamela Johnson (Hatherly Country Club) and Sue Curtin (Boston Golf Club) are the only other Massachusetts residents to have qualified for the championship.
Event Home: usga.org/us-senior-womens-open
Qualifier: June 26, Veterans Memorial Golf Course (Springfield)
Registration Opens: March 22
Entries Close: May 17
Requirements: Open to any female amateur players who have not reached the age of 19 by July 22 and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 9.4.
Championship Proper: July 17-22, United States Air Force Academy Eisenhower Golf Club (Blue Course), Colorado Springs, Colo.
2022 Championship Appearances: Morgan Smith (Vesper Country Club) competed in the Girls’ Junior Amateur for the second consecutive year. Smith survived a 9-for-7 playoff to advance to match play where she took eventual champion Yana Wilson (Nevada) to 17 holes in their round of 64 match.
Notes: Veterans was designed by Geoffrey Cornish and opened in 1964. … The course offers some of the most affordable rates in the region, with walking 18 costing $27 on weekdays and $28 on weekends. … Massachusetts has hosted the U.S. Girls’ Junior four times at four different venues: The Country Club (1953), Dedham Country & Polo Club (1975), Orchards Golf Club (1987), and Longmeadow Country Club (1995).
Event Home: www.usga.org/2023/us-girls-junior-amateur
Qualifier: June 26, Veterans Memorial Golf Course (Springfield)
Registration Opens: March 22
Entries Close: May 17
Requirements: Any male amateur who has not reached his 19th birthday by July 29, and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 4.4.
Championship Proper: July 24-29, Daniel Island Club (Charleston, SC)
Past Winners From Massachusetts: Michael Thorbjornsen (2018)
2022 Championship Appearances: Aidan Emmerich (Kernwood Country Club), John Broderick (Dedham Country & Polo Club), and Weston Jones (Charter Oak Country Club) all advanced to match play at Bandon Dunes (OR). Broderick knocked off the No. 1 seed to get to the Round of 16, while Emmerich and Jones advanced as far as the Rounds of 32 and 64, respectively. Aidan LeBlanc (Ferncroft Country Club) and Patrick Ginnity (Oak Hill Country Club) also competed.
Notes: The U.S. Junior has come to Massachusetts four times: Taconic Golf Club (1956), The Country Club (1968), Wollaston Golf Club (1992), and Longmeadow Country Club (2005), with Tiger Woods winning the 1992 title at Wollaston.
Event Home: www.usga.org/2023/us-junior-amateur
Qualifier: August 3, Allendale Country Club (N. Dartmouth)
Registration Opens: April 5
Entries Close: July 5
Requirements: Open to any golfer who is 55 years of age as of August 26 and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 7.4.
Championship Proper: August 26-31, Martis Camp Club (Truckee, CA)
Past Winners From Massachusetts: Fred Wright (1956)
2022 Championship Appearances: Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough Country Club), Don Foberg (Plymouth Country Club), Tom Bagley (Concord Country Club), Roger Hoit (Eastward Ho!), and Michael Boden (Sandwich Hallows Golf Club) all represented the Bay State at The Kittansett Club. Vana and Hoit both won their first-round matches to make it to the Round of 32.
Notes: Allendale most recently hosted qualifying for the 2022 Mass Super Senior Amateur. … While Kittansett is located at sea level, Martis Camp Club is located near Lake Tahoe with elevations ranging from 5,900 to 7,100 feet, well over a mile above sea level.
Event Home: usga.org/2023/us-senior-amateur
Qualifier: August 21, GreatHorse (Hampden)
Registration Opens: April 5
Entries Close: August 9
Requirements: Open to any female golfer who is 50 years of age as of Sept. 30 and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 14.4
Championship Proper: September 30-October 5, Troon Country Club (Scottsdale, AZ)
2022 Championship Appearances: Pamela Kuong (Charles River Country Club) and Tracy Welch (Winchester Country Club) both qualified for match play in the first USGA championship ever held in Alaska, with Welch making history with her hole-in-one in match play and making it to the Round of 32. Christine Gagner (The Tour of Greater Boston) and Marion’s Temple Mitchell (Allendale Country Club) also competed.
Notes: GreatHorse has become an annual hosting spot for Mass Golf and USGA Qualifiers in recent years, hosting the Ouimet Memorial Tournament and U.S. Four-Ball Qualifying in 2022. … GreatHorse is also set to host the 2023 Mass Junior Amateur and 2025 Mass Amateur.
Event Home: usga.org/2023/us-senior-womens-amateur
Qualifier: August 7, George Wright Golf Course (Hyde Park)
Registration Opens: April 19
Entries Close: July 19
Requirements: Open to any female golfer who has reached her 25th birthday by September 9 and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 9.4.
Championship Proper: September 9-14, Stonewall – North Course (Elverson, PA)
Past Winners From Massachusetts: Shannon Johnson (2018)
2022 Championship Appearances: Five Mass Golf members competed at Fiddlesticks in Florida, with Tracy Martin (Vesper Country Club) making it to the Round of 32, following her 2-over-par total performance in stroke play. Megan Buck (Thorny Lea Golf Club) and Mary Mulcahy (Hatherly Country Club) also got into match play. Mary Chamberlain (Cummaquid Golf Club) and Tracy Welch (Winchester Country Club) also qualified for championship proper.
Notes: George Wright hosted qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur in U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur in 2021 as well as U.S. Amateur qualifying in 2014 and 2016. … The Mass Amateur and Mass Women’s Amateur both took place at George Wright in 2018, the debut year for Mass Golf following the merger of the state’s men’s and women’s golf associations.
Event Home: usga.org/2023/us-womens-mid-amateur
Qualifier: August 7, George Wright Golf Course (Hyde Park)
Qualifier: August 21, GreatHorse (Hampden)
Registration Opens: April 19
Entries Close: July 19
Requirements: Open to any amateur golfer who has reached their 25th birthday as of Sept. 9 and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 3.4.
Championship Proper: September 9-14, Sleepy Hollow Country Club (Scarborough, NY) & Fenway Golf Club (Scarsdale, N.Y.)
Past Winners From Massachusetts: Matt Parziale (2017)
2022 Championship Appearances: Jake Shuman (Blue Hills Country Club) earned stroke-play medalist honors at Erin Hills (WI) and made it to the Round of 32. Matthew Naumec (GreatHorse), Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea Golf Club), and Matthew Cowgill (Granite Links) also advanced to match play. Jeff Lindo (Segregansett Country Club), Nick Maccario (Bradford Country Club), and Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich Golf Club) also qualified.
Notes: In 2021, Sankaty Head Golf Club and Miacomet Golf Course became the first Massachusetts clubs to host the U.S. Mid-Amateur, with Nick Maccario advancing to the semifinals that year. … The courses at Sleepy Hollow and Fenway have been meticulously restored by noted architect Gil Hanse.
Event Home: usga.org/2023/us-mid-amateur
Qualifier: June 28, Berkshire Hills Country Club (Pittsfield)
Qualifier: July 24, Nashawtuc Country Club (Concord)
Registration Opens: March 29
Entries Close: June 21
Requirements: A competitor cannot have a Handicap Index exceeding 2.4.
Championship Proper: August 14-20, Cherry Hills Country Club (Cherry Hills Village, Colo) & Colorado Golf Club (Parker, Colo.)
Past Winners From Massachusetts: Francis Ouimet (1914, 1931), Jesse Guilford (1921), Ted Bishop (1946), Peter Uihlein (2010)
2022 Championship Appearances: Past USGA champions Michael Thorbjornsen (Wellesley Country Club) and veteran Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea Golf Club) were among 10 Bay State natives to qualify for the championship at The Ridgewood Country Club & Arcola Country Club in Paramus, N.J. Thorbjornsen, along with Chris Francoeur (Amesbury Golf & Country Club) and Tyler Stahle (Cape Cod National), qualified for match play with Francoeur reaching the Round of 32. Christian Emmerich (Kernwood Country Club), James Imai (George Wright Golf Course), Brandon Parker (Worcester Country Club), Ethan Whitney (Oak Hill Country Club), Andrew O’Leary (Pawtucket Country Club), and Nick Cummings (Marlborough Country Club) also qualified.
Notes: Berkshire Hills hosted U.S. Amateur qualifying last year, with Mass natives Brandon Parker and James Imai advancing to the Championship Proper. Chris Francoeur also advanced as an alternate. … Nashawtuc returned to USGA stage last year when it hosted qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, as Molly Smith (Vesper Country Club) and Emma Abramson (The Ridge Club) were among five to advance. … In addition to hosting Member Days and a few Mass Golf qualifiers, Nashawtuc also hosted the 2014 Mass Junior Amateur.
Event Home: usga.org/2023/us-amateur
Qualifier: June 27, Renaissance (Haverhill, MA)
Registration Opens: March 29
Entries Close: June 14
Requirements: Open to any female amateur whose Handicap Index® does not exceed 5.4.
Championship Proper: Bel-Air Country Club (Los Angeles, CA)
Past Winners From Massachusetts: Pauline McKay (1905), Harriot Curtis (1906), Margaret Curtis (1907, 1911, 1912), Katherine Harley (1908-1914).
2022 Championship Appearances: Molly Smith (Vesper Country Club) and Emma Abramson (The Ridge Club) traveled from the Bay State to Chambers Bay to compete in the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Abramson shot 4-over to get into a playoff but came up short of qualifying for match play.
Notes: Renaissance hosted the Fall Cup Championship in 2022, as well as several Mass Golf tournaments and qualifiers over the years. …Bel-Air Country Club is the home course for the UCLA men’s and women’s golf teams and is located less than 3 miles from Los Angeles Country Club, which is hosting this year’s U.S. Open.
Event Home: usga.org/2023/us-womens-amateur
Qualifier: October 3, Country Club of Wilbraham
Qualifier: TBD
Registration Opens: April 26
Entries Close: August 9
Requirements: Each member of the side cannot have a Handicap Index exceeding 5.4.
2022 Championship Appearances: Massachusetts teams of Brandon Parker (Worcester Country Club) & Kyle Tibbetts (Framingham Country Club); Joey Lenane (KOHR Golf) & Aidan O’Donovan (Cummaquid Golf Cub); Daniel Koerner (Merrimack Valley Golf Club) & Michael Mottola (Andover Country Club); and Nick Maccario (Bradford Country Club) & Mike Calef (Pine Oaks Golf Club) all competed for the title at Country Club of Birmingham (AL). Maccario & Calef and Lenane & O’Donovan reached the round of 16. Liam Gill (Wayland Country Club), Kevin Gately (Harmon Golf) and Patrick O’Leary (Wollaston Golf Club) also played with out-of-state partners.
2023 Qualifiers: Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea Golf Club) & Herbie Aikens (Old Sandwich Golf Club); Mike Dunham & Jackson Kingman, of Concord Country Club; and Daniel Cappucci (Boston Golf Club) & Jeremy Meade (Nashawtuc Country Club) all qualified for this year’s championship at Kiawah Island Club, which hosted the 2021 PGA Championship.
Championship Proper: May 25-29, 2024, Philadelphia Cricket Club, (Philadelphia, PA)
Notes: Country Club of Wilbraham will host USGA qualifying for the first time in more than a decade, as the club will feature the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball qualifiers on the same day. … The course co-hosted the Mass Senior Four-Ball with Twin Hills Country Club in 2022.
Event Home: usga.org/us-amateur-four-ball
Qualifier: October 3, Country Club of Wilbraham
Registration Opens: April 26
Entries Close: August 9
Requirements: Each member of the side cannot have a Handicap Index that exceeds 14.4.
Championship Proper: May 11-15, 2024, Oak Hills Country Club (San Antonio, TX)
2022 Championship Appearances: Sue Curtin (Boston Golf Club) and Chelsea Curtis (The Country Club) teamed up to compete in the 2022 championship in Puerto Rico, the first USGA championship ever played in the U.S. territory.
2023 Qualifiers: Sisters Morgan and Molly Smith, of Vesper Country Club, will compete at The Home Course (WA).
Notes: Originally founded in 1922 as the Alamo Country Club, Oak Hills was designed by premier architect A.W. Tillinghast. … The inaugural PGA Tour Championship in 1987 at Oak Hills was won by Tom Watson with a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole.
Event Home: usga.org/2023/us-womens-amateur-four-ball
