The final week of qualifying for the 117th Massachusetts Amateur Championship at GreatHorse in Hampden didn’t wrap up without some excitement. In the final two qualifying events held this week at Meadow Brook Golf Club and Sharon Country Club, the final 10 players guaranteed their spot in the Championship Proper, and there was even a hole-in-one among those competing.
Now the starters are just about in the gate for this year’s championship, taking place July 7–11. After 36 holes of stroke play, the top 32 scorers will advance to match play, where the stakes rise and the pressure mounts. The event is open to amateur golfers with an active Mass Golf Membership and a Handicap Index® not exceeding 3.6.
On Monday at Meadow Brook Golf Club, Nick Resor (Black Rock Country Club) and Aarav Lavu (Nehoiden Golf Club) led six qualifiers by shooting 1-under-par 72. Resor, a former hockey and football player at Middlebury College, qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur last year. This year, he’s set to make his Mass Amateur debut after making two birdies on the first trip around the 9-hole layout, and starting the second nine with another birdie.
Lavu, who at 15 was the youngest player in the field in 2024, took advantage of the par 5s with birdies on three of the four he played. Lavu finished one stroke ahead of Meadow Brook member Anthony Picano and Christian Jensen (Sagamore Spring Golf Club), another 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur participant, who shot 3-under 33 on the first nine Monday. Picano’s St. Anslem’s teammate Michael Papamechail (Beverly Golf & Tennis Club) as well as Jason Colavito (Northern Spy Country Club) carded 73s to earn the final two spots.
On Wednesday at Sharon Country Club, St. John’s University commit Max McColgan (Nashawtuc Country Club) was among four qualifiers, earning a share of medalist honors by carding a 1-under-par 71. McColgan, who is part of Team Massachusetts in the U.S. National Development program, made three birdies on the first trip around the 9-hole course and was even par the second time around.
Brothers Christian Emmerich and Aidan Emmerich, of Kernwood Country Club, earned the next two spots, shooting 71 and 72, respectively. Christian, who played at Boston College the past two seasons, was 1-under on the first nine and even on the second. Meanwhile, Aidan, a rising senior at Temple University, was 2-over on the first nine but birdied three of the first four holes to start the second nine and finished even par. Former Bentley University golfer Matt Mackin (Oakley Country Club) opened his round with a birdie and grabbed the final spot with a final score of 2-over 74.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM THIS WEEK’S MASS AMATEUR QUALIFYING EVENTS:
MONDAY, JUNE 23
QUALIFIERS (Meadow Brook GC-Par 72)
Nick Resor, Black Rock Country Club; 71
Aarav Lavu, Nehoiden Golf Club; 71
Christian Jensen, Sagamore Spring Golf Club; 72
Anthony Picano, Meadow Brook Golf Club; 72
Jason Colavito, Northern Spy Country Club; 73
Michael Papamechail, Beverly Golf & Tennis Club; 73
ALTERNATES
Bill Jenks, Brae Burn Country Club; 74
Andrew Reed, Tatnuck Country Club; 74
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25
QUALIFIERS (Sharon CC-Par 72)
Max McColgan, Nashawtuc Country Club; 71
Christian Emmerich, Kernwood Country Club; 71
Aidan Emmerich, Kernwood Country Club; 72
Matt Mackin, Oakley Country Club; 74
ALTERNATES
Jonathan Jones, The Milton-Hoosic Club; 75
Max Ferrari, Framingham Country Club; 75
David Currey, Brae Burn Country Club; 75
Thomas Errath, Brookline Golf Course; 75
Sam Keyser, Charles River Country Club; 75
