NORTON, Massachusetts – Over the past two years, Mass Golf has had three champions and several participants in USGA Championship events. Some have earned exemptions from past victories, but others needed to make it in through solid play in qualifying events.
Mass Golf will have 14 different Member Clubs hosting 18 USGA qualifying events from May through October in 2020. Thorny Lea GC, Bayberry Hills GC, Country Club of New Bedford and George Wright GC will all be hosting two qualifiers on the same day.
The remaining qualifying sites are: Eastward Ho!, Crumpin-Fox, Dedham Country & Polo Club, Longmeadow CC, Pinehills GC, Red Tail GC, The Ranch GC, Indian Pond CC and Berkshire Hills CC.
ONLINE: USGA QUALIFYING
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/sectional qualifier can be directed to Greg Howell, at ghowell@massgolf.org or 774-430-9016.
“Our schedule of 18 USGA qualifiers is one of the most robust slates in the country,” said Howell, Mass Golf’s Manager of NEGA Operations & USGA Qualifying. “It’s a testament to our golfers, Member Clubs, and USGA Committee Members that we are tasked with this responsibility. We can’t thank our Member Clubs enough for opening their doors for all of our events and enabling Mass Golf to showcase the top talent from the region.”
“We are so grateful to our colleagues at Mass Golf for their support running USGA qualifiers at the highest level,” added John Bodenhamer, USGA Senior Manager Director of Championships. “Their steadfast commitment to the game will ensure a wonderful experience for everyone who competes at a USGA qualifier in the state this season.”
The following is a capsule look at each USGA Championship that has a qualifier in Massachusetts.
U.S. OPEN
Local Qualifier: May 4, Eastward Ho! (Chatham)
Local Qualifier: May 11, Crumpin-Fox (Bernardston)
Registration Open: March 2
Entires Close: April 22
Sectional Qualifying: June 8, Multiple Locations
Championship Proper: June 18-21, Winged Foot GC (Mamaroneck, NY)
Notes: Eastward Ho!, which has been a Mass Open qualifying site for the past four years, will lead off the USGA qualifying slate in Massachusetts. … Crumpin-Fox last hosted a U.S. Open qualifier in 2017 and also hosted a USGA Junior & Girls’ Junior qualifier in 2018.
U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN
Qualifier: May 6, Dedham Country & Polo Club (Dedham)
Registration Open: March 2
Entries Close: April 15
Championship Proper: June 4-7, Champions GC (Houston, TX)
Notes: This is Dedham’s first USGA qualifier since the 2012 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. It last hosted a USGA Championship Proper when it was the site of the 1975 Girls’ Junior Amateur.
U.S. SENIOR OPEN
Qualifier: June 3, Thorny Lea GC (Brockton)
Registration Open: March 2
Entries Close: May 6
Championship Proper: June 25-28, Newport CC (Newport, RI)
Notes: Thorny Lea hosted a 2019 qualifier for the U.S. Women’s Amateur and last hosted a Senior U.S. Open qualifier in 2010. The course is located just more than 50 miles north from Newport CC. Thorny Lea will also be hosting a qualifier for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
U.S. SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN
Qualifier: June 3, Thorny Lea GC (Brockton)
Registration Open: March 2
Entries Close: May 20
Championship Proper: July 9-12, Brooklawn Country Club (Fairfield, CT)
Notes: Thorny Lea is roughly a three-hour drive from Brooklawn CC, the site of the Championship Proper. It will also be hosting a qualifier for the U.S. Senior Open.
U.S. JUNIOR AMATEUR & U.S. GIRLS’ JUNIOR AMATEUR
Qualifier: June 18, George Wright GC (Boston)
Registration Open: March 23 (Junior); March 25 (Girls’ Junior)
Entries Close: June 10 (Junior); May 20 (Girls’ Junior)
U.S. Junior Championship Proper: July 20-25, Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, MN)
Past Mass Golf Champ: Michael Thorbjornsen (2018)
U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship Proper: July 13-18, Air Force Academy Eisenhower Course (Colorado Springs, CO)
Notes: This will be the fourth straight year Mass Golf is hosting qualifiers for the U.S. Junior and U.S. Girls’ Junior on the same date and same course. George Wright last hosted a USGA qualifier in 2016 for the U.S. Amateur.
U.S. AMATEUR
Qualifier: July 6, Longmeadow CC (Longmeadow)
Qualifier: July 7, Pinehills GC (Plymouth)
Qualifier (R.I. Golf Association): July 7, Crestwood CC (Rehoboth, MA)
Registration Open: March 30
Entries Close: June 24
Championship Proper: August 10-16, Bandon Dunes Resort (Bandon, OR)
Notes: Longmeadow is hosting a U.S. Amateur qualifier for the second straight year. It also hosted the Championship Proper for the 1995 Girls’ Junior and the 2005 Junior Amateur. … Pinehills has been a U.S. Open qualifying site for the past three years. … Though it will take place in Massachusetts, the Rhode Island Golf Association will be hosting the qualifier at Crestwood CC.
U.S. WOMEN’S AMATEUR
Qualifier: July 7, Red Tail GC (Devens)
Registration Open: March 30
Entries Close: June 17
Championship Proper: August 3-9, Woodmont CC (Rockville, MD)
Notes: Red Tail is hosting a qualifier for the first time since it had one for the U.S. Senior Amateur in 2011. It hosted its only USGA Championship Proper when it was the site of the 2009 Women’s Amateur Public Links.
U.S. MID-AMATEUR
Qualifier: August 7, The Ranch GC (Southwick)
Qualifier: August 24, Country Club of New Bedford (Dartmouth)
Registration Open: April 27
Entries Close: July 29
Championship Proper: September 12-17, Kinloch GC (Manakin – Sabot, VA)
Past Mass Golf champ: Matt Parziale (2017)
Notes: The Ranch GC last hosted a USGA qualifier in 2014 for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. … New Bedford, the site of Mass Golf’s Grace Keyes Cup in 2019, last hosted a qualifier in 2016 for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. It will also host a qualifier for the U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur.
U.S. WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR
Qualifier: July 27, Bayberry Hills GC (Yarmouth)
Registration Open: April 27
Entries Close: June 17
Championship Proper: August 29-September 3, Berkeley Hall (Blufton, SC)
Past Mass Golf champ: Shannon Johnson (2018)
Notes: Bayberry Hills, the site of Mass Golf’s 2019 Amateur Public Links Championship, will also host the U.S. Senior Amateur qualifier.
U.S. SENIOR AMATEUR
Qualifier: July 27, Bayberry Hills GC (Yarmouth)
Registration Open: April 27
Entries Close: July 15
Championship Proper: August 29-September 3, Country Club of Detroit (Gross Pointe Farms, MI)
Notes: Bayberry Hills, the site of Mass Golf’s 2019 Amateur Public Links Championship, will also host the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur qualifier.
U.S. SENIOR WOMEN’S AMATEUR
Qualifier: August 24, Country Club of New Bedford (Dartmouth, MA)
Registration Open: May 4
Entries Close: July 29
Championship Proper: September 12-17, Lakewood Club (Point Clean, AL)
Notes: New Bedford, the site of Mass Golf’s Grace Keyes Cup in 2019, last hosted a qualifier in 2016 for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. It will also host a qualifier for the U.S. Mid-Amateur.
U.S. AMATEUR FOUR-BALL
Qualifier: August 25, Indian Pond CC (Kingston)
Qualifier: September 8, Berkshire Hills CC (Pittsfield, MA)
Registration Open: May 4
Entries Close: August 12
Championship Proper: May 22-26, 2021, Chambers Bay (University Place, WA)
Notes: Indian Pond, which is hosting its first USGA qualifier since it had one for the 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur, will have up to 64 two-player sides competing in this qualifier. … Berkshire Hills, which hosted a U.S. Open qualifier in 2019, will have up to 52 two-player sides competing.
U.S. WOMEN’S AMATEUR FOUR-BALL
Qualifier: TBD
Registration Open: May 4
Entries Close: August 12
Championship Proper: TBD 2021
