By Stephen Hanjack
shanjack@massgolf.org
HAMPDEN, Massachusetts (May 7, 2025) – After cold and rainy weather dominated the Bay State early in the week, blue skies and sunshine greeted players for U.S. Open Local Qualifying at GreatHorse on Wednesday. Though the course and weather presented a strikingly beautiful scene, blustery winds proved to be a steady defense, keeping scores in check.
Peter French (Franklin, MA) opened with a 33 (-3) on the front nine and cruised from there, shooting 70 (-2) and earning medalist honors. Leading a field of top-caliber players is an achievement in itself, but doing so just a year removed from reconstructive surgery on both hips elevates it to an extraordinary feat.
Finishing one back of French was a group of five players, which required a 5-for-3 playoff to identify the three to join French at Final Qualifying. Making par on the first playoff hole (No. 10) was Christian Emmerich (Swampscott, MA), soon-to-be Harvard graduate Diego Saavedra (Puerto Rico), and former professional baseball player Scott Kalamar (Bethlehem, PA).
The four have moved one step closer to advancing to the U.S. Open at Oakmont, and will compete at U.S. Open Final Qualifying in the coming weeks.
View this post on Instagram
Last summer, you could find Peter French on the golf course. The problem was, you couldn’t find him playing. In January of 2024, French went under the knife, getting reconstructive surgery on both hips. Unable to escape the game he loves, French could be seen riding around in a cart, taking in matches like the memorable finale at Framingham for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
Fast forward a few months, and French found himself back in the driver’s seat, this time at U.S. Open Qualifying. A quick start allowed French to absorb a few bogeys on his second nine, which is all the more impressive when you consider he just started playing again in January. French was the lone professional to advance through Local Qualifying at GreatHorse.
The group of Christian Emmerich, Diego Saavedra, Scott Kalamar, Nicholas Cummings (Weston, MA), and Connor Goode (Glastonbury, CT) all finished at 1-under-par, necessitating a playoff to decide the final three qualifiers.
After his 10-foot par putt fell on the first playoff hole, Christian Emmerich couldn’t help but celebrate with a firm-yet-reserved fist pump. In the moment, Emmerich was thinking he needed the putt to survive, but after a few other misses behind him, the 10-footer was enough to send Emmerich to Final Qualifying for the first time.
“I didn’t want to be the first person to make bogey on the playoff and just be out right away,” said Emmerich laughing. “And then I got a fortunate break (when) the other two missed.”
In looking ahead, Emmerich plans to lean on his experience at U.S. Amateur Qualifying, back when it was of the 36-hole format.
“I would say excited. I mean, I’ve made it through U.S. Am qualifying twice, and both times it was when it was the 36 holes in one day,” added Emmerich. “So I like to think that, I don’t know, maybe I do well, when it’s the 36 holes in one day.”
Making a comfy par in the playoff to advance was Diego Saavedra, who will graduate from Harvard University later this month. And with a job lined up in Boston, you can expect to see a lot more of Saavedra on the competitive golf scene in Massachusetts.
With the physique of a bodybuilder, it’s easy to understand why Scott Kalamar pulled driver on the first playoff hole (No. 10). The long-hitting lefty pounded his drive over 330 yards down the hill, onto the plateau just short of the green, the only player to do so. A simple pitch to 5 feet made for a stress-free par and a tee time at U.S. Open Final Qualifying.
The professional baseball player-turned-golfer found his way to Massachusetts through a former Seton Hall teammate (hence the Seton Hall hat). Greg Terhune, who now resides in Shrewsbury, talked Kalamar into the GreatHorse qualifier, and jumped on the bag to help shepherd him along.
Next Up: The four qualifiers from Wednesday will now compete in 36-hole U.S. Open Final Qualifying on either May 19 or June 2.
COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM GREATHORSE
QUALIFIER (Name, City, Score)
Peter French, Franklin, MA; (-2) 70
Scott Kalamar (a), Bethlehem, PA; (-1) 71*
Christian Emmerich (a), Swampscott, MA; (-1) 71*
Diego Saavedra (a), Puerto Rico; (-1) 71*
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Nicholas Cummings, Weston, MA; (-1) 71**
Connor Goode (a), Glastonbury, CT; (-1) 71
(a) Denotes amateur
*Qualified on first playoff hole with a par (No. 10)
**Earned First Alternate with birdie on fourth playoff hole (No. 17)
Hosting U.S. Open Qualifying can often be the highlight of a club’s external event schedule, but at GreatHorse, it’s merely a season kick-off for an exciting 2025. Later this year, the spectacular Brian Silva designed layout will host its first ever Massachusetts Amateur Championship. Having previously hosted the Women’s Amateur (2016) and Open (2018), GreatHorse will join elite company as one of the only clubs to host all three of Mass Golf’s signature events.
With the ability to stretch the golf course to over 7,600 yards, and with enough sand to make your local beach blush, it’s no surprise that GreatHorse is rated (79.1/155) as the toughest course in Massachusetts. With soft conditions brought on by the heavy rains earlier this week, only 7,182 yards were needed to test the U.S. Open hopefuls.
For the latest updates on all Mass Golf events, visit MassGolf.org or follow Mass Golf on Facebook, X, and Instagram at @PlayMassGolf.
