Just shy of one month before the 66th playing of the Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship, the final two qualifying events were held at Wedgewood Pines and Hopedale Country Club, with 34 individuals guaranteeing a spot in the Championship Proper.
Both field were vying for a spot to compete at the historic Belmont Country Club, which will host for the first time September 22-23. Belmont, designed by Donald Ross and later redesigned by his associate Orrin Smith, has hosted five Mass Opens, four Mass Amateurs and six Mass Women’s Amateurs. It also hosted the 2015 Senior Players Championship, the second of three straight wins by Bernhard Langer.
Entries for the event are open to amateur golfers aged 55 or older as of Sept. 22, 2026, who have an active Mass Golf Membership and a Handicap Index® not exceeding 8.0.
On Wednesday at Wedgewood Pines, Chuck Elder (Cold Spring Country Club) knocked down five birdies to shoot 2-under-par 70 and lead a group of 21 qualifiers. Right behind him at even-par 72 was 2009 champion Paul Murphy (Charles River Country Club), the oldest player in the field at 75 years old.
JC Guthrie (Oak Hill Country Club) and John Sullivan (USGA/Mass Golf GC), who both just turned 55 this year, qualified with scores of 77 and 76, respectively. Mark Pandolfi (Ludlow Country Club) also got in on the number with a 77, making three birdies on the back nine to earn his spot.
On Thursday at Hopedale, Al Alminas (Franconia/Veterans Golf Course) and Greg Clinton (Walpole Country Club) shot matching 34s each time around the 9-hole layout to lead 13 qualifying players with a tally of 2-under-par 68. Clinton was 4-under entering the final hole but made double-bogey on the long par-3 closer. Rick Fleischman (Hopkinton Country Club) shot one stroke below his age, advancing with a 73.
Brothers Jon Fasick (New England Country Club) and Carter Fasick (Westborough Golf Club), also 74 years old, advanced with scores of 73 and 75, respectively, while Hopedale member Stephen Bird made a clutch birdie on the par-4 8th the second time around to hit the qualifying number with a 75. Peter Gardella (Ferncroft Country Club), a first-time qualifier at age 55, also got through with a score of 74.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM THIS WEEK’S SENIOR AMATEUR QUALIFYING EVENTS:
QUALIFIERS (Wedgewood Pines CC – Par 72)
Chuck Elder, Cold Spring Country Club; 70
Paul Murphy, Charles River Country Club; 72
Andrew Falcone, Plymouth Country Club; 73
Jim DiBlaise, Woodland Country Club; 74
Randy Daniels, Blackstone National Golf Club; 75
Douglas Hutcheson, Amherst Country Club; 75
Brian Robbins, Pleasant Valley Country Club; 75
Paul Rich, Oak Hill Country Club; 75
Mike Walsh, The Tour; 75
Richard Rowe, Country Club of Pittsfield; 76
David Laravee, Westover Golf Course; 76
John Sullivan, USGA/Mass Golf GC; 76
Gary Fornari, Plymouth Country Club; 76
Ronald Laverdiere, Crumpin-Club Club; 76
Glenn Bohling, Wedgewood Pines Country Club; 77
Harold Goetsch, Wedgewood Pines Country Club; 77
Joe Seckler, Wedgewood Pines Country Club; 77
Tim Walsh, The Tour; 77
Mark McCormick, Harmon Golf; 77
JC Guthrie, Oak Hill Country Club; 77
Mark Pandolfi, Ludlow Country Club; 77
ALTERNATES
John Donahue, Charles River Country Club; 78
Joe Eadie, Twin Hills Country Club; 78
Tim Lafrankie, Marlborough Country Club; 78
Stephen Jacobson, Fresh Pond Country Club; 78
QUALIFIERS (Hopedale CC – Par 70)
Al Alminas, Franconia/Veterans Golf Course; 68
Greg Clinton, Walpole Country Club; 68
Jim Forsgard, Pinehills Golf Club; 71
Mark Grant, Foxborough Country Club; 72
Mark Millay, Kettle Brook Golf Club; 73
Jon Fasick, New England Country Club; 73
Mark Vincellette, Springfield Country Club; 73
Rick Fleischman, Hopkinton Country Club; 73
Peter Gardella, Ferncroft Country Club; 74
Carter Fasick, Westborough Golf Club; 75
Stephen Bird, Hopedale Country Club; 75
Shawn Bernard, Whitinsville Golf Club; 75
Joe Weinacht, Dennis Pines Golf Club; 75
ALTERNATES
Dave Smith, Springfield Country Club; 76
Emo Monterastelli, Hopkinton Country Club; 76
John Fitzgerald, Whitinsville Golf Club; 76
Michael Reale, The Haven Country Club; 76
Jason Hantman, Country Club of New Bedford; 76
Doug Riel, Springfield Country Club; 76
Ted Lyon, Winchester Country Club; 76
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