2024 Tri-State Matches Features Updated Format, Restored Course At Worcester Country Club
Worcester Country Club has long been a stage for groundbreaking moments. From hosting the first Ryder Cup in 1927 to welcoming U.S. presidents and golf’s greatest icons, its legacy runs deep. Now, thanks to a meticulous restoration by famed architect Gil Hanse, the course has returned to its roots, with classic Donald Ross features once again taking center stage.
The 90th edition of the Tri-State Matches, set for October 15-16, promises to bring fresh excitement to the historic venue. Mid-amateur and senior players from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island will face off in what is shaping up to be a unique showdown. Adding to the intrigue will be a new timed four-ball match, which will start the action at 8:30 a.m. on Day 1, with play wrapping up promptly at 1 p.m. Wherever matches stand at 1 p.m. (if not completed), will be considered the final result. The afternoon round will feature foursomes matches, with singles matches concluding play during the morning of Day 2.
Massachusetts has dominated recent years, winning three of the last four titles, but Connecticut arrives with the confidence of defending champions, having captured the 2023 title on home turf. The rivalry stretches back to 1907, when Massachusetts first claimed victory at Agawam Hunt Club in Rhode Island. Since 1928, the Tri-State Matches have become a cornerstone of New England amateur golf, with the top players selected by each state’s golf association, eager to etch their names into regional golf history.
Each state selected 10 of its best mid-amateur players, plus six senior amateur players (age 55 and up). Player selection for Team Mass Golf is primarily based on Mass Golf Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year Standings.
The foursomes and four-ball formats will be worth 1 point (for the overall match). Halved matches will result in half-points being awarded. Once the horn sounds during the four-ball matches, teams may complete the hole that they are playing (if needed); and the match result will then be final at that time.
In the singles matches, will be “Nassau Style “matches (1 point for winning the front nine, 1 point for the back nine & 1 point (overall match). A competitor’s first nine consecutive holes will constitute their “front 9” and their next nine holes their “back 9”. Halved matches will result in half-points being awarded..
Team Massachusetts gathers for a group photo during the 2023 matches. (David Colt, file)
MEET TEAM MASSACHUSETTS
mid-AMATEURS
Shuvam Bhaumik
Age: 41
City: Canton, Massachusetts; Club: Thorny Lea Golf Club (Brockton)
Player Of The Year Points: 125 points (30th)
2024 Accolades: Won the 50th North Shore Amateur Championship at Far Corner Golf Club.
Fast Fact: Bhaumik competed on the Long Island University men’s golf team in the early 2000s.
Mike Calef
Age: 45
City: Portsmouth, Rhode Island; Club: Pine Oaks GC (Easton)
Player Of The Year Points: 152 points (22nd)
2024 Accolades: Competed in U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying; T5 in Mass Mid-Amateur Championship; Earned No. 3 seed in Mass Amateur match play.
Fast Fact: Calef won the Mass Amateur in 2012 and 2013, the last player to earn back-to-back titles in the event.
2024 Accolades: Stroke play medalist at Massachusetts Amateur Championship; Advanced to U.S. Open Final Qualifying; Competed in 2024 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (with Patrick Frodigh).
Fast Fact: Cowgill, a former James Madison University golfer, regained his amateur status in 2022.
Danny Frodigh
Age: 25
City: Westwood, Massachusetts; Club: Dedham Country & Polo Club (Dedham)
Player Of The Year Points: 159 points (24th)
2024 Accolades: Quarterfinalist in the 116th Mass Amateur Championship; Qualified for 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with Jared Winiarz.
Fast Fact: Frodigh, the youngest player on the team, played for the University of Hartford.
Patrick Frodigh
Age: 29
City: Westwood, Massachusetts; Club: Dedham Country & Polo Club (Dedham)
Player Of The Year Points: 169 points (20th)
2024 Accolades: Placed T3 in Ouimet Memorial Tournament; Competed in U.S. Four-Ball Championship (w/Matt Cowgill).
Fast Fact: Frodigh is the lone left-handed golfer for Team Mass Golf.
Joe Harney
Age: 32
City: West Roxbury, Massachusetts; Club: Charles River Country Club (Newton)
Player Of The Year Points: 268 points (16th)
2024 Accolades: Placed T3 in Mass Mid-Amateur; Placed second in Norfolk County Classic; Finished third in Mass Four-Ball (w/Matt Vaughn).
Fast Fact: Harney won the 2015 Massachusetts Open at Black Rock Country Club.
Brandon Parker
Age: 40
City: Auburn, Massachusetts; Club: Worcester Country Club (Worcester)
Player of the Year Points: 128 points (29th)
2024 Accolades: Placed T3 in Norfolk County Classic;
Fast Fact: Parker is a former pro golfer who has been a member of Worcester Country Club for the past decade.
Jake Ratti
Age: 27
City: Plymouth, Massachusetts; Club: Wollaston Golf Club (Milton)
Player of the Year Points: 443 points (7th)
2024 Accolades: Won the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship (shot 8-under 64 in the final round); Medalist at U.S. Amateur Local Qualifying at Wollaston; Round of 16 in the Mass Amateur Championship; T3 in Hornblower Memorial Tournament.
Fast Fact: Ratti played college golf for Bryant University and has caddied at Boston Golf Club for years. This will be his first Tri-State Matches appearance.
Daniel Schwartz
Age: 31
City: Brookline, Massachusetts; Club: George Wright Golf Course (Boston)
Player of the Year Points: 95 points (38th)
2024 Accolades: Advanced to U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying; T12 in Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship.
Fast Fact: Schwartz is a professor in the English Language & Literature department at Brandeis University.
Ricky Stimets
Age: 33
City: Osterville, Massachusetts; Club: Worcester Country Club (Worcester)
Player of the Year Points: 608 points (T2)
2024 Accolades: Runner-up in Massachusetts Amateur, 2nd in Massachusetts Mid-Amateur, T3 in Norfolk County Classic; Qualified for U.S. Mid-Amateur.
Fast Fact: Stimets is the reigning Mass Golf Player of the Year.
SENIOR AMATEURS
Doug Clapp
Age: 57
City: Plymouth, Massachusetts; Club: Old Sandwich Golf Club (Plymouth)
Senior Player Of The Year Points: 625 points (1st)
2024 Accolades: Won the Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship; Runner-Up in Ouimet Memorial Tournament (Lowery Division); Qualified for U.S. Senior Amateur.
Fast Fact: Clapp earned his first Mass Golf individual victory by capturing this year’s Senior Amateur at Salem Country Club.
Kevin Daly
Age: 55
City: Beverly; Club: Salem Country Club (Peabody)
Senior Player Of The Year Points: 241 (5th)
2024 Accolades: Placed third in Massachusetts Senior Amateur (at home course); T2 in Senior Hornblower Memorial Tournament.
Fast Fact: Daly is a coach for Salem State’s men’s golf team.
Andy Drohen
Age: 56
City: Granville, Massachusetts; Club: The Ranch Golf Club (Southwick)
Senior Player Of The Year Points: 380 points (3rd)
2024 Accolades: Won the New England Senior Amateur Championship; T6 in Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship.
Fast Fact: In 2012, Drohen became the first golfer to have earned victory in these four Mass Golf events: Mass Amateur, Mass Amateur Public Links, Mass Mid-Amateur, and Mass Four-Ball.
Dean Godek
Age: 58
City: Feeding Hills, Massachusetts; Club: Agawam Municipal Golf Course (Agawam)
Senior Player Of The Year Points: 255 points (4th)
2024 Accolades: Won Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship (w/ Ed Garbacik); T2 in New England Senior Amateur Championship.
Fast Fact: Godek has played in the U.S. Amateur Championship three times. In 1993, he faced Justin Leonard in match play.
John Hadges
Age: 63
City: North Easton, Massachusetts; Club: Thorny Lea Golf Club (Brockton)
Senior Player Of The Year Points: 470 points (2nd)
2024 Accolades: Won Senior Hornblower Memorial Tournament; Second place in Massachusetts Senior Amateur, Norfolk County Classic (Seniors), and Amateur Invitational (Seniors).
Fast Fact: Hadges won the Mass Amateur in 2008 and 2010.
Frank Vana, Jr.
Age: 61
City: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; Club: Marlborough Country Club (Marlborough)
Senior Player Of The Year Points: 212 points (T6)
2024 Accolades: Won Ouimet Memorial Tournament (Lowery Division); T2 in Senior Hornblower Memorial Tournament.
Fast Fact: Vana will be making his 30th appearance in the Tri-State Matches.
RHODE ISLAND ROSTER
Kevin Blaser
Larry Lafauci
Mike Carparco
Bobby Leopold
Jonathan Cooper
Dave Marshall*
Darren Corrente*
Tom McCormick
Jeff Dantas*
John McNeill*
Chris Delucia
Cam Moniz
John Drohen*
Tim Murray*
Mike Hamilton
John Pannone
CONNECTICUT ROSTER
David Baker*
Dave Jones*
Benjamin Conroy
Mike Kennedy
Benjamin Day
Ashton Lewis
Richard Dowling
Patrick McGuiness
Adam Friedman
Tim Murphy
Anthony Guerrera
Craig Platt
Brian Hedstrom*
James Sheltman
Michael Hooper*
Peter Tomlinson
*Denotes Senior Amateur
STAY CONNECTED
Mass Golf will have coverage of the 90th Tri-State Matches at Worcester Country Club. Visit MassGolf.org and follow @PlayMassGolf on Facebook, X, and Instagram for the latest news and content.
