CANTON, Massachusetts (June 4, 2025) – Aidan Emmerich (Kernwood CC) has been to the U.S. Junior Amateur in Oregon. Now he’s closing in on a return trip west, this time with The Olympic Club in his sights.
Emmerich, the rising senior at Temple University, shot 4-under-par 68 on Wednesday at Blue Hill Country Club to earn a share of medalist honors with Kent State’s Isaiah Ibit (Canada) at U.S. Amateur Local Qualifying at Blue Hill Country Club.
The nine players who made the cut Wednesday will advance to U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying, also over 18 holes, which will be held at 19 sites nationwide between July 14-30. Wellesley Country Club will host Final Qualifying on July 28. Those who advance from there will earn a spot in the 125th U.S. Amateur, set for August 11-17 at The Olympic Club (Lake & Ocean Course) in San Francisco.
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Emmerich began the day fresh off a second-place finish in the Hornblower Memorial Tournament, an event he won two years ago. Playing in the noon starting group Wednesday, Emmerich shot a bogey-free 4-under 32 on the front nine, with five of six total birdies coming on par-4s.
Ibit, an Ontario native, also had a bogey-free 32 stretch, but his was on the back nine, including on the final two holes. Ibit, who was the all-MAC Freshman of the year, became the first player in program history to shoot all three rounds of a 54-hole tournament in the 60s.
Aidan Monahan (Winchester Country Club, who just finished his first year at Trinity College, shot 69 to match fellow Massachusetts golfers Michael Pergamo (Dennis Pines Golf Course) and Sam Russell (Cranberry Valley GC). Monahan made consecutive birdies on the par-3 16th and par-4 17th to move safely above the cutline.
Christian Emmerich (Kernwood Country Club), who played in U.S. Open Final Qualifying on Monday, managed some late heroics to qualify. Standing on the 18th tee at even-par, the Boston College standout made eagle on the final hole to finish 2-under 70.
Not to be outdone, Kurt Flionis (Old Sandwich GC) capped off a three-day qualifying gauntlet with perhaps his most thrilling yet.
After advancing in Mass Amateur qualifying Monday at Cranberry Valley GC and New England Amateur qualifying Tuesday at Kirkbrae CC (RI), the 42-year-old Bostonian, birdied the 18th Wednesday to post 1-under 71. As if the past 54 holes weren’t enough, Flionis was then faced with an 8-for-1 playoff for the final spot. Despite that, Flionis emerged victorious, while Connecticut’s Will Lord and URI’s Aidan O’Donovan (Cummaquid GC), settled for First and Second Alternate, respectively.
COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM BLUE HILL CC
QUALIFIERS (Name; City; Score)
Aidan Emmerich, Swampscott, MA; 68
Isaiah Ibit, Canada; 68
Sam Russell, Boston, MA; 69
Michael Pergamo, Belmont, MA; 69
Garret Cameron, Barre, Vermont; 69
Aidan Monahan, Winchester, MA; 69
Sebastien Levasseur, Canada; 70
Christian Emmerich, Swampscott, MA; 70
Kurt Flionis, Woburn, MA; 71*
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Will Lord, Suffield, CT; 72**
Aidan O’Donovan Somerville, MA; 72
*Advanced with birdie on second playoff hole
**Earn spot on fourth playoff hole
Blue Hill Country Club stands out in Massachusetts golf history as the only club in the state to host a PGA Championship (1956) and one of just two to host a men’s major in the past 90 years. Boasting a classic 18-hole course by Skip Wogan, a nine-hole companion by his son Phil, and recent renovations by Ron Prichard, Blue Hill remains one of the state’s top private golf clubs.
The club also hosted the LPGA’s PING/Welch’s Championship from 1991-1997, with winners during that time including Juli Inkster, Dottie Pepper, Helen Alfredsson, and Beth Daniel.
Blue Hill opens with a seemingly straightforward par-4, but don’t be fooled, the 434-yard 1st hole features a sloping fairway and a tight, well-bunkered green that can quickly turn an easy par into a bogey. The 2nd ups the difficulty with an elevated green that punishes anything short, often sending approach shots tumbling back 20 to 30 yards. On the front side, the standout risk-reward hole is the 6th, a short par 4 that tempts long hitters to go for the green but demands touch around its turtleback putting surface.
On the back, the 10th is a brute, a long par 4 with out-of-bounds left and sharp green contours that make par a genuine feat. The 13th (220-yard par 3) often plays into the wind with a spine across the green that demands absolute precision. The 14th follows with a scenic elevated tee and views of Blue Hill, plus a small green tightly bunkered. The 16th is a downhill par 3 to a sloped, tiny green that makes front pin placements treacherous.
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