R The following individuals are exempt for the 2026 New England Amateur Championship. Although exempt according to the conditions and regulations of the event, these players are only eligible to compete in Championship Proper if they submit the stipulated entry form and fee prior to the entry close date.
Category #1
New England Amateur Champions of the last ten (10) years, if eligible
Top twenty (20) and ties from the 2025 New England Amateur Championship, if eligible
Defending NEGA Senior Amateur Champion and NEGA Junior Amateur Individual Champion
2025 State Amateur Champions from the six New England Golf Associations
Eight (8) exemptions from each of the six New England Golf Associations (criteria to be determined and communicated by each Association individually)
CONNECTICUT
If a listed player is otherwise exempt, or if they forgo/decline their exemption, the next non-exempt player on the POY standings will earn the exemption. Ties in the 2025 POY Standings will be broken by finish in the 2024 POY standings.
2024 Connecticut Amateur Champion: Austin Perkins
2025 Russell C. Palmer Cup Champion: Jake Portugal
2026 Russell C. Palmer Cup Champion:
2025 CT Mid-Amateur Champion: Thomas McCarthy
2025 CT Public Links Champion: Justin Beal
2025 CT Open Low Amateur: Bradley Sawka
Remaining spots to be filled based on finishing position in the 2024 POY points standings (players otherwise exempt are not listed):
2025 Mid-Amateur Champion: Joe Ernst
2025 Match Play Champion: Eli Spaulding*
The remaining 6 places (and any replacement exemptions) will be filled based on 2025 Player of the Year Points ranking:
MASSACHUSETTS
2025 Open Low-Mass Amateur: Jake Ratti
2025 Ouimet Memorial Champion: Matt Parziale*
2025 Amateur Runner-Up: Patrick Kilcoyne
2025 Mid-Am Champion: Nick Maccario
2025 Junior Amateur Champion: Thomas Constantine
The remaining (3) places (and any replacement exemptions) will be filled from the 2025 Richard D. Haskell Player of the Year standings, if eligible and not otherwise exempt. If a listed player is otherwise exempt, or if they forgo/decline their exemption, the next player on the POY standings will earn the exemption. Ties in the standings will be broken by the 2024 POY standings (then 2023 etc.).
NEW HAMPSHIRE
The top eight (8) players and any replacement alternates will be taken from the Thomas J. Leonard Player of the Year points list.
The top eight (8) players and any replacement alternates will be taken from the RIGA Player of the Year points list.
The top eight (8) players and any replacement alternates will be taken from the VGA Player of the Year points list.
A player who wishes to request an exceptional circumstance exemption into a NEGA Championship must do so by submitting a formal request. Exemption requests must be submitted to the NEGA Staff (e-mail: [email protected]) at least 10 days prior to the published entry deadline for the specific Championship. Exemption requests are reviewed by the NEGA Championship Committee on a case-by-case basis and only granted under exceptional circumstances. Along with the letter of request, players must also submit a playing resume that includes any golf awards, championships, top finishes and/or accomplishments from the last 5 years (local and national).
Category #1
New England Amateur Champions of the last ten (10) years, if eligible
- 2025 - Eli Spaulding (ME)
- 2024 - CJ Winchenbaugh (MA)
- 2023 - Joey Lenane (MA)
- 2022 - Jared Nelson (VT)
- 2021 - Cody Paladino (CT)
- 2020- John Broderick (MA)
- 2019 - Xavier Marcoux (MA)
- 2018 - Reese McFarlane (ME)
- 2017 - Bobby Leopold (RI)
- 2016 - James Turner (MA)
Top twenty (20) and ties from the 2025 New England Amateur Championship, if eligible
- Matt Parziale (MA)
- Alex Elia (CT)
- Lucas Politano (VT)
- Harry Dessel (RI)
- Drew Golden (MA)
- Adam Friedman (CT)
- Garren Poirier (VT)
- Walker Allen (VT)
- Jack Quinn (ME)
- Zach Pelzar (MA)
- Mathew Gover (NH)
- Brian Angis (ME)
- Will Spring (MA)
- Alan Rose (MA)
- Robby Zyskowski (CT)
- Anthony Guerrera (CT)
- Rocco Biafore (RI)
- Max Jackson (RI)
- Jalen Rines (NH)
- Max Ash (MA)
- Ryan Scollins (NH)
- Jacob Moody (ME)
- Cooper Griffin (MA)
Defending NEGA Senior Amateur Champion and NEGA Junior Amateur Individual Champion
- Junior Amateur Champion - North Chery (CT)
- Senior Amateur Champion - Patrick McGuiness (CT)
2025 State Amateur Champions from the six New England Golf Associations
- CT - Adam Friedman
- ME - Eli Spaulding
- MA - Ryan Downes
- NH - Josiah Hakala
- RI - Mike Calef
- VT - Michael Walsh
Eight (8) exemptions from each of the six New England Golf Associations (criteria to be determined and communicated by each Association individually)
CONNECTICUT
If a listed player is otherwise exempt, or if they forgo/decline their exemption, the next non-exempt player on the POY standings will earn the exemption. Ties in the 2025 POY Standings will be broken by finish in the 2024 POY standings.
2024 Connecticut Amateur Champion: Austin Perkins
2025 Russell C. Palmer Cup Champion: Jake Portugal
2026 Russell C. Palmer Cup Champion:
2025 CT Mid-Amateur Champion: Thomas McCarthy
2025 CT Public Links Champion: Justin Beal
2025 CT Open Low Amateur: Bradley Sawka
Remaining spots to be filled based on finishing position in the 2024 POY points standings (players otherwise exempt are not listed):
- Luke Stennett
- Richard Dowling
2025 Mid-Amateur Champion: Joe Ernst
2025 Match Play Champion: Eli Spaulding*
The remaining 6 places (and any replacement exemptions) will be filled based on 2025 Player of the Year Points ranking:
- Drew Glasheen
- Luke Ruffing
- Ron Kelton
- John Hayes
- Joe Walp
- Jason Gall
- Garrett Olson
MASSACHUSETTS
2025 Open Low-Mass Amateur: Jake Ratti
2025 Ouimet Memorial Champion: Matt Parziale*
2025 Amateur Runner-Up: Patrick Kilcoyne
2025 Mid-Am Champion: Nick Maccario
2025 Junior Amateur Champion: Thomas Constantine
The remaining (3) places (and any replacement exemptions) will be filled from the 2025 Richard D. Haskell Player of the Year standings, if eligible and not otherwise exempt. If a listed player is otherwise exempt, or if they forgo/decline their exemption, the next player on the POY standings will earn the exemption. Ties in the standings will be broken by the 2024 POY standings (then 2023 etc.).
- Aidan Emmerich
- Ben Balter
- Ben Spitz
- Christian Emmerich
NEW HAMPSHIRE
The top eight (8) players and any replacement alternates will be taken from the Thomas J. Leonard Player of the Year points list.
- Jake Nutter
- James Pleat
- Damon Salo
- Harvin Groft
- Connor Greenleaf
- Ryan Kohler
- Cameron Salo
- Jim Cilley
The top eight (8) players and any replacement alternates will be taken from the RIGA Player of the Year points list.
- Brad Valois
- Jake Bauer
- Mike Hamilton
- Austin Cilley
- Mike Caparco
- John Drohen
- Sebastian Carlsson
- Tyler Cooke
The top eight (8) players and any replacement alternates will be taken from the VGA Player of the Year points list.
- Evan Russell
- Cody Semmelrock
- Taylor Bellemare
- Troy Goliber
- Alex Leonard
- Nathan Godbout
- Travis Russell
- Sebastian Pell
A player who wishes to request an exceptional circumstance exemption into a NEGA Championship must do so by submitting a formal request. Exemption requests must be submitted to the NEGA Staff (e-mail: [email protected]) at least 10 days prior to the published entry deadline for the specific Championship. Exemption requests are reviewed by the NEGA Championship Committee on a case-by-case basis and only granted under exceptional circumstances. Along with the letter of request, players must also submit a playing resume that includes any golf awards, championships, top finishes and/or accomplishments from the last 5 years (local and national).
