R The following individuals are exempt for the 2025 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 2024 New England Amateur Championship, if eligible
Defending NEGA Senior Amateur Champion and NEGA Junior Amateur Individual Champion
2024 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 2024 POY Standings will be broken by finish in the 2023 POY standings.
2023 Connecticut Amateur Champion: Richard Dowling
2024 Russell C. Palmer Cup Champion:
2025 Russell C. Palmer Cup Champion: TBD
2024 CT Mid-Amateur Champion:
2024 CT Public Links Champion: Adam Friedman
2024 CT Open Low Amateur: Jackson Roman
Remaining spots to be filled based on finishing position in the 2024 POY points standings (players otherwise exempt are not listed):
2024 Mid-Amateur Champion: John Hayes
2024 Match Play Champion: Drew Glasheen
The remaining 6 places (and any replacement exemptions) will be filled based on 2024 Player of the Year Points ranking:
2024 Open Low-Mass Amateur: James Imai
2024 Ouimet Memorial Champion: Jack O'Donnell*
2024 Amateur Runner-Up: Ricky Stimets*
2024 Mid-Am Champion: Jake Ratti
2024 Junior Amateur Champion: Josiah Hakala
The remaining (3) places (and any replacement exemptions) will be filled from the 2024 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 2023 POY standings (then 2022 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.
Rhode Island
The top eight (8) players and any replacement alternates will be taken from the RIGA Player of the Year points list.
Vermont
The top eight (8) players and any replacement alternates will be taken from the VGA Player of the Year points list.
Player Exemption Request
A player who wishes to request an 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
- 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)
- 2015 - Nick McLaughlin (MA)
Top twenty (20) and ties from the 2024 New England Amateur Championship, if eligible
- Connor Goode (CT)
- Alex Elia (CT)
- Collin McMahon-Shea (MA)
- Ethan Whitney (MA)
- Zach Pelzar (MA)
- Evan Buddenhagen (MA)
- Emil Nielsen (MA)
- Aidan O'Donovan (MA)
- Jack O'Donnell (MA)
- Alan Rose (MA)
- Matt Parziale (MA)
- Ricky Stimets (MA)
- Weston Jones (MA)
- Eli Spaulding (ME)
- Luke Ruffing (ME)
- Mathew Gover (NH)
- Michael Walsh (VT)
Defending NEGA Senior Amateur Champion and NEGA Junior Amateur Individual Champion
- C.J. Winchenbaugh (MA) - Junior Champion*
- Andy Drohen (MA) - Senior Champion
2024 State Amateur Champions from the six New England Golf Associations
- CT - Austin Perkins
- ME - Eli Spaulding
- MA - Matt Naumec
- NH - Rob Henley
- RI - Bobby Leopold
- VT - Lucas Politano
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 2024 POY Standings will be broken by finish in the 2023 POY standings.
2023 Connecticut Amateur Champion: Richard Dowling
2024 Russell C. Palmer Cup Champion:
2025 Russell C. Palmer Cup Champion: TBD
2024 CT Mid-Amateur Champion:
2024 CT Public Links Champion: Adam Friedman
2024 CT Open Low Amateur: Jackson Roman
Remaining spots to be filled based on finishing position in the 2024 POY points standings (players otherwise exempt are not listed):
- Ben James
- Ashton Lewis
- Anthony Guerrera
- Mike Rothberg
2024 Mid-Amateur Champion: John Hayes
2024 Match Play Champion: Drew Glasheen
The remaining 6 places (and any replacement exemptions) will be filled based on 2024 Player of the Year Points ranking:
- Ron Kelton
- Brian Angis
- Andrew Slattery
- Mike Arsenault
- Justin Irish
- Garett Olson
2024 Open Low-Mass Amateur: James Imai
2024 Ouimet Memorial Champion: Jack O'Donnell*
2024 Amateur Runner-Up: Ricky Stimets*
2024 Mid-Am Champion: Jake Ratti
2024 Junior Amateur Champion: Josiah Hakala
The remaining (3) places (and any replacement exemptions) will be filled from the 2024 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 2023 POY standings (then 2022 etc.).
- Ryan Downes
- Jake Shuman
- Nick Maccario
- Joe Harney
- Conner Willett
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.
- Pat Pelletier
- Harvin Groft
- Matt Paradis
- Damon Salo
- Stephen Goodridge
- James Pleat
- Austin Fox
- Cameron Salo
Rhode Island
The top eight (8) players and any replacement alternates will be taken from the RIGA Player of the Year points list.
- Larry Lafauci, Jr,
- Jonathan Pannone
- Mike Caparco
- Michael Hamilton
- Brad Valois
- Tom McCormick
- Austin Cilley
- Harry Dessel
Vermont
The top eight (8) players and any replacement alternates will be taken from the VGA Player of the Year points list.
- Bryson Richards
- Evan Russell
- Garren Poirier
- Austin Grioux
- Bryan Smith
- Cody Semmelrock
- Ryan Porter
- Taylor Bellemare
Player Exemption Request
A player who wishes to request an 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).
