The following individuals are exempt for the 2026 New England Senior 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 Senior Amateur Champions of the last ten (10) years, if eligible
- 2025 - Patrick McGuiness (CT)
- 2024 - Andy Drohen (MA)
- 2023 - Keith Smith (MA)
- 2022 - Doug Clapp (MA)
- 2021 - John McNeill (MA)
- 2020 - Frank Vana, Jr. (MA)
- 2019 - Bob Kearney (NH)
- 2018 - Jack Kearney (MA)
- 2017 - Phil Pleat (NH)
- 2016 - Phil Pleat (NH)
Top twenty (20) and ties from the 2025 New England Senior Amateur Championship, if eligible
- Jeff Dantas (RI)
- Chris O'Neill (RI)
- Don Reycroft (MA)
- Brendan Hester (MA)
- Brian Fitzgerald (MA)
- Craig Steckowych (NH)
- Keith Stone (MA)
- Rick Moreau (MA)
- Dan Arvanitis (NH)
- Mike Verde (MA)
- Randy Rizy (CT)
- Dean Godek (MA)
- Bill Jenks (MA)
- Jason Zaniewski (CT)
- Kevin Daly (MA)
- Ray Underwood (CT)
- Scott Dewitt (ME)
- Keith Patterson (ME)
- Scott Copeland (MA)
- Kevin Doherty (ME)
- Richard Malafronte (CT)
- Jim Ezold (CT)
- Shane Hassett (CT)
- Rob Parsi (NH)
- John Drohen (RI)
- Bruce Heterick (RI)
Category #3
Top ten (10) Super Senior competitors and ties from the 2025 New England Senior Amateur Championship, if eligible
- Steve Tasho (MA)
- Bill Everett (NH)
- Bill Hermanson (CT)
2025 State Senior Amateur Champions from the six New England Golf Associations
- CT -
- ME -
- MA -
- NH -
- RI -
- VT -
Six (6) 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 SPOY standings will earn the exemption. Ties in the 2025 SPOY Standings will be broken by finish in the 2024 SPOY standings.
2024 Connecticut Senior Amateur Champion -
2025 Connecticut Senior Match Play Champion -
2026 Connecticut Senior Match Play Champion -
2025 Connecticut Super Senior Champion -
2026 Connecticut Senior Match Play Runner-Up -
Remaining spots to be filled based on finishing position in the 2024 SPOY points standings (players otherwise exempt are not listed):
Maine
2025 Senior Match Play Champion -
The remaining 5 places (and any replacement exemptions) will be filled based on 2025 Player of the Year Points ranking.
Massachusetts
2025 Super Senior Amateur Champion, if eligible -
The top five (5) finishers from the 2025 George M. Cohen Senior 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 Senior POY standings (then 2022, etc.).
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont
Player Exemption Request
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 Greg Howell (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).
