For the first time in nearly a decade, Western Massachusetts will play host to the state’s biggest amateur golf tournament.

GreatHorse in Hampden is the site for the 117th Massachusetts Amateur Golf Championship. The event begins Monday and runs through Friday, with a 36-hole championship match scheduled to decide the winner.

The last time the Mass. Am was held in Western Mass. was 2016 at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown. Since then, the event has made its way through some of the top courses in the state, places like The Country Club in Brookline and The Kittansett Club in Marion.

The tournament begins with stroke play on Monday and Tuesday, with the field then whittled down to low top 32 players into a single-elimination match play bracket. The Round of 32 begins Wednesday, with Round of 16 matches to follow in the afternoon. The quarterfinals and semifinals are Thursday before Friday’s title match closes out the week.

About the venue

Despite the lengthy wait between visits to the area, this year’s tournament sets up shop at one of the crown jewels of Massachusetts golf. GreatHorse was ranked No. 20 by Golf Digest in its list of ‘Best Golf Courses in Massachusetts,’ and has become a must-play for golfers across the country. The private facility underwent a reported $50 million transformation in 2012 by New England-based architect Brian Silva, shortly after the former Hampden Country Club closed and was purchased by the Antonacci family. It reopened as GreatHorse in 2015.

The five-day tournament will be a true test for golfers, while offering scenic views and immaculate facilities — including its 26,000-square-foot clubhouse, 185-seat dining area and outdoor terrace.

The club has hosted six Mass Golf or New England championships and several qualifiers over the past decade. In 2023, GreatHorse also signed an agreement to host three additional championships, including the 2027 Massachusetts Open.

“Ever since purchasing GreatHorse we knew we wanted to renovate it into a championship golf course that we could host Mass Golf events,” Guy Antonacci, President of GreatHorse, said in a Mass Golf release. “They have been a great partner since the beginning and we are excited for what the future holds.”

GreatHorse hosted the 2024 New England Junior Amateur Championship and next year, will be the site of the 97th New England Amateur Championship. The club also hosted the 2019 New England Women’s Amateur Championship.

The par-72, 7,600-yard layout from the championship tees features 200-plus bunkers and over 200 feet of elevation change. Hampden native Billy Downes has been the head golf professional at GreatHorse since the beginning (and was also the pro in the Hampden Country Club days), and he’ll be an extra-interested spectator as his son, Ryan Downes, is in the field and looks to add a second Mass. Am title to his resume (more on him later).

Last year’s tourney

The 2024 event, held at Framingham Country Club, was won by home course hero Matthew Naumec, who became the first player since 1972 to win the Mass. Amateur on their home course. The 27-year-old Wilbraham resident squeaked out a 1-up victory over Worcester Country Club’s Ricky Stimets in the 36-hole final.

Naumec received the Massachusetts Cup, as well as a 10-year exemption into the Mass. Amateur. For the first time ever, the champ also earned entry into the 2024 U.S. Amateur, which took place at Hazeltine National in Minnesota in August. Naumec carded rounds of 76 and 70, falling four strokes shy of a berth in match play.

Naumec’s victory bucked a trend of junior golfers snatching control of the Mass. Am title, as the final featured a pair of mid-amateurs (golfers who are at least 25 years old). It was the second year in a row that a Western Mass. resident captured the title (Ryan Downes in 2023).

Local players to watch

Longmeadow’s Ryan Downes, who made history as the youngest-ever Mass. Am champion when he won the 2023 title as a 17-year-old, has to be among the favorites. The Vanderbilt rising sophomore is competing at his home course, where his dad is the head professional, fresh off a stellar rookie year in the SEC where he tied for 32nd at his first-ever NCAA Championship.

Franklin County will be represented by the Country Club of Greenfield’s Cody Booska, who shot a sparkling 3-under 69 last month to earn medalist honors in a qualifier at Springfield Country Club. The 29-year-old hasn’t competed in the Mass. Am since 2019, when he reached match play for the third time in his career before falling to Matt Parziale in the Round of 16 at The Country Club in Brookline. It’ll be the eighth time he’s competing in the state’s top amateur tourney, and he tees off his first round Monday at 7:52 a.m.

“Hopefully I can string two good rounds together there and then in match play, anything can happen,” he said after punching a ticket to GreatHorse.

Hampshire County’s hope comes in the form of Belchertown’s Zach LeBeau, who shot 71 at a qualifier at the Country Club of Wilbraham last month to snag a spot at GreatHorse. The Westover Golf Course member was one shot off qualifying for the event in 2024, and he’s in the last group out on Monday at 2:21 p.m.

Other notable players from Western Mass. clubs includes The Ranch GC’s Andy Drohen, the 2003 champ, and GreatHorse’s Billy Walthouse.

Past champs in the field

Naumec, now representing host GreatHorse, will try to become the event’s first back-to-back winner since Mike Calef (2012, 2013) — who is also in the field representing Pine Oaks Golf Club.

Drohen (The Ranch), Nick McLaughlin (Far Corner, GC), Steven Tasho (Thorny Lea GC), Downes (GreatHorse), Parziale (Thorny Lea GC) and Ben Spitz (George Wright GC) are all former champions looking to capture a second crown.

Others to watch

Local golf fans may remember the name Joey Lenane, who blitzed the field at last summer’s Mass. Public Links Championship at South Hadley’s Ledges GC. The North Carolina State rising senior from Dedham is in Booska’s group, teeing off at 7:52 a.m.

Last year’s runner-up, Stimets, is in a loaded grouping along with former Duke star Jake Shuman and 2006 Mass. Am champ Ben Spitz (1:04 p.m.).

Matt Cowgill (Granite Links) was the stroke play medalist a year ago, and he tees off at 8:52 a.m. Dedham’s John Broderick shot a second-round 62 two years ago and was the stroke play medalist at Essex CC.