Aidan Emmerich claims 118th Mass. Amateur Golf Championship on Saturday

Behind eight combined birdies, Aidan Emmerich defeated Zachary Georgantas 8&6 in the 36-hole final round to claim the 118th Massachusetts Amateur Golf Championship at Winchester Country Club on Saturday.

“It’s an honor,” said Emmerich, a recent Temple University graduate. “It’s something I’ve worked for so long. I’ve played in the tournament a lot and been in match play, but I never made the semifinals. Then last year, I knew what I needed to do to get better. To see this and know that all the hard work I put in paid off means a lot.”

Emmerich punched his ticket to the championship round by outlasting 2024 champion Matthew Naumec of Wilbraham, while Georgantas defeated Jake Mrva to advance.

• Aidan Emmerich and Zachary Georgantas set for final in Mass. Amateur Golf Championship

The last three years at the Mass. Amateur Championships have been a steady progression to the top. After not making the Round of 32 in 2024, Emmerich fell in the semifinals to Patrick Kilcoyne last year. But in this year’s semifinal round, Emmerich looked to change that against Naumec.

After a bogey for Naumec on the eighth hole, and one for Emmerich on the ninth, the match was once again even heading to the back nine. There, Emmerich jumped immediately ahead. After the 14th hole, the Swampscott native held a two-hole advantage.

The complete results of the championship can be found here.

Though Naumec was able to claw one back, his bogey on the 18th hole spoiled a potential playoff and sent Emmerich to the final. Emmerich’s final tally was 70, one under course par.

Saturday told a different story, though, as Emmerich earned two birdies and a bogey in between on his opening three holes compared to Georgantas, who earned par on eight of the nine opening holes - aside from a one-over bogey on the fourth hole.

• Semifinal matches set at 118th Mass Amateur Championship

Things remained interesting on the opening back nine, as Emmerich (one) and Georgantas (two) earned three combined bogeys on their respective 10th and 11th holes. But Georgantas then brushed off the previous rust, as the 18-year-old responded with an eagle and birdie on the 12th and 13th holes to ensure Emmerich only remained 1 up halfway through the match.

“I didn’t even think I played that poorly,” Georgantas said. “He just made more putts and hit a couple shots closer. Shout-out to him for that.”

The lead was short-lived, though, as Emmerich countered with three birdies between the 19th and 22nd holes compared to one birdie and one of Georgantas’ six combined bogeys to now move four up. And the rest was history, as Emmerich birdied twice on the final eight holes to ultimately win by seven combined strokes.

Emmerich also became the first in his family and the first Kernwood Country Club member to win the Massachusetts Amateur tournament. He is also the first North Shore golfer to capture the crown since Swampscott native Steven DiLisio of the Salem Country Club won the same event at The Country Club in 2019.

Behind the outcome, Emmerich will now compete in the U.S. Amateur Championship at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. The tournament is scheduled to occur from Monday, Aug. 10 through Sunday, Aug. 16.

“This helps out the future,” Emmerich said. “I was very indecisive about pursuing professional golf or getting the J-word—a job. I think this shows that when I believe in myself, the sky can be the limit.”

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