Quinn Family Golf Legacy Continuing at U.S. Junior Amateur

A familiar name is teeing it up in the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship this coming week at historic Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. And while Matthew Quinn might not have the same cache or media following as Charlie Woods, the 15-year-old son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, his family has some of that pedigree in New England, and more specifically Massachusetts.

Quinn, 18, of Holden, Mass., comes from a lineage of elite golfers, most notably his uncle Fran, who has qualified for five U.S. Opens and four U.S. Senior Opens, including this year’s iteration at Newport (R.I.) Country Club. Two years ago, Fran qualified for the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., at the tender age of 57. 

Fran’s brothers and Matthew’s uncles, Brian and Kevin, have strong connections in the golf world: Brian, currently the head men’s golf coach at Temple University, and Kevin are past Massachusetts Open champions, making the Quinns the only trio of brothers to have claimed this event. The only other brother tandem to accomplish the feat? Alex and Donald Ross. Yes, that Donald Ross who designed hundreds of top courses, including both the South and North Courses at Oakland Hills and Pinehurst No. 2, where Fran qualified to play the 2014 U.S. Open.

Matthew’s father, Chris, and another uncle, Pat, are also accomplished amateur golfers. 

A rising sophomore at Lehigh University, Matthew witnessed Fran’s recent forays at USGA championships in Newport, Brookline, Mass., and Pinehurst, N.C. Then 8 years old at the time, Matthew tells a funny story about the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. While in Player Hospitality – he had a Player Guest credential – and seated adjacent to multi-major champion Rory McIlroy, Fran and his son, Owen – a former Lehigh golfer himself who has since turned professional – begged young Matthew to go over and say hello to the superstar from Northern Ireland.

“I was like, ‘Oh no!’” said Matthew. “I was way too scared. From this day, I regret not going to talk to him.”

Such experiences following Uncle Fran have played a major role in Matthew’s development as a competitive golfer. Watching how he prepares and approaches different shots in major events has been invaluable.

“I figure I can always learn from him,” said Matthew. “I love when I play with him. It’s always a good time. I have never beaten him in my life, and we’ve probably played 30 to 50 times at Worcester (Mass.) Country Club.”

Although Matthew has been playing golf as long as he can remember – his father was a member of the Rutgers golf team – baseball was his first love. A catcher, he occasionally dreamed of becoming the next Carlton Fisk. But when COVID-19 hit, the baseball season was put on temporary hiatus, and he soon tired of catching weekend doubleheaders.

So, Matthew switched his focus to golf as a freshman at Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury, Mass. That summer between his freshman and sophomore year, he broke 80 and 70 for the first time. It would take him until the following summer to better 70 again, but slowly, consistent scores followed. Going into his senior year, he qualified for his first Massachusetts Amateur. The previous summer, he earned a spot in the IMG Junior Worlds at Torrey Pines, site of two U.S. Opens. 

“He’s got a lot of game,” said Fran. “He’s strong. He’s a modern-day kid. He’s really trending in the right direction. He’s a very good driver of the golf ball, which will pay dividends out there [at Oakland Hills]. He’s a good iron player and he’s a very good putter.”

Fran qualified for the 1996 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills, and although the South Course has undergone an extensive restoration by Gil Hanse (2021), the basic layout and routing is the same. Matthew has already received some information from Fran about the venue, and he’ll certainly get a few more tidbits in the days leading into the competition.

Matthew actually debated whether to try qualifying. A lot of age-eligible players who have already experienced a year of college move on from the junior ranks. Matthew doesn’t turn 19 until two days after the U.S. Junior Amateur concludes, making him barely eligible and the second oldest in the field of 264 (Justin Bai turns 19 one day earlier). A few of his Lehigh teammates have playfully ribbed Quinn about playing against the “kids.” But with a U.S. Open exemption awarded to the winner and another chance to get competitive reps, he entered.

After all, there are two U.S. Junior Amateur competitors, Miles Russell and Blades Brown, who have already made the cut in PGA Tour events in 2024. Both are members of the USGA’s inaugural U.S. National Junior Team. Many of the international players in the field have also competed against professionals. 

Matthew does bring the experience of having to grind his way through weekly qualifiers just to get into Lehigh’s starting lineups. He qualified for five as a freshman, posting a season scoring average of 75.52 with two top-20 finishes, the Lehigh Invitational and ABARTA Collegiate Invitational.

His cousin, Owen, was a major influence in getting him to Lehigh. Even with his uncle Brian coaching at Temple, he never seriously thought about playing for the Owls.

“I didn’t want people to think it was a charity thing,” he said. “Honestly for me, I really didn’t have much tournament experience [prior to college]. I was late to the game compared to other kids in my class. [Owen] was a big help for me getting into Lehigh. He had such a good time there. That’s the reason I chose it.”

Since school ended, Matthew has seen his game go to another level, and advancing to the U.S. Junor Amateur from a 3-for-2 playoff at his qualifying site has been the highlight. Quinn, good friend C.J. Winchenbaugh and Will Lord all posted 72s at Captains Golf Course in Brewster, Mass. All three parred the first two playoff holes. On the third, Quinn holed a 12-foot birdie putt and Winchenbaugh made his birdie from 4 feet to qualify. Quinn’s caddie and good friend Dom Garbarino can be heard on a cellphone video screaming in the background when the ball fell into the hole.

Matthew now had accomplished something his more-decorated cousin, Owen, has yet to achieve. Fran has played in 10 USGA events, Brian qualified for the 1991 U.S. Amateur and Kevin has done so multiple times. Chris and Pat have not played in one.

“Fran and Owen both called me right after,” said Matthew. “They were both excited.”

Just more fodder for the next Quinn family golf reunion.

David Shefter is a senior staff writer for the USGA. Email him at dshefter@usga.org.