Saturday 20th June 2026
Stuart GREHAN (IRL), 33, won The 131st Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool G.C.
He beat Matt MOLONEY (USA), 20, by 1 Hole in the 36 hole Final.
Stuart Grehan (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)
After heading into lunch 1Down Grehan, a re-instated amateur, fought back on the second 18 and despite a nervy finish, which saw him lose the 34th and 35th holes, claimed victory on the final green with a half.
The champion receives the Championship Trophy and a Gold Medal. On the basis he remains an amateur Grehan will also receive exemptions into he 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale G.C., the 2027 Masters Tournament at Augusta National G.C., the 2027 U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach G.L. and a DP World Tour event.
The unheralded Moloney, who has enjoyed a superb week on The Wirral, receives a Silver Medal and for the first time a place in the 12 man field for this year’s Last Chance Qualifier for The Open event. A great opportunity for him to make his major championship debut.
Moloney v. Grehan Final Result (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
Click here to view the – 2026 Amateur Championship Match Play Results
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Friday 19th June 2026
Match Play – Semi-Finals (Afternoon)
Matt MOLONEY (USA), a rising junior at the University of Georgia, was never behind in his game with Emil RIEGGER (GER). The American, ranked 677th in WAGR, held on well through a tight back nine to come out with a 1 Hole win.
Riegger v. Moloney Semi-Final Result (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
In the second semi-final Ireland’s Stuart GREHAN, ranked 46th in WAGR, came out on the right side of a competitive match with Estonia’s Richard TEDER.
Grehan v. Teder Semi-Final Result (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
Match Play – Quarter Finals (Morning)
Emil RIEGGER (GER) was in stunning form this morning at Royal Liverpool G.C. to secure a 2 Holes win over Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG). Riegger was 6-under par for the final 14 holes of the match.
A poor start and finish from Kihei AKINA (USA) opened the door for Matt MOLONEY (USA) to advance in their topsy turvy Quarter Final where 12 of the 18 holes played were won outright.
Stuart GREHAN took advantage of a nervy start from Ed FEATHERSTONE, which saw the Englishman gift Grehan a 4Up lead after 5 holes, to see out their game comfortably.
Richard TEDER‘s (EST) typical fireworks proved too much for the more consistent Reed ARNALDO (USA). Teder recorded six birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey in the 17 holes he required to progress.
Match Play Quarter Finals Results (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
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Thursday 18th June 2026
Match Play – Last 16 (Afternoon)
The Round of 16 started at at 1.10pm at Royal Liverpool G.C.
20 year old Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG) posted seven birdies on his way to a 3&2 victory against Stefan JACOBS (RSA) who had led by 2Up after three holes.
The Englishman will play Emil RIEGGER after the German got the better of an up and down Lewy HAYWARD (ENG) over 19 holes.
Matt MOLONEY (USA) required 24 Holes, the longest contest of the Championship so far, to see off Arthur CARLIER (FRA).
Moloney will face highly rated Kihei AKINA (USA) in the Quarter Finals after his compatriot birdied the 17th and 18th holes to turn his game around against Jakob MELIN (SWE).
Stuart GREHAN (IRL) appears to be the best GB&I bet for the title but was made to work hard for his place in the Last 8, needing a conceded birdie on the 20th hole to get past Spain’s Sergio JIMENEZ ROMERO.
Grehan will play Ed FEATHERSTONE (ENG) who continued his strong form with a 3&1 win against Malan POTGIETER (RSA). An eagle-birdie-birdie run on the 3rd to 5th holes set the foundations for the Englishman’s victory.
Richard TEDER (EST) progressed to the Quarter finals for the third time in the last four years after another battling game this afternoon. 3Down after eight holes against Yuki MIYA (NZL) he ultimately saw out a 2&1 victory.
Teder will face Reed ARNALDO (USA) tomorrow after he overcame Denmark’s Oscar Valdemar HOLM BREDKJÆR in a match that required 23 holes to find a winner.
Match Play Last 16 Results (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
Match Play – Round 2 (Morning)
The Round of 32 got underway at 7.30am with the final game going out at 9.45am.
Six birdies in the 16 holes played was good enough for Stefan JACOBS (RSA) to overcome medalist Wilhelm RYDING (SWE).
English pair Sam EASTERBROOK and Lewy HAYWOOD enjoyed their morning’s on Hoylake’s links. Easterbrook beat Guus LAFEBER (NED) by 3&1 in a game littered with birdies whilst Marlborough’s Hayward recorded the biggest win of the round; a 6&5 triumph over Marcel FONSECA AGUILAR (ESP).
Kihei AKINA (USA), the highest WAGR ranked player left in the field at #22, secured his second match play win with a 5&3 victory against Andries VAN DER VYVER (RSA).
It was a mixed morning for Ireland with Stuart GREHAN (IRL) making short work of Ioan ROWE (WAL) but Matt MCCLEAN losing narrowly to Sergio JIMENEZ ROMERO after three late bogeys opened the door to the Spaniard.
Malan POTGIETER (RSA) recorded seven birdies to get the better of a battling Morgan BLYTHE (ENG) by 3&2.
After trailing 2Down with 3 holes to play Ed FEATHERSTONE fought back with birdies on 16 and 17 to take compatriot Kris KIM to extra holes. Both players birdied the 19th before Norfolk’s Featherstone completed a great comeback with another birdie on the 20th. Featherstone is the highest placed stroke play qualifier (tied 2nd) left in the Championship.
It was a game of two halves between Oscar Valdemar HOLM BREDKJÆR (DEN) and James EARLE (USA). The Dane reeled off six birdies for a stunning front nine 30 to take a 3Up lead. However, four bogeys on the back nine including two on the 17th and 18th saw the match head into extra holes. Thankfully Earle bogeyed the 19th to enable Holm Bredkjær to progress to the Last 16.
Match Play Round 2 Results (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
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Wednesday 17th June 2026
Match Play – Round 1
Round 1 of the Match Play Stage started at 9.30am with the final game going out at Royal Liverpool G.C. at 2.45pm.
Medalist Wilhelm RYDING (SWE) was made to work hard for his place in the Round of 32 coming back from 1Down with 3 Holes to play against Loran APPEL (NED) to secure a narrow 1 Hole win.
Guus LAFEBER (NED), the 2025 R&A Boys’ Amateur champion, confirmed his match play pedigree with a 19th hole win against Scotland’s 2-time Walker Cupper Connor GRAHAM.
In form English pair Sam EASTERBROOK and Lewy HAYWARD were both victorious in the Upper half of the draw but there were early losses for Keith EGAN (IRL), Luke KELLY (ENG), against Easterbrook, Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO), Jamie VAN WYK (ENG), Joshua MCCARTAIN (ENG) and Zach LITTLE (ENG).
Andries VAN DER VYVER (RSA) completed the biggest win of the Round with a 6&5 thrashing of Melvin MULLER (NED).
In the Lower Half of the draw Stuart GREHAN (IRL) took out Eliot BAKER (ENG) by 3&2 in the standout game of Round 1 between the two 2025 GB&I Walker Cup players.
Ioan ROWE, who was the fourth Reserve from last Friday’s Pre-Qualifying event, got the better of Tomi BOWEN on the first extra hole in their all-Welsh clash.
Experienced Matt MCCLEAN became the second Irish player into the last 32 with a good 2&1 win against WAGR #84 Wolfgang GLAWE (GER).
Morgan BLYTHE (ENG), Kris KIM (ENG) and Ed FEATHERSTONE (ENG) all secured home wins late on albeit the latter two came against compatriots Josh HILL (ENG) by 1 Hole and Jack LEE (ENG) by 3&1.
A disappointing day for GB&I players, where only 8 of the 22 qualifiers progressed to Round 2, finished poorly with losses for Seb CAVE (ENG), Henry STYLES (ENG) and Ben BOLTON (ENG).
Match Play Round 1 Results (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
Stroke Play Qualifying Play-Off
Played on the 17th and 18th holes at Royal Liverpool G.C. the 21-players-for-10-spots sudden death play-off started at 7.00am.
Hole 1 – 17th
Nils-Levi BOCK (GER) was the only player to birdie the 17th and therefore the first to claim their place in the Match Play Stage.
A further ten players, Loran APPEL (NED), Seb CAVE (ENG), Jack CROUSORE (USA), Wesley HINTON (AUS), Max HOPKINS (ENG), Jaden HUGGINS (USA), Jack LEE (ENG), Emil RIEGGER (GER), Parker SEVERS (USA) and Kuan ZHOU (USA) parred the hole to move onto the 18th hole.
Veigar HEIÐARSSON (ISL), Frazer JONES (ENG), Noah KENT (USA), Luke POULTER (ENG), Drew SYKES (ENG), Gavin TIERNAN (IRL), Miles WENNESTAM (SUI), Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER), Toby WILT (USA) and Andre ZHU (CAN) failed to make par and were eliminated.
Hole 2 – 18th
Max HOPKINS (ENG) was the only player out of the ten remaining to bogey the 18th hole.
Loran APPEL (NED) and Wesley HINTON (AUS) birdied the hole whilst Seb CAVE (ENG), Jack CROUSORE (USA), Jaden HUGGINS (USA), Jack LEE (ENG), Emil RIEGGER (GER), Parker SEVERS (USA) and Kuan ZHOU (USA) all secured their pars to advance.
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Tuesday 16th June 2026
Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 2
The Stroke Play Qualifying Stage saw all 288 competitors play 36 holes over the first two days of the Championship; 18 holes at Royal Liverpool G.C. and 18 holes at West Lancashire G.C. The aim being to finish in the top 64 to earn a place in the Match Play Stage which will start tomorrow.
Wilhelm RYDING (SWE), 21, earned medalist honours with a 135 (-9) total. He shot a 68 (-4) at Royal Liverpool yesterday and a 67 (-5) at West Lancs today. His two rounds included just four bogeys.
Wilhelm Ryding and Stuart Graham (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A/ R&A via Getty Images)
Speaking to The R&A after his round the Swede said “The key to my success has been playing smart. I’ve not hit a lot of drivers. I’ve mostly been hitting 2-irons off the tee to avoid the bunkers. I think I’ve been in only one bunker, and that was a greenside bunker. In this type of golf, if you hit all the fairways, then you’ll have plenty of opportunities. I’ve been good out of the rough when I did miss a fairway, and my putting has been good. It’s all added up to a good couple of days.”
Ben BOLTON (ENG), Ed FEATHERSTONE (ENG), Edwin ASKERFORS (SWE) and Joshua MCCARTAIN (ENG) all finished tied 2nd on 136 (-8). Bolton, the England International who primarily plays out of Enville G.C. in Staffordshire, is also a member at Royal Liverpool so has some course knowledge on his side.
Malan POTGIETER (RSA) produced a brilliant bogey free 9-under 63 at Royal Liverpool, tieing the amateur course record, to bounce back from his disappointing opening 76 yesterday, making the cut easily on -5.
Tomi BOWEN (WAL) enjoyed an 8-under 64 at Hoylake in Round 2 which finished with a rare eagle 2 on the 18th after he holed a 65 yard wedge shot.
Jake FOLEY (IRL) missed out on Match Play but at least had the consolation of a second round hole-in-one on West Lancashire’s 176-yard par-3 12th hole.
At the close of play 75 competitors had finished on -2 or better. With 54 players on -3 or better that left 21 players having to contest a sudden death play-off for the 10 remaining spots in the Match Play Stage.
The average score in Round 2 at Royal Liverpool was 71.67 (-0.23). It was 74.64 (+2.64) in Round 1. The average score in Round 2 at West Lancs was 71.48 (-0.52). It was 75.16 (+3.16) in Round 1.
Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
Click here to view the – 2026 Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Results
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Monday 15th June 2026
Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 1
Henry STYLES (ENG), Reserve #2 following Friday’s Pre-Qualifying event, took advantage of his late call up to the field by shooting a 5-under 67, which included seven birdies, in his opening 18 holes at West Lancashire G.C. Styles, now 20, was part of the GB&I side that won the Jacques Leglise Trophy at West Lancs in 2024.
Wilhelm RYDING (SWE), 21, produced the best score at Royal Liverpool G.C. with a 4-under 68. His round included an unblemished back nine of 31.
At the end of Day 1 there were 76 players at par or better.
The average score in Round 1 at Royal Liverpool was 74.64 (+2.64) whilst at West Lancs it was higher at 75.16 (+3.16).
Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 1 Leaderboard (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
Field Update
Giedrius MACKELIS (LIT), Reserve #5 and Gavin O’NEILL (IRL), Reserve #6, were called up this morning. A total of 29 players who competed in the Pre-Qualifying event therefore ultimately made it into the final field.
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Sunday 14th June 2026
Field Update
Henry STYLES (ENG), Reserve #2, Harry DICKINS (ENG), Reserve #3, and Ioan ROWE (WAL), Reserve #4, have all been called up to the Championship field.
Styles won the English Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool G.C. (and Wallasey G.C.) last August beating Max HOPKINS (ENG) by 5&4 in the Final. One would have thought the national champion of all countries, let alone the hosting nation, would have been exempt into a 288 player field without the need for pre-qualifying.
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Saturday 13th June 2026
Stroke Play Qualifying Startsheets
Royal Liverpool G.C. member Matty DODD-BERRY (ENG) has been afforded the honour of playing the opening tee shot at this year’s Amateur Championship. He will tee off at his home club at 6.45am on Monday morning.
Up the coast Pre-Qualifying medalist Ben MURRAY (SCO) will open proceedings at West Lancashire G.C. at the same time.
Click here to view the – 2026 Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Startsheets
Field Update
Aron Emil GUNNARSSON (ISL) has been called up to the Championship field from the Reserve list.
Henry STYLES (ENG) is now Reserve #1, Harry DICKINS (ENG) Reserve #2 and Ioan ROWE (WAL) Reserve #3.
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12th June 2026
Pre-Qualifying
The fifth Amateur Championship Pre-Qualifying (PE) event started at 7.30am with 72 players competing over 18 holes at West Lancashire G.C. The par 72 course was set up at 6,992 yards.
This field was made up of the 15 highest ranked WAGR players not originally accepted into the Championship field followed by a lowest handicap ballot for the remainder.
23 qualifying spots were available at the commencement of play.
Ben MURRAY (SCO) and Riki MATSUMOTO (JAP) were the leading qualifiers after they recorded 1-under par 71’s around West Lancashire.
18 other players on 74 (+2) or better secured places in The Amateur Championship. Greg HOLMES (ENG), Oliver MUKHERJEE (SCO), Colm CAMPBELL JR (IRL), Alexander FARMER (SCO) and Cameron MUKHERJEE (ENG) were amongst this group.
Pre-Qualifying Results (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
A 9 player for 3 spots play-off saw Keith EGAN (IRL), Ashley MILLINGTON (ENG) and Sam MUKHERJEE (SCO), the third brother to advance, make up the 23.
Irrespective of the play-off results reserve spots, which may become available due to subsequent withdrawals from the Championship over the weekend, will be decided by a card count back from the PQ competition itself. Aron Emil GUNNARSSON (ISL) is therefore Reserve #1, Henry STYLES (ENG) Reserve #2 and Harry DICKINS (ENG) Reserve #3.
Pre-Qualifying Results – Play-Off (Graphic: The R&A / GolfBox)
Click here to view the – 2026 Amateur Championship Pre-Qualifying Results
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11th June 2026
Preview
The 131st Amateur Championship will be played at Royal Liverpool G.C. and West Lancashire G.C. in north west England on 15th-20th June 2026.
Ahead of the main Championship an 18 hole Pre-Qualifying (PQ) event is being played on 12th June 2026 at West Lancashire G.C.
The Amateur is the most prestigious amateur golf event played outside of the United States and the highlight of the Great British and Irish (GB&I) amateur season.
I will be updating this article as more information becomes available and providing daily reports throughout the Championship.
The Amateur Championship Trophy (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)
Format
Stroke Play Qualifying
Two rounds of stroke play will be completed on Monday 15th June and Tuesday 16th June to determine a top 64 match play field.
Each contestant will play 18 holes around Royal Liverpool G.C. and West Lancashire G.C. with three-ball tee times between 6.45am and 3.37pm on both days.
Since 2024 a sudden death play-off, rather than a Match Play Preliminary Round, has been used to break ties for the last qualifying place. The play-off will be held on the 17th and 18th holes at Royal Liverpool G.C. on Wednesday (17th), commencing at 7.00am.
Ties for all other match play seedings are resolved by reference to the combined back nines (then six, three and one) from each course.
Match Play Stage
The Match Play stage will be contested between Wednesday 17th and Saturday 20th June solely at Royal Liverpool G.C.
The following Match Play template is used to set up the draw.
Each match will consist of one round of 18 holes except for the Final which will be played over 36 holes. Any tied matches will continue into sudden death extra holes to determine a winner.
Royal Liverpool G.C.
Field
607 entries were received this year with 288 players competing in the 2026 Amateur Championship.
42 countries will be represented with players from Hungary and the United Arab Emirates playing for the first time this year.
278 competitors secured places in the Championship when entries closed on 21st May 2026. These players were drawn from 1) a number of exempt categories covering previous Championship performances and representative team selections and 2) allocated to those highest ranked players 1st-2,000th in the WAGR as at Week 20 2026 (i.e. the Wednesday 13th May release), and then via WHS Handicap index at the date of entry.
At entry players were offered the opportunity to play in a Pre-Qualifying (PQ) event, should they not make the initial line-up, for which a minimum of 5 spots were originally guaranteed – see below.
Click here to view the full – 2026 Amateur Championship Terms of Competition
Pre-Qualifying (PQ)
The R&A are running a PQ event for the fifth time to offer some of the players not allocated an original place in the field an opportunity to earn one.
72 players will contest this 18 hole event at West Lancashire G.C. on 12th June 2026.
This field was made up of the 15 highest ranked WAGR players not originally accepted into the Championship field followed by a lowest handicap ballot for the remainder.
The current number of spots available has already risen from the guaranteed 10 to 23 (as at 5.00pm on Thursday 11th June). This is because 13 players have subsequently withdrawn from the Championship before PQ started.
Amongst the 13 withdrawals were highly ranked Miles RUSSELL (USA) and Árni Gunnlaugur SVEINSSON (ISL) who were both successful in Final Qualifying for next week’s U.S. Open Championship which is being played at Shinnecock Hills G.C.
Ties for the last qualifying places will be decided by a sudden death play-off. However, reserve / alternate spots, due to subsequent late withdrawals from the Championship over the weekend, will be decided by a card count back from PQ.
In previous years the number of playing spots derived from PQ have been – 30 (2022), 34 (2023), 43 (2024) and 31 (2025).
West Lancashire G.C.
Leading Players
Luke POULTER (ENG), WAGR #9, is the lowest ranked player in the Championship.
Daniel BENNETT (RSA) #16, Akina KIHEI (USA) #22, Jack TURNER (USA) #23, Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) #28, Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO) #31, Eliot BAKER (ENG) #35, Connor GRAHAM (SCO) #36, Max HERENDEEN (USA) #42 and Adam BRESNU (MOR) #44 are the other players in the WAGR top 50.
The other home players in the WAGR Top 250 competing this year are Stuart GREHAN (IRL) #56, Freddie TURNELL (ENG) #89, Jack WHALEY (ENG) #109, Zach LITTLE (ENG) #120, Harley SMITH (ENG) #121, Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG) #130, Josh HILL (SCO) #139, Tom OSBORNE (ENG) #142, Daniel HAYES (ENG) #147, Seb CAVE (ENG) #159, Ben BOLTON (ENG) #162, Jack BIGHAM (ENG) #174, Matty DODD-BERRY (ENG) #181 and Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL) #198.
Host Courses
Royal Liverpool G.C.
Royal Liverpool or Hoylake, a renowned links course situated on The Wirral in Cheshire and founded in 1869, is arguably the most historic course in England. It set out the first rules of amateur status and came up with the idea of staging The Amateur Championship with the inaugural event taking place there in 1885 (44 players from 12 clubs competed).
The club has hosted 19 Amateur Championships (a record), 13 Open Championships, one AIG Women’s Open (2012), two Walker Cups (1983 and 2019), a Curtis Cup (1992), three Women’s Amateur (1896, 1989 and 1990) and five Boys’ Amateurs.
The last Amateur played at Hoylake was in 2000 with Finland’s Mikko Ilonen defeating Christian Reimbold of Germany by 2&1 in the final.
This year the R&A will be playing the course at 7,119 yards with a par of 72 during the event.
West Lancashire G.C.
Founded in 1873 West Lancs is located up the coast in Blundellsands, just a few miles north of Liverpool city centre.
It co-hosted The Amateur with Formby in 2009 and has been a regular and current Open Regional and Final Qualifying venue.
During the Championship the course will play to 7,060 yards and a par of 72.
Schedule
The R&A have laid out the following provisional schedule for the Championship: –
2026 Amateur Championship Schedule (Graphic: The R&A)
Weather Forecast
The Championship is set to be played in reasonably good conditions with sunshine, showers and modest winds expected.
Click here to view the – Latest BBC Weather Forecast for Hoylake, Wirral
With tee times between 6.45am and 3.37pm over the opening two days modest changes in the weather throughout each day will inevitably impact scoring in the stroke play qualifying.
Prizes / Exemptions
A momento (a framed championship flag) is presented by The R&A to the leading player in the stroke play qualifying competition, with any ties for this prize decided on the lowest aggregate score for the second nine holes on both courses (or the last six or three or one if necessary).
The winner of the match play stage will become the Amateur Champion receiving the Championship Trophy and a Gold Medal.
The runner-up receives a Silver Medal and each losing semi-finalist a Bronze Medal.
The winner of The Amateur Championship, on the basis they remain an amateur, will receive the following exemptions / invitations into: –
a) the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale G.C., England on 16-19 July 2026;
b) the 2027 Masters Tournament at Augusta National G.C., Georgia on 8-11 April 2027;
c) the 2027 U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach G.L., California on 17-20 June 2027; and
d) a DP World Tour event (to be determined).
The Runner-Up will be given one of the 12 places in the inaugural Last Chance Qualifier for The Open event scheduled to take place on Monday 13th July.
The two losing Semi-Finalists and four losing Quarter finalists, on the basis they are still an amateur, will be exempt into Final Qualifying for the 2026 Open Championship.
The Open Championship Amateur Series Winner
For the fourth year The R&A will be running The Open Championship Amateur Series.
The player who gains the most WAGR points in the 2026 St. Andrews Links Trophy (5-7 June), Amateur Championship (15-20 June) and European Amateur Championship (24-27 June) will earn an exemption into the forthcoming Open at Royal Birkdale G.C.
Alex MAGUIRE (IRL), Calum SCOTT (SCO) and Cameron ADAM (SCO) earned this exemption in 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively.
2026 St. Andrews Trophy and Walker Cup GB&I Team Selection
Should a Great Britain & Ireland player win the Amateur Championship they are guaranteed a place on the GB&I Walker Cup team for the match against USA in September.
More Information
Click here to view the – R&A Amateur Championship Official Website
The Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals and Final of the match play stage will be live streamed on The R&A TV & You Tube channels as well as being shown on Sky TV in the UK.
2025 Amateur Championship
Match Play Stage
Ethan FANG (USA), then aged 20, won the 130th Amateur Championship at Royal St. George’s G.C. beating Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) by 1 Hole in the 36 hole Final.
Ethan Fang Holds The Amateur Championship Trophy (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)
Click here to view the – 2025 Amateur Championship Match Play Results
Stroke Play Qualifying
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) claimed medalist honours at The Amateur Championship with a 133 (-9) total.
Graham became just the third player to win the Stroke Play Qualifying competition in two consecutive years since it was introduced in 1983. The other two cases happened immediately after this format change was made; Philip Parkin (WAL) in 1983-84 and Dana Banke (USA) in 1985-86.
Charlie Maran Presents Medalist Connor Graham With His Flag (Photo: Oisin Kenny / R&A / R&a via Getty Images)
59 players finished on 140 (-2) or better after their 36 holes at Royal St. George’s G.C. (par 70) and Royal Cinque Ports G.C. (par 72).
A sizeable 24-for-5 spots sudden death play-off was therefore required to sort out which of the players who finished on 141 (-1) advanced.
89 players (31%) from GB&I competed in the 2025 Amateur Championship in Kent.
Click here to view the – 2025 Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Results
31 players ultimately advanced from the 72 who contested the Pre-Qualifying event.
Click here to view the – 2025 Amateur Championship Pre-Qualifying Results
For more information on last year’s Championship please click here – The Amateur Championship – 2025 Preview & Results Article
A Short History of The Amateur
The Amateur Championship was first played in April 1885 at Royal Liverpool G.C. Allan Macfie (SCO) was the first champion beating Horace Hutchinson (ENG) 7&6 in the Final.
Up until the Second World War it was a hugely prestigious event and in many of these early years was afforded a much higher standing in the game than The Open Championship. Players like Johnny Ball (ENG), Harold Hilton (ENG) and Freddie Tait (SCO) were all amateurs and as good if not better than most of the professionals of the day.
With only modest rewards available in the professional game many of the better players simply stayed amateur. The great American Bobby Jones, who won The Amateur in 1930 on the way to his Grand Slam, remains the most well known career amateur.
Even after the war players remained amateur for much longer and famous names like Frank Stranahan (USA), Joe Carr (IRE), Sir Michael Bonallack (ENG), Peter McEvoy (ENG) and Gary Wolstenholme (ENG) all built their reputations on Amateur Championship wins.
With the growth and transformation of the professional game from the early 1980s onwards both the better players and the media increasingly started to turn their backs on the amateur game.
Any continuity has been lost over the last 30 years and most of the young golfing stars of today rarely play any more than 2 or 3 Amateurs before being lured into the pro ranks by the potentially huge rewards on offer.
Past Winners
The greatest player in the history of The Amateur is Johnny Ball. The Hoylake man won the Championship a record 8 times between 1888 and 1912.
Only three other players have won the competition more than twice; Sir Michael Bonallack (5), Harold Hilton (4) and Joe Carr (3). Bonallack amazingly won it three years in a row between 1968-1970. The last person to retain The Amateur was Peter McEvoy in 1977 and ’78.
Prior to Ethan FANG‘s (USA) win in 2025 the previous 10 winners of The Amateur Championship were: –
2024 Jacob Skov Olesen (DEN) – Ballyliffin G.C.
2023 Christo Lamprecht (RSA) – Hillside G.C.
2022 Aldrich Potgieter (RSA) – Royal Lytham and St. Annes G.C.
2021 Laird Shepherd (ENG) – Nairn G.C.
2020 Joe Long (ENG) – Royal Birkdale G.C.
2019 James Sugrue (IRL) – Portmarnock G.C.
2018 Jovan Rebula (RSA) – Royal Aberdeen G.C.
2017 Harry Ellis (ENG) – Royal St. George’s G.C.
2016 Scott Gregory (ENG) – Royal Porthcawl G.C.
2015 Romain Langasque (FRA) – Carnoustie G.C.
A great achievement and honour for all of the players listed above. However, looking through the names reminds us of how incredibly tough golf is and that wins in the biggest amateur events are no guarantee of success in the professional game.
Excluding Ethan Fang, who is expected to turn pro shortly, the most recent Amateur champion not to have subsequently turned professional is Scotland’s Stuart Wilson who won at St Andrews in 2004.
Click here to view a complete list of – Past Amateur Championship Winners
Click here to view a complete list of – Past Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Medalists
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Copyright © 2014-2026, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.
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