Harry Ellis, the Amateur Champion, beat Doc Redman, the U.S. Amateur champion 6&5 to claim the 2018 Georgia Cup.
Harry Ellis Receives The Georgia Cup (Photo: Harry Ellis)
Ellis took the lead on the 2nd hole when Redman three putted for bogey. The Englishman then extended his lead on the 5th hole before a sequence of birdies around the turn effectively ended the match. 6Up after 11 Ellis pared the 12th and 13th to comfortably see out a one sided match.
This was the 5th time in the last 6 years that the Amateur champion has come out on top. The Amateur champions now lead the U.S. Amateur champions 12 – 9 in the Georgia Cup series.
ME.
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21st March 2018
The Georgia Cup is an 18-hole match play event played between the reigning United States and (British) Amateur champions.
This year’s match, the 21st, will be contested by Doc Redman (USA) and Harry Ellis (ENG).
The two reigning Amateur champions are always in town in late March ahead of The Masters for which their respective wins gained them honorary invitations, albeit only one year competing (2018).
The Georgia Cup (Photo: The Golf Club of Georgia)
The match was established by The Golf Club of Georgia (GCOG) and was first contested in 1998. Craig Watson was the Amateur Championship representative in that first match. He lost to Matt Kutcher, obviously now a well known PGA Tour pro, 3 & 1.
Located in Alpharetta the GCOG has two Arthur Hills-designed courses, the Lakeside (L) and the Creekside (C). Both have hosted the event in the past but since 2006 the Lakeside has taken precedence when it comes to hosting the Georgia Cup match.
The 2018 Georgia Cup is being played at 12.30pm (5.30pm GMT) on Sunday 25th March. It is a charitable event with funds this year being raised for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Following last year’s win for Scott Gregory (ENG) over Curtis Luck (AUS) the Amateur champions lead the United States champions 11 – 9. Gregory’s win made it five wins out of the last six for the Amateur champion. All of the previous results can be seen in the Appendix below.
Doc Redman won the U.S. Amateur in Los Angeles last August beating Doug Ghim on the 37th hole of the final after some stunning play over the closing holes. From Raleigh in North Carolina he is a sophomore at Clemson. He comes into the match having made the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando last weekend. Current world rankings: SPWAR #12 / WAGR #35.
Doc Redman – 2017 US Amateur champion (Photo: USGA)
Harry Ellis won the Amateur in equally dramatic fashion coming from four down with five holes to play to overcome Australian Dylan Perry on the 38th hole of the final. Ellis, from Southampton in Hampshire, is a Redshirt Senior at Florida State. He has played 8 events for the Seminoles this year winning two of them. He is expected to turn pro in early June once the U.S. College season has ended. Current world rankings: SPWAR #36 / WAGR #38.
Harry Ellis – 2017 Amateur champion (Photo: The R&A / Getty Images)
With both Redman and Ellis at College in the U.S. and having also played in the 2017 Walker Cup match they should be pretty familiar with each other. A good match can be expected with two of the most competitive and mentally strong amateurs in the world on show.
As always it will be interesting to see which player wins and gains a small confidence boost ahead of the main event – The 2018 Masters at Augusta National.
Appendix
The previous results are shown below (with the Amateur titles won shown in brackets): –
1998 (L) – Matt Kuchar (US) def. Craig Watson (British) – 3 & 1
1999 (L) – Sergio Garcia (British) def. Hank Kuehne (US) – 5 & 4
2000 (L) – David Gossett (US) def. Graeme Storm (British) – 3 & 2
2001 (C) – Mikko Ilonen (British) def. Jeff Quinney (US) – 6 & 4
2002 (C) – Michael Hoey (British) def. Bubba Dickerson (US) – 4 & 2
2003 (L) – Ricky Barnes (US) def. Alejandro Larrazabal (British) – 4 & 2
2004 (C) – Gary Wolstenholme (British) def. Nick Flanagan (US) – 4 & 2
2005 (C) – Ryan Moore (US) def. Stuart Wilson (British) – 2 & 1
2006 (L) – Brian McElhinney (British) def. Edoardo Molinari (US) – 3 & 2
2007 (L) – Richie Ramsay (US) def. Julien Guerrier (British) – 2 & 1
2008 (L) – Colt Knost (US) def. Drew Weaver (British) – 2 & 1
2009 (L) – Danny Lee (US) def. Reinier Saxton (British) – 2&1
2010 (L) – Matteo Manassero (British) def. Byeong-hun An (US) – 5&4
2011 (L) – Peter Uihlein (US) def. Jin Jeong (British) – 4&2
2012 (L) – Brydon Macpherson (British) def. Kelly Kraft (US) – 2&1
2013 (L) – Alan Dunbar (British) def. Steven Fox (US) – 1Up
2014 (L) – Garrick Porteus (British) def. Matthew Fitzpatrick (US) – 3&2
2015 (L) – Gunn Yang (US) def. Bradley Neil (British) – 3&2
2016 (L) – Romain Langsaque (FRA) def. Bryson DeChambeau – 4&3
2017 (L) – Scott Gregory (ENG) def. Curtis Luck – 19th hole
Scott Gregory and The Georgia Cup (Photo: Georgia State Golf Association)
Here is the Golfing World video of the 2018 Peter McEvoy Trophy including an interview with the winner, Harrison Arnold.
ME.
12th April 2018
Harrison Arnold turns 18 next week. Today he started the celebrations early by adding his name to the prestigious Peter McEvoy Trophy at Copt Heath G.C.
Harrison shot an impressive final round of 67 (-4) for a 139 (-3) total and a fully deserved win. His 67 was 2 shots better than any other player and was recorded on a day when the average score was 74.1 by the 72 strong field.
Josh Turnock (Prestbury G.C.) and Aaron Marshall (Lisburn G.C.) came 2nd and 3rd respectively on -2 with count back rules separating them.
Peter McEvoy with Harrison Arnold (Photo: GolfBible)
Harrison came out on top after heavy rain saw the organisers cancel yesterday’s second round and reduce the normally 72 hole event to just 36 for the first time in it’s 38 year history.
This decision seemed fully justified when rain started to fall heavily this morning and mist drifted in on the north easterly wind. Ultimately, a one hour suspension in play was required at 11.20am, 30 minutes before the leaders were due to start today’s final round.
When play re-started the rain had passed and the remainder of the day was dry, albeit cold and still misty.
18th hole, Copt Heath G.C. 11.00 am 12/4/18 (Photo: GolfBible)
Harrison, from Castle Royle G. & C.C., started the day in tied 15th place after recording a 72 (+1) in Round 1. As this was his first McEvoy and as no practice rounds had been possible on Tuesday this was a credible effort for his first ever round at Copt Heath.
However, few if any of the spectators considered him a likely winner as play got underway on Day 2.
He was after all 5 shots back of the overnight leader Aaron Marshall (-4) and had a total of 21 players on the same or a better opening score than him.
If that wasn’t enough he had not received any England Golf recognition to date, has no World Amateur Golf Ranking and was placed a lowly 2,516th in the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking. Despite an encouraging tied 7th place finish at last week’s Scottish Boys’ Open Championship he was surely not the man to come through the field on what was clearly going to be a difficult playing day.
We let Harrison set off with playing partners Barclay Brown and Jensen Hull in relative solitude as the ‘gallery’ waited for the final pairings, who were teeing off an hour later, and from whom we thought the winner must surely come.
Harrison made a good start to his round negotiating Copt Heath’s difficult opening holes safely. Late birdies on the front nine saw him move into the top 10 on -1. However, it wasn’t until we saw his birdies on 13 and 15, and that he had moved to -3, that we realised he could be a factor in the outcome of the tournament.
Subsequent reports suggested that he had left himself a 6 footer for par on the last after a poor first putt and that he had bravely holed it to finish with a 34 (-2) on the back nine.
Harrison Arnold’s Round 2 Scorecard (Photo: CoptHeath GC)
Meanwhile most eyes during the round were focussed on Ulster’s Aaron Marshall and playing partners Harry Goddard (Hanbury Manor G.C.) and Allan Hill (Athenry G.C.). Aaron dropped two early shots before quickly recovering them. He then settled down and played error free golf for the next 10 holes.
He missed good birdie opportunities at 14 and 15 but with a 1 shot lead the expectation of the watching crowd was that he would calmly par in and collect the trophy; he was playing so nicely at this point.
The 16th is one of Copt Heath’s tougher holes, a long right to left dog leg to a small green in the corner of the property. Aaron quickly dispelled any thoughts we had that this may be the hole where his run of pars could come to an end. A beautiful tee shot drew round the corner finding the middle of the fairway and shortly afterwards a mid-iron safely found the front right portion of the green. Job done. His first putt was well struck coming up no more than two feet before the hole. Then the first sign of nerves or perhaps simply bad luck – remember the whole field had walked around this wet green and hole during the day. The short par putt lipped out. It was now game on.
News quickly filtered back to the clubhouse and Harrison was persuaded that there may be some merit in warming himself back up in the practice net behind the 18th green. With others having by this time fallen by the wayside it was increasingly clear that the winner would be one of these two players.
Aaron, now tied for the lead, composed himself and despite pushing his tee shot on 17 played an excellent recovery over the tall guarding trees to 15 feet. His downhill birdie putt just missed.
The thinking at this time was that Aaron had every chance of still winning in regulation. A birdie being more than possible on the short finishing hole, arguably the easiest on the course. In fact many of the frozen spectators were pulling for him to do so, the thought of a play-off not being overly welcome. When his iron found the centre of the well bunkered fairway his prospects looked good. Unfortunately he mis-clubbed or maybe adrenaline got the better of him. Either way his short iron approach ended up 30 feet over the flag at the back of the green.
It quickly became clear to the 150 or so spectators that a play-off may not be required after all but not for the reasons we were expecting or hoping for. These fears became very real when Aaron gave his first putt an almighty wallop finishing 7 feet past the flag. The par was missed and everyone’s eyes turned to the man behind us hitting balls into the net. Harrison Arnold had quickly gone from play-off hopeful to being our champion.
The old sporting cliche ‘it’s never over until it’s over’ came to mind as I drove away from my home club. Although the late twist increasingly seems to be the norm in amateur golf events nowadays.
It was hard not to feel a little sorry for Aaron who had played well and will surely win elsewhere but no one could argue that Harrison hadn’t earned it with a great final round and strong finish.
Harrison Arnold with the Peter McEvoy Trophy (Photo: GolfBible)
The 39th Peter McEvoy Trophy will be held on 17th and 18th April 2019.
ME.
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11th April 2018
For the first time in its 38 year history The Peter McEvoy Trophy will be contested over 36 holes.
The decision to reduce the 2018 event from the traditional 72 holes was taken at the conclusion of Round 1. Copt Heath G.C. had given it a go but it had quickly become clear that, with trollies understandably also being allowed, continued intensive play over two full days was not in the best interests of an already saturated course.
The McEvoy has been reduced in length just four times in it’s history. 63 holes were played in 1992, 2008 and 2009 and 54 holes in 1998 when Justin Rose was the winner.
Play started on time at 7.30 am and it was one of the first starters who would record the best round on a cold and drizzly day in the West Midlands.
Starting in the first group off the 1st tee Aaron Marshall from Lisburn GC shot a 67 (-4) and now leads by 1 shot. Marshall had 7 birdies in his round, including four in row between holes 9 and 12. Two late bogeys on 16 and 18, interspersed with a birdie on 17, took a little shine off a round which suggested that conditions were not as bad as some had feared may be the case when the course had been closed yesterday.
In what was generally a good day for the Irish party two of their other players also find themselves within striking distance. Allan Hill 68 (-3) and David Kitt 70 (-1), both from Athenry G.C., enjoyed solid opening rounds and find themselves in the top 6.
Hanbury Manor’s Harry Goddard 68 (-3) sits in tied 2nd place alongside Hill. The highest WAGR ranked player in the field enjoyed birdies at 6, 10, 14 and 18.
Will Hopkins from Belton Park and David Li, the only German entrant, both shot 69 (-2) to finish day 1 tied for 4th.
21 players, including England quartet Conor Gough (70), Callum Macfie (70), Matt Freeman (70) and Barclay Brown (72), are within 5 shots of the overnight leader so an 18 hole shootout is guaranteed for tomorrow.
With light rain forecast overnight play has been scheduled to start at 10.00am tomorrow, with the leaders not teeing off until 11.50am. Here’s a link to the – Rd 2 Draw
ME.
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10th April 2018
The 38th Peter McEvoy Trophy will be contested on Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th April at Copt Heath Golf Club in Solihull, England.
Competition Format
The McEvoy Trophy is a 72 hole scratch stroke play medal competition played over two consecutive days by Under 18 Boys (on 1st January 2018).
The Peter McEvoy Trophy (Photo: GolfBible)
The format, limited daylight and the greater risk of poor weather in April means the field is restricted to 72 players.
All competitors play the first 36 holes on Day 1, playing in groups of three. The leading 40 players (and ties) then return for the final 36-holes on the following day, which is played in two-balls. A two tee start is used on both days.
In the event of a tie the result will be decided by a ‘sudden death’ play-off, utilising holes 18, 1 and 9.
Live Scoring on the Club’s website – updated after each nine on Day 1 and more frequently for the leaders on Day 2 – makes it easy for family, friends and other interested observers to keep up to date with play. I will post a link once it becomes available on the morning of Wednesday 11th April.
Aled Greville (WAL) and Gregor McKenzie (ENG) were late withdrawals from the field, replaced by Dani Hoof (ENG) and Harrison King (ENG) respectively.
Many of the players selected for the four home nations boys’ squads will be in action:-
2018 England Boys Squad Members
Barclay Brown, Enrique Dimayuga, Matt Freeman, Harry Goddard, Tom Gregory, Max Hopkins and Ben Pierleoni.
2018 Ireland U18 Panel Members
John Brady, Charlie Denvir, Allan Hill, David Kitt, Odhran Maguire, Aaron Marshall and Luke O’Neill.
2018 Scottish Golf Academy Members
Lewis Irvine, Aidan O’Hagan, Calum Scott, Greg Dalziel and Jack Broun.
2018 Wales U18 National Transition Programme
Tom Matthews and Archie Davies.
Picking out a few of them (in no particular order): –
John Brady (IRE) won the Irish U16 Boys’ Championship in 2016 and comes with experience of Copt Heath. He finished 39th in 2016 and 27th in 2017.
Other Irish entries arriving in form include Luke O’Neill who won the Connacht Golf U18 Boys Open at Carne last week and Charlie Denvir who finished tied 4th at the Duncan Putter at Southerndown G.C. today.
Of the others playing last year, of which there are not many, Barclay Brown (ENG) had the highest finish, 8th. He was also 13th in 2016 so should hopefully go well again.
Greg Dalziel (SCO), winner of the 2017 Scottish U18 Boys’ Amateur Championship and runner up last week at the Scottish U18 Boys’ Open Championship, leads a strong Scottish contingent. No Scottish player has ever won the Peter McEvoy Trophy but 2018 could certainly be their year.
Harry Goddard (ENG) is the highest ranked player in the field – WAGR 487 / SPWAR 535. Having played in 2016 (44th) and 2017 (32nd) he will be looking to record a strong early season result.
Conor Gough (ENG) appears to have stepped away from the England Golf set up but remains one of GB&I’s better juniors. A former U14 Reid Trophy champion he finished tied 12th last year and won 5 of his 6 matches at last year’s Boys’ Home Internationals.
Max Hopkins (ENG) and Calum Scott (SCO) are two of the younger entries worth keeping an eye on. Max won the Telegraph Vitality Junior Golf Championship in November 2017 and finished 2nd in last year’s McGregor Trophy (English U16 Open). Whilst Calum won the Scottish U16 Boys’ Championship in 2017 and also starred for Scotland in last year’s Boys’ Home Internationals.
David Kitt (IRE) was runner up in the 2017 Irish Amateur (Close) which enjoyed a strong field and certainly raised his profile.
Archie Davies (WAL) who is a member of Carlisle G.C. also arrives in good form having finished tied 4th at Montrose in the Scottish U18 Boys’ Open Championship.
In passing I note there are very few entries from the Midlands. I wonder if this is the first McEvoy where there hasn’t been an entry from within c.40 miles of Copt Heath.
Conditions and Weather Forecast
The English Midlands has been badly affected by the snow and rain seen across Britain in the year to date. In March the course received 115mm of rain, with a further 40mm falling over the recent Easter weekend. Despite being sand based the course is inevitably wetter than the Club would like and greens / general presentation understandably behind schedule.
Persistent rain on Monday 8th afternoon and Tuesday 9th morning saw the course closed on Tuesday. Therefore very few competitors will have played a practice round before the competition starts tomorrow. ‘Preferred Lies’ will also be necessary during the event.
The current weather forecast (as at Tuesday 10th April) remains generally unsettled for the two competition days:-
Wed 11th April – Light Rain & Breezy / Wind 10 mph NW / Temp. Min. 7°C, Max. 9°C. Thur 12th April – Cloudy & Breezy / Wind 12 mph NW / Temp. Min. 7°C / Min. 13°C.
Copt Heath Golf Club
Copt Heath Golf Club is the home of The Peter McEvoy Trophy. The competition is run by the Club and administered by their staff and member volunteers.
Copt Heath, despite its name, is essentially a parkland course. The current course was designed and built in 1913 by Harry Colt, the famous architect, and is predominantly flat but well protected with around 95 deep bunkers.
Copt Heath Golf Club – 18th hole (Photo: GolfBible)
The course measures 6,541 yards and has a par of 71, made up of 2 par 5’s, 13 par 4’s and 3 par 3’s. The front nine is shorter at 3,216 yards (par 35) but is tighter. The more expansive back nine is played over 3,325 yards (par 36).
Golfing World did a profile piece on Copt Heath in 2016, featuring interviews with honorary members Peter McEvoy and Claire Dowling, which you may like to watch: –
Background
Legendary British Amateur golfer Peter McEvoy OBE has been a member of Copt Heath for 53 years. If you would like to learn more about his career then click this link for my profile – Peter McEvoy.
Following Peter’s Amateur Championship victories in 1977 and 1978 Copt Heath made him an honorary life member. He was also invited to suggest a way in which the Club could commemorate his achievements. His response was a 72 hole boys competition to be held annually at Copt Heath.
Peter McEvoy – 1977 Amateur Champion at Ganton GC
Starting in 1981, The Peter McEvoy Trophy was originally held during August. In 1985, at the request of the English Golf Union, it was moved to April, where it has stayed ever since. This request was prompted by a need for an early season national competition to assist the home nations with the selection of their teams ahead of the Boys Home Internationals and European Championships held later in the year.
As Peter McEvoy’s playing achievements and influence grew, culminating with him becoming a Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) Men’s selector and Walker Cup captain, so has the prestige of the competition. Of course having a stellar past winner’s list also adds to the gravitas. The McEvoy is without question one of the “must enter” British Junior golf events.
Past Winners
An in form Charlie STRICKLAND from Ham Manor Golf Club, near Littlehampton on the south coast of England, won the 2017 McEvoy Trophy.
Charlie Strickland with Peter McEvoy (Photo: GolfBible)
His rounds of 70 72 68 and 66 gave him a -8 total on the par 71 Copt Heath course. Having won the Duncan Putter at Southerndown GC the week before, the McEvoy represented a second big win for Charlie in the space of just a few days.
Here is the Golfing World video covering the 2017 Peter McEvoy Trophy: –
The Peter McEvoy Trophy has an enviable list of former winners, reflecting both the quality of the annual entry but also the fair challenge presented by the course for players of this age.
A number of the players in the full list of past winners below have gone on to play in the Walker Cup and many more have enjoyed successful professional careers: –
1981 Rob Sallis (Wollaton Park)
1982 Jeremy Robinson (Woodhall Spa)
1983 Peter Baker (Lilleshall)
1984 Wayne Henry (Redbourn)
1985 A Morley (Belton Park)
1986 Cameron Mitchell (Copt Heath)
1987 Wayne Henry (Porters Park)
1988 Peter Sefton (Camberley Heath)
1989 David Bathgate (Sandiway)
1990 Paul Sherman (Ashford)
1991 Lee Westwood (Worksop)
Lee Westwood with the McEvoy Trophy in 1991 (Photo: Copt Heath GC)
1992 Brian Davis (East Herts)
1993 Steve Webster (Atherstone)
1994 Jamie Harris (Nevill)
1995 Carl Duke (Porters Park)
1996 Mark Pilkington (Nefyn & District)
1997 Philip Rowe (West Cornwall)
1998 Justin Rose (North Hants)
Justin Rose with the McEvoy Trophy (Photo: Copt Heath GC)
In 2013 Justin Rose became the first McEvoy Trophy winner to win a Major Championship, when he won the U.S. Open at Merion GC. He of course went on to also win Gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
1999 David Porter (Stoneham)
2000 Zane Scotland (Woodcote Park)
2001 Ben Harvey (Dudsbury)
2002 Matthew Richardson (Pinner Hill)
2003 Tommy Hunter (Ilford)
2004 John Parry (Harrogate)
2005 Tom Sherreard (The Ridge)
2006 Luke Goddard (Hendon)
The Winner receives a small replica salver and a voucher for £250. A total prize fund of around £1,000 is shared out amongst those players finishing in the Top 8 places (and ties).
Peter McEvoy Trophy Records
Most Wins
2 Wayne Henry (1984 Redbourn / 1987 Porters Bar)
Wayne Henry pictured with Seve Ballesteros at the 1984 Open at St. Andrews
Youngest Winners
Wayne Henry 15 years [exact birthday not known] (1984)
Bradley Moore 15 years, 7 months and 15 days (2013)
Mark Power 15 years, 10 months and 6 days (2015)
Best McEvoy Trophy Record
Bradley Moore – 4th (283 -1, 2012), 1st (287 +3, 2013), 2nd (281 -3, 2014), 2nd (280 -4, 2015).
Notable Former Competitors
In addition to the winners listed above many other notable amateur and now professional golfers have competed over the years.
These include (in alphabetical order): – David Boote, Jamie Bower, James Byrne, Stuart Cage, Paul Casey, Ashley Chesters, Lee Corfield, Mark Crossfield (@4golfonline), Paul Cutler, Jack Davidson, Joe Dean, Nick Dougherty, Luke Donald, Bradley Dredge, Scott Drummond, Paul Dunne, Simon Dyson, Greg Eason, Jamie Elson, Harry Ellis, Oliver Farr, Kenneth Ferrie, Oliver Fisher, Tommy Fleetwood, Mark Foster, Ewen Ferguson, Grant Forrest, Scott Gregory, Tyrrell Hatton, David Horsey, David Howell, Jack Hume, Simon Hurd, Andrew Johnston, Simon Khan, Nathan Kimsey, Tom Lewis, David Lynn, Nick Marsh, Jack McDonald, Dermot McElroy, Ross McGowan, Robert MacIntyre, John Morgan, James Morrison, Jimmy Mullen, Bradley Neil, Max Orrin, John Parry, Jim Payne, Eddie Pepperell, Van Phillips, Alfie Plant, Garrick Porteous, Iain Pyman, Robert Rock, Philip Rowe, Jamie Savage, Chris Selfridge, Jack Senior, Callum Shinkwin, Jack Singh Brar, Lee Slattery, Jordan Smith, Michael Stewart, Andy Sullivan, Graeme Storm, Connor Syme, Ben Taylor, Jonathan Thomson, Ashton Turner, Sam Walker, Anthony Wall, Danny Willett, Oliver Wilson, Tom Whitehouse and Chris Wood.
The Winning 2018 Asia-Pacific Team (Photo: Jayaram)
Asia-Pacific Captain Matt Cutler With The Bonallack Trophy (Photo: Matt Cutler)
10th March 2018
Asia-Pacific won the 2018 Bonallack Trophy match 16.5 – 15.5 at Doha GC in Qatar.
This was just the third time Asia-Pacific had prevailed. Their previous wins coming in 2002 and 2004.
The home team overturned a two point deficit at the start of play by winning the day 3 Singles series 7.5 – 4.5.
Europe’s four Singles wins came from Todd Clements (ENG), Sami Valimaki (FIN), Kristoffer Reitan (NOR) and Oliver Gilbert (SWE). Angel Hidalgo Portillo (ESP) halved his game.
Looking at the individual player performances Daniel Hillier (NZ) was the star performer for the winning Asia-Pacific team. He recorded 3 wins and two draws and as such was the only unbeaten player in the event. He has moved up 10 places to No. 57 in the SPWAR.
Kristoffer Reitan (NOR) made the best contribution for Europe. He delivered three wins in his four games. He has moved up 21 places to No. 158 in the SPWAR.
Finally here is the updated Great Britain & Ireland Bonallack Trophy playing records data.
ME.
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9th March 2018
Europe turned the match around on Day 2. They now lead Asia-Pacific 11 – 9 with just tomorrow’s 12 Singles to be played.
Afternoon
In what could prove to be the critical session of the 2018 Bonallack Trophy match Europe secured 3.5 points in the Day 2 Foursomes.
Frederic Lacroix (FRA) / Edgar Catherine (FRA), Robin Dawson (IRE) / Marc Hammer (GER) and Matthew Jordan (ENG) / Todd Clements (ENG) all delivered victories for Europe.
Morning
The Day 2 Fourballs were again very competitive with two of the games halved. Europe won the series 3-2 to draw level with Asia-Pacific in the match 7.5 – 7.5.
Sam Valimaki (FIN) / Matias Honkala (FIN) and Kristoffer Reitan (NOR) / Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN) were the two European pairs to deliver wins.
ME.
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8th March 2018
Asia-Pacific lead the Bonallack Trophy 5.5 – 4.5 in Qatar after the conclusion of play on Day 1.
Afternoon
The Day 1 Foursomes proved to be more successful for Europe who won the series 3 – 2.
The Robin Dawson (IRE) / Marc Hammer (GER), Kristoffer Reitan (NOR) / Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN) and Frederic Lacroix (FRA) / Edgar Catherine (FRA) pairs secured the three wins for Europe.
Morning
Asia-Pacific won the Day 1 Fourball session 3.5 – 1.5, coming out on top in games 2 and 3, both of which were tight affairs.
Oliver Gilbert (SWE) and Angel Hidalgo Portillo (ESP) secured Europe’s only win in Game 5.
(Scoreboard Photos: Qatar Golf Association / European Golf Association / Golfbox)
ME.
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6th March 2018
The Bonallack Trophy is a 3-day biennial amateur match played between 12-man teams representing Europe and Asia-Pacific.
It is named in honour of Sir Michael Bonallack, one of Great Britain and Ireland’s (GB&I) greatest ever amateur golfers and formerly Secretary of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (1984-99).
The 2018 match will take place between 8th-10th March at Doha GC in Qatar.
Europe, led by an unbeaten Jack HUME (IRE / W4) and Mario Galiano (ESP / W4 L1), won the Trophy in 2016 beating Asia-Pacific 21.5 – 10.5 at Vidago Palace in Portugal. Full Results
The match was first played in 1998 and Europe now lead Asia-Pacific 7 – 2 in the history of the event.
The Winning 2016 Europe Team (Photo: Hugo Ribeiro / FPG)
Players and Teams
The European Golf Association and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation select the two 12-man teams.
Players are selected with reference to the World Amateur Golf Ranking and guidance from national coaches and officials. The two captains also have an unspecified number of picks to provide flexibility.
No more than two players may be selected from the same country.
Both Captain’s, Alexis Godillot and Matt Cutler, will be reprising their 2016 roles in Qatar.
Gregory Foo (SGP) and Takumi Kanaya (JAP) are the only players returning to the match. All of the other players will be making their debuts in 2018.
Three GB&I players have been selected for the European team. There were six in Europe’s 2016 team. Matthew JORDAN (ENG) represented GB&I in the 2017 Walker Cup match in Los Angeles last September.
Matt CUTLER (AUS) – Non-Playing Captain
Andy YAMANAKA (JAP) – Vice captain
Gregory FOO (SGP) – SPWAR 119
Lloyd Jefferson GO (PHI) – SPWAR 24
Jaemin HAN (KOR) – SPWAR 1,505
Daniel HILLIER (NZ) – SPWAR 67
Takumi KANAYA (JAP) – SPWAR 21
Sadom KEAWKANJANA (THA) – SPWAR 62
Dong-Min KIM (KOR) – SPWAR 333
Min Woo LEE (AUS) – SPWAR 5
Kammalas NAMUANGRUK (THA) – SPWAR 122
Kazuya OSAWA (JAP) – SPWAR 316
Rayhan THOMAS (IND) – SPWAR 208
Shae WOOLS-COBB (AUS) – SPWAR 43
The current Scratch Players World Amateur Rankings (SPWAR) suggest Europe have the strongest team on paper. Europe’s total team SPWAR being 1,868 versus Asia-Pacific’s 2,825.
However, Asia-Pacific have 6 players in the top 100 to Europe’s 8 so are certainly not without some real quality. In Min Woo Lee, US Junior Amateur champion in 2016, Asia-Pacific also have the best player on paper.
I expect a tighter match than last time where poor weather arguably didn’t help the visitors.
Match Play Format
On the first two days five fourball matches will be played in the morning (starting at 7.00am) and five foursome matches in the afternoon (starting at 12 noon).
On the final day all 12 team members will compete in singles (starting at 10.00am).
The times quoted above are local. Doha, Qatar is 3 hours ahead of the UK.
As is normal practice a win will deliver a point, a half half a point and a loss no points.
There are 32 points to play for with the winning team requiring 16.5 to claim the Trophy. In the event of a tie, the trophy is retained by the holders. Europe won the last match in Portugal in 2016.
Venue
This year the host course is Doha GC in Qatar.
The Doha Club is well known to followers of the European Tour as it has staged the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on many occasions. Eddie Pepperell won the Mother of Pearl Trophy in 2018 with a 270 (-18) score just a few weeks ago.
The Qatar Masters was played over a course measuring 7,400 yards and a par of 72.
The Bonallack Trophy is supposedly being played off the White Tees over 6,640 yards. The front nine is 3,512 yards and the back 3,128 yards, both with pars of 36. If this proves to be correct low scoring can be expected.
It is a typical Middle East desert course; designed by Peter Harradine, flat with plenty of water.
Rahan Thomas (IND) is Dubai-based and won the Qatar Open Amateur Championship at Doha in 2016 so will return with positive memories.
Past Results
Europe lead Asia-Pacific 7 – 2 in the Bonallack Trophy series.
2016 Vidago Palace, Portugal Europe 21.5 – 10.5
2014 Karnataka Golf, Bangalore, India Europe 17.5 – 14.5
As we come to the end of 2017 I thought I would record the more memorable performances that we have seen from Great British and Irish (GB&I) amateur golfers throughout the year.
When one reads through the months below it’s hard not to conclude that the year has generally been another successful one, with many highs and just a few lows.
An unusually large number of players have turned professional in the last 3 months (‘Amexit’) but I think we can take comfort from the positive signs already emanating from the next generation of players coming through.
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JANUARY
The year started with various touring parties heading off to events in the Southern Hemisphere.
Evan GRIFFITH (quarter finals) and Robert MACINTYRE (semi-finals) enjoyed good runs in the Australian Men’s Amateur.
Jack DAVIDSON and Conor O’ROURKE finished 4th and tied 7th at the South American Amateur in Argentina.
Jack SINGH BRAR and Bradley MOORE finished 2nd and 3rd in the Avondale Amateur in Australia.
FEBRUARY
Scott GREGORY delivered GB&I’s first major win of 2017, beating compatriot Marco PENGE by 1 hole in the Final of the New South Wales Amateur.
Robin DAWSON (2nd), Dan BROWN (3rd), Liam JOHNSTON (5th) and Craig HOWIE (7th) made good starts to their seasons with high finishes in the South African Stroke Play Championship.
Back in Europe Josh MCMAHON (2nd), Gian-Marco PETROZZI (T4), David BOOTE (T4) and Bailey GILL, George BLOOR and Tiarnan MCLARNON (T7) all showed early season form at the Portuguese International Amateur.
Robin DAWSON (2nd) lost a play-off to South African star Garrick Higgo in the Cape Province Open. Stuart GREHAN and Alex GLEESON finished T4 in the same event whilst Craig HOWIE was T9.
Dan BROWN (-15) was co-medalist in the South African Amateur. Dan sadly lost the play-off for the Proudfoot Trophy on the 4th extra hole albeit his second round 63 at Humewood GC will no doubt live long in his memory. He was 6-under after his first 5 holes having eagled two par 4’s. Liam JOHNSTON and Joe LONG made the Quarter-Final when the Championship match play got going.
Liam Johnston (Photo: Ernest Blignault)
Liam JOHNSTON didn’t have to wait much longer to get his name up in lights. The following week he went on to win the African Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Leopard Creek CC. In a good week for Scottish Golf Connor SYME (2nd), Jamie STEWART (3rd) and Craig HOWIE (5th) also finished high up.
Ben AMOR (ENG) turned Pro in February.
MARCH
Jack DAVIDSON got the European season underway by winning the Spanish International Amateur. Interestingly Jack was the final stroke play qualifier after Chris MACLEAN had pipped Stuart GREHAN to medalist honours. Nevertheless he soon got to grips with EL Saler ultimately beating Marco PENGE 4&3 in the 36 hole final.
In an event with little GB&I support David HAGUE popped up with a T7 result at the Italian International Amateur. Even more surprisingly Sean CROCKER the highly rated US College golfer turned up and ended up winning the Championship comfortably by 5 shots.
A superb opening day’s play from Bailey GILL, where he shot two 65’s, helped the Yorkshireman literally blow the field away at the subsequently weather shortened Darwin Salver.
Scott GREGORY re-affirmed his match play credentials with an impressive 1st Extra Hole win over Australia’s 2016 US Amateur champion Curtis LUCK in the pre-Masters Georgia Cup match.
APRIL
WALES, represented by David BOOTE, Jack DAVIDSON, Joshua DAVIES and Owen EDWARDS, won the European Nations Cup Team competition at RCG Sotogrande in Spain. WALES’ total of +13 was 11 shots better than second placed IRELAND (+24) and 21 shots better than fourth placed SCOTLAND (+34). An out of sorts ENGLAND (+61) finished a disappointing 12th.
Jack DAVIDSON won the Individual European Nations Cup title by 4-shots. Rounds of 70, 70, 70 and 73 (-5), which included 20 birdies and 2 eagles, gave him his second major title in less than a month.
Charlie STRICKLAND, who was runner-up to Bailey GILL at the Darwin Salver, then came to the fore, winning two 72 hole events in consecutive weeks. First came the Duncan Putter – which will be moving to three days at Southerndown in 2018 – and quickly following it up with the U18 Peter McEvoy Trophy at my home club, Copt Heath.
Charlie Strickland with Peter McEvoy (Photo: @GolfBible)
The 2016 US Mid-Amateur champion, Stewart HAGESTAD, won the Silver Cup at The Masters following rounds of 74, 73, 74 and 73 (+6). His tied 36th finish saw him comfortably win low amateur honours. Our Amateur champion, Scott GREGORY, missed the cut after rounds of 82 and 75 (+13).
The Scottish Boys Open Championship, disappointingly scheduled directly against the Peter McEvoy Trophy, was won in style by John PATERSON who came past runner-up Jamie STEWART at Monifieth with an exceptional final round of 67.
The Hampshire Salver again proved a popular weekend for competitors. Jack SINGH BRAR won Saturday’s Selborne Salver and Jake BURNAGE Sunday’s Hampshire Hog at North Hants. Singh Brar beat Burnage by 1shot for the combined 72 hole Hampshire Salver.
Up in Scotland Craig HOWIE, the clear favourite at the start of play, dominated the Craigmillar Park Open shooting rounds of 66, 66, 66 and 67 (-15) and winning by 8 shots.
Barry ANDERSON won the West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at County Sligo beating Jack PIERSE 3&2 in the Final. Earlier Conor O’ROURKE had edged out fellow Naas member Jonathan YATES to secure medallist honours in the 36 hole stroke play qualifier.
Chile’s Joaquin NIEMANN started his rise to the top of the Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking by winning the prestigious Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in the United Sates.
Owen EDWARDS (-3) won the West of England Stroke Play after a strong final day’s play at Saunton left him as the only player under par. David HAGUE (+1) was 2nd and Will POOLE (+3) tied 3rd.
On the same weekend Connor SYME won the Battle Trophy at Crail. Despite giving the field a chance with a final round 79 the Drumoig man still won by 5 shots.
Meanwhile in South Wales Matthew HARRIS won the Carmarthenshire Open at Ashburnham and Callum MORRIS the Golden Eagle at Tenby. However, it was Luke HARRIES who won the Trubshaw Cup for the best 72 hole score over the weekend.
MAY
May saw the focus return to Great Britain and Ireland with our leading amateur events now starting to be played.
Jack SINGH BRAR won the Lytham Trophy helped in no small part by a superb first round of 68 achieved in strong winds when the rest of the elite field struggled (CSS 79). Charlie STRICKLAND and Jake BURNAGE finished 2nd and 3rd in what proved to be a very good week for England Golf with 7 of the top 10 coming from the home nation.
Just down the road George RAITT and Conor GOUGH finished 2nd and tied 3rd respectively in the Boys’ Fairhaven Trophy. However, Sweden’s Ludvig ABERG was in a class of his own that week winning by 9 shots.
Having come close in the West of England a few weeks’ earlier Will POOLE found Kent’s links courses even more to his liking winning the South East of England Links Championship.
Peter O’KEEFFE won the Irish Open Amateur Championship holding off a strong field at Royal County Down GC. A posse of English and Scottish players made Peter work for it with Chris MACLEAN and Tom SLOMAN ultimately finishing 3 shots back in tied 5th.
David HAGUE won the Lagonda Trophy by 12 shots. An astonishing 62 63 final day finish on the 6,367 yards par 70 Old Course blitzing the field.
David Hague (Photo: Kevin Diss)
Josh HILLEARD won the Murat Cup at the French International Amateur beating the home junior Pierre PINEAU on the second play-off hole. Both players came through the field in the final round of the 72 hole contest at Chantilly; Hilleard shooting 64 and Pineau 66.
In what proved to be a successful weekend for England Golf Gian-Marco PETROZZI secured the Welsh Amateur Open Stroke Play title at The Vale Resort. Gian-Marco (-13) won by 9 shots from fellow Staffordshire player Jack GAUNT (-4) and local favourites Jack DAVIDSON (-3) and Owen EDWARDS (-1).
Woodhall Spa staged the 2017 Brabazon Trophy with South Africa’s Kyle MCCLATCHIE beating Jamie STEWART, Jake BURNAGE and Jack SINGH BRAR by 1 shot to secure the prestigious English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play title and beautiful gold plated trophy.
In what proved to be a generally disappointing US Collegiate season for GB&I players Braden THORNBERRY won the NCAA Division 1 Individual Stroke Play before OKLAHOMA secured the Team title in the subsequent Match Play stage.
Sam HORSFIELD (ENG) turned Pro in May 2017.
JUNE
June started with England’s Max MARTIN picking up the Welsh Open Youths Championship at Prestatyn.
Liam JOHNSTON won the Scottish Men’s Open Championship at Western Gailes, holding off an in form Matthew JORDAN (2nd) by 2 shots and fellow Scottish Internationals Craig HOWIE (T3) and Connor SYME (5th).
The East of Ireland Amateur went to Reece BLACK whose final round 66 at County Louth was needed to hold off a fast finishing Robbie PIERSE (69).
Matthew JORDAN finally got the win his outstanding play in May and June deserved when he picked up the St. Andrews Links Trophy. Two late bogeys on the Old Course from Matthew enabled Ireland’s John Ross GALBRAITH, who birdied two of his last four, to finish 1 shot back, making the result tighter than it really should have been.
Somewhat ominously, given September’s Walker Cup match, USA ran out easy winners against Europe in the Arnold Palmer Cup played at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Driven on by unbeaten Doug GHIM, with Maverick MCNEALY, Collin MORIKAWA and Norman XIONG all featuring, USA won easily 19.5 – 10.5. The Arnold Palmer Cup match moves to a new mixed format in France next July.
One of the highlights of the year was Harry ELLIS’ magnificent win in The Amateur Championship staged at Royal St. George’s and Princes in Kent. 4 Down with five holes to play Ellis somehow fought back, helped in no small part by Dylan PERRY bogeying four of these remaining holes. The Hampshire man ultimately won on the second extra hole when the Australian could do no better than a 6 on the par 4 2nd hole. The win secured Harry his place in history but also this year’s Open Championship and the GB&I Walker Cup team. With a trip to Augusta National in April 2018 still to come it really is the Championship that keeps on giving. A quick word also for medallist Caolan RAFFERTY whose 62 on Day 2 at Prince’s, even with a bogey on the last, was one of the amateur stroke play rounds of the year.
Ben JONES won the U18 Boys Sir Henry Cooper Masters by 10 shots at Nizels G&CC, separating himself from his peers after a 9-under, bogey free, 63 in round 3. In a stellar year for the competition the outstanding Lily May HUMPHRIES won the Girls event by 12 shots.
The 2017 Berkshire Trophy was won by Adam LUMLEY who finished on -18, 7 shots ahead of JACK CLARKSON. David HAGUE and Billy MACKENZIE finished tied 3rd.
Mark Power (Photo: Castleroy GC)
Mark POWER retained his Irish Boys Amateur Open Championship title at Castleroy GC, the first person to do so since Paul Dunne a few years ago. He and England’s Jack COPE finished on -5 before Mark ended a topsy-turvy three hole play off in style by holing a 129 yard wedge on the 18th.
Kevin LE BLANC (IRE) turned Pro in June.
JULY
July 1st saw Alfie PLANT memorably win the European Men’s Amateur at Walton Heath GC. A near tap-in birdie on the 72nd hole helped the man from Kent draw level on -15 with Lorenzo SCALISE and defending Luca CIANCHETTI, helped in no small part by both Italians bogeying the same hole. With a place in The Open Championship on the line Plant went on to birdie the Old Course’s 2nd hole, winning the sudden death play off on the fifth extra hole.
Alfie Plant (Photo: GolfBible)
Greg DALZIEL won the Scottish Boys Amateur Championship at Scotscraig, beating Australian-based Josh GREER by 1 hole in the Final.
A week later The Scottish Boys U16 Open Championship at Fairmont Kittocks went to 13 year old Calum SCOTT, younger brother of Scottish Men’s International Sandy. Josh GREER finished tied 2nd four shots back. Equally of note were the 7th and tied 12th place finishes of Max HOPKINS and Aidan O’HAGAN, new names that would come to mean more as the year unfolded.
The North of Ireland Championship was played at Royal Portrush GC with Caolan RAFFERTY winning the stroke play qualifier on -10. Caolan fell to Colin FAIRWEATHER in the semi-finals before Rowan LESTER beat Colin by 2 holes in the final.
DENMARK won the European Boys Team Championship at La Manga beating SPAIN 4-3 in the Final. ENGLAND (T4) and IRELAND (8th) both qualified for Flight A but found little success in their three matches.
ENGLAND (1st), SCOTLAND (5th) and IRELAND (6th) all made Flight A in the Men’s European Amateur Team Championship which was played concurrently with the Boys’ at Diamond CC in Austria. In a closely fought match SPAIN beat ENGLAND 4-3 in the final.
Estonia’s Joonas TURBA was something of a surprise winner at the MacGregor Trophy (Boys’ U16 Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship). English propsects Max HOPKINS and Robin WILLIAMS were second and third respectively.
Noah GOODWIN (USA) beat Matthew WOLFF (USA) 1Up in the final of the US Junior Amateur at Flint Hills National GC in Kansas.
Alfie PLANT collected the Silver Medal for the low amateur at The Open Championship after rounds of 71, 73, 69 and 73 (+6) secured a T62 at Royal Birkdale GC. Connor SYME (73 76, +9) and Harry ELLIS (77 75, +12) both missed the cut.
Jake BURNAGE beat a fast finishing Jack YULE to win the South East of England Amateur Championship played on the New and Old Courses at Walton Heath GC. The Club have recently announced that the event will be renamed as The Walton Heath Trophy from 2018.
Jake Burnage (Photo: GolfBible)
Andrea ROMANO from Italy beat France’s Jean BEKIRIAN in a play-off to secure the Carris Trophy (Boys’ U18 Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship). English trio Jack COPE, Taylor STOTE and Robin WILLIAMS all finished in the Top 5 at West Sussex GC.
Conor GOUGH (-5, 7th), Barclay BROWN (+1 T14), Lily May HUMPHRIES (-2, 1st) and Annabell FULLER (Ev, T3) collectively won the Team title at the European Young Masters with a -12 total score in Oslo.
The 2017 South of Ireland Open Championship was won by James SUGRUE at Lahinch. After the North champion Rowan LESTER had won the 36 hole stroke play qualifier James worked his way through a strong field before beating Conor O’ROURKE 3&2 in the final.
AUGUST
Evan GRIFFITH dominated stroke play qualifying in the Wales Amateur Championship at Aberdovey GC with two rounds of 68 and 64 (-10) seeing him achieve medalist honours by an impressive 6 shots. However, Wales’ player of the year Jack DAVIDSON got the better of him in a tight semi-final before going on to beat Tim HARRY in the 36 hole final by 8&7.
The Scottish Amateur was played at Prestwick and was won by Sam LOCKE. Sandy SCOTT and Calum FYFE were the leading qualifiers. LOCKE played superbly in the match play stage ultimately beating Ryan LUMSDEN 9&8 in the 36 hole final.
The English Men’s Amateur was contested at The Berkshire. The story from the stroke play stage was medalist’s David LANGLEY’s superb 61 on the Blue Course on Day 1. However, it was Todd CLEMENTS who prevailed in the match play eventually beating Jack GAUNT 2&1 in the final.
Like the Brabazon Trophy earlier in the year it was a South African who won the Reid Trophy, awarded to the winner of the English Boy’s U14 Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship. Casey JARVIS (-4) held off fast finishing Spaniard Jose BALLESTER at the Manchester GC. For those looking for potential GB&I stars of the future Rory MCDONALD-O’BRIEN (ENG), George DURKAN (ENG), Joshua HILL (IRE), Joseph BYRNE (IRE) and Jack BIGHAM (ENG) all finished in the top 10.
ENGLAND won The Boys’ Home Internationals at St. Anne’s Old Links. Toby BRIGGS, Conor GOUGH, Joe PAGDIN and Robin WILLIAMS all compiled W5 L1 H0 records during the week. Whilst SCOTLAND came last they did provide the highlight of the week; the unbeaten foursomes pairing of 13 year olds Calum SCOTT and Aiden O’HAGEN.
Calum Scott and Aiden O’Hagen (Photo: GolfBible)
Andrew WILSON (-4), the only player to finish under par for the 72 holes and helped on his way by a 62 in round 1, won the Lee Westwood Trophy at Rotherham GC. Charlie THORNTON and Olly HUGGINS (Ev) were tied 2nd.
IRELAND continued their superb run at the Men’s Home Internationals winning the Raymond Trophy for a fourth consecutive year at Moortown GC in England. Caolan RAFFERTY (W5 L1 H0), Paul MCBRIDE (W4 L0 H1) and Colin FAIRWEATHER (W4 L1 H0) starred in a strong team performance.
The 2017 Boys’ Amateur Championship was played at Nairn GC and Nairn Dunbar GC. Home player Darren HOWIE (-8) was medallist with Alex FITZPATRICK (-7) tied 2nd and Danny DANIELS (-6) tied 4th. However, it was Portugal’s Pedro LENCART SILVA, who had qualified in tied 6th on -4, who came through the match play stage to win. He beat defending champion Falko HANISCH (GER) 5&4 in the 36 hole final.
Played at the magnificent Riviera CC and Bel-Air CC’s in Los Angeles Doc REDMAN won the U.S. Amateur Championship in stunning fashion. Hayden WOOD (-9) achieved medallist honours in the stroke play qualifying. Jack SINGH BRAR (-2) T8 led the way for GB&I, with Connor SYME and Robert MACINTYRE (both +2) T35 following him into the match play stage. Syme went furthest at Riviera ending up losing 2&1 in the quarter finals to Doug GHIM. Ghim went on to reach the final where he found himself 2Up with two to play and just over the back of the green in two on the par 5 17th. With Redman just on the green in front of him easily 50 yards away from the hole he could be forgiven for thinking the Havemeyer Trophy was his and for allowing his mind to wander to the first tee of Augusta National in April 2018. Unfortunately the golfing gods stepped in. After Ghim had left his chip 6 feet short Redman stepped up and at pace holed the most amazing right to left downhill putt of the year, or for that matter almost any year, for eagle. Redman then followed it up with a superb birdie on the uphill 18th from 6 foot with Ghim only managing a scrambled par. With the match now All Square, Redman hit a perfect drive to the front of Riviera’s short 315 yard par 4 10th, the first extra hole. Visibly shocked at what was happening in front of him Ghim then hooked his drive and having hacked around for a while before securing a 6 conceded Redman the Championship. An unbelievable finish to amateur golf’s premier event.
The North of England U16 Boy’s Championship was won by Callum MACFIE at Pannal GC. Matthew JACKMAN was one back with Max HOPKINS a little further back in 3rd place.
The Irish U16 Boys Amateur Open Championship was played at Rockmount and was won by Mullingar’s Adam SMITH. Odhran MAGUIRE, the younger brother of Leona and Lisa, was 2nd.
Down at Sundridge Park GC Liam BURNS (-5) defenced the Waterford Trophy. A 67 66 final day finish was required by the man from Chiselhurst to hold off Nick PANTING by 1 shot.
The U16 Welsh Boys was won by Bryn THOMAS at Cradoc GC. Thomas’ final round of 67 helped him to a 9 shot victory over Tom PEET.
The Irish Amateur Close Championship was won by Jamie FLETCHER at Galway GC. Peter KERR and David BRADY were seeded 1st and 2nd after both recorded 138 (-2) in the stroke play stage. In a tight 18 hole final Fletcher beat David KITT by 1 hole.
Richard MANSELL (ENG), Bradley MOORE (ENG), Marco PENGE (ENG) and Sean TOWNDROW (ENG) all turned Pro in August.
SEPTEMBER
The CONTINENT OF EUROPE won the annual Jacques Léglise Trophy U18 Boys’ match against GB&I at Ballybunion GC by 15.5 – 9.5. Unbeaten pair Pedro LENCART SILVA (W3-L0-H1) and Eduard ROUSARD SABATE (SWE) helped the away side to a second successive win. Ben JONES (W2-L1-H1) and Robin WILLIAMS (W2-L1-H0) put up the best defence for GB&I.
The Walker Cup result was an even more sobering experience for GB&I the following week. Craig WATSON had to step down as GB&I captain on the eve of the match but with Andy INGRAM a very capable deputy I am sure this in no way contributed to what followed at Los Angeles Country Club. Whilst the final result was not unexpected the manner of the 17-9 defeat was. Only Jack SINGH BRAR (W3-L1-H0), Robert MACINTYRE (W1-L1-H1) and Scott GREGORY (W2-L1-H1) really came away with any credit from the match. From the USA side Captain Spider Miller had clearly learned a few lessons from Royal Lytham in 2015 and backed up by superb performances from Doug GHIM, Maverick MCNEALY, Colin MORIKAWA, (all W4-L0-H0) and Norman XIONG (W3-L0-H1) the one sided result felt inevitable as soon as the Day 1 singles were concluded.
The USA Walker Cup Team (Photo: GolfBible)
Ben JONES won The Duke of York Champions Trophy at Royal Liverpool GC by 8 shots from Sweden’s Oscar TEIFFEL. John PATERSON, who shot a 69 in round 2, the best of the week, finished 7th.
David BOOTE (WAL), Dan BROWN (ENG) Jack DAVIDSON (WAL), Tom GANDY (ENG), Scott GREGORY (ENG), Evan GRIFFITH (WAL), Cameron LONG (ENG), Alfie PLANT (ENG), Craig ROSS (SCO), Conor O’ROURKE (IRE), Jack SINGH BRAR (ENG), Connor SYME (SCO), Will WHITEOAK (ENG) and Jack YULE (ENG) all turned Pro in September.
OCTOBER
David HAGUE (+1) won the North of England Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship at Alwoodley GC. Andrew Wilson (+3) was 2nd with Harry GODDARD and Nick POPPLETON (+4) tied 3rd.
Joshua DAVIES (WAL), Owen EDWARDS (WAL), Colin FAIRWEATHER (IRE), Stuart GREHAN (IRE), Liam JOHNSTON (SCO) and Robert MACINTYRE (SCO) all turned Pro in October.
NOVEMBER
A birdie, eagle finish helped China’s LIN YUXIN to the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship title at Royal Wellington GC in New Zealand. We can therefore look forward to seeing him in action at The Masters in 2018.
14 year old Max HOPKINS (-2) became the youngest ever winner of the Boys’ Telegraph Vitality Junior Golf Championship at Quinta do Lago in Portugal. Ben JONES (+1) was 2nd and Alfie FOX (+3) 3rd.
Jamie CLARE (ENG), John Ross GALBRAITH (IRE) and Chris MACLEAN (SCO) all turned Pro in November.
Sam HORSFIELD won the Final Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School at Lumine Golf & Beach Club in Spain. His final -27 score, with all six rounds in the 60’s and a best of the day final round of 63 (-8), saw him win the 108 hole event by an impressive 8 shots. Amongst the other players to pick up a 2018 Tour card were Connor SYME, who finished tied 9th on -17 and Jonathan THOMSON, who finished tied 18th on -14.
DECEMBER
Ben JONES (-12) finished tied 2nd at the South Beach International Amateur in Miami. In an event which enjoyed the 5th strongest field of the year it was also pleasing to see Harry HALL (-7) and Joe PAGDIN (-4) record impressive results; tied 10th and tied 19th respectively.
Ben JONES finished tied 28th at the Boy’s Junior Orange Bowl Championship in Miami, 22 shots behind runaway winner Jerry JI from The Netherlands. Lily May HUMPHRIES enhanced her growing reputation by winning the Girls event by 9 shots.
Mason OVERSTREET (USA) won The Patriot All-America in Arizona. The six GB&I players struggled to make an impression with George BURNS (T38) recording the best finish.
Josh HILLEARD (ENG) turned Pro earlier in the month.
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If you want to review the detailed results of any of the above competitions then please take a look at the GolfBible Results Page where you will be able to find links to nearly all of those mentioned above.
The last few months have seen a relatively large number of Great Britain and Ireland international and other elite amateur players turn professional.
2018 therefore represents a huge opportunity for the next generation of GB&I players coming through the ranks.
As we start to look ahead to next year I thought it may be useful to lay out the 2018 National Squads for each of the four home nations in one place.
You will find these players listed below, along with each player’s current Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking (SPWAR), some other elite players not officially included in the various Panels to show depth (there are others too) and finally a list of all of the recent departures to the ‘dark side’ from each country.
Seeing how this period of transition for both GB&I amateur and professional golf unfolds next year and into 2019 will certainly be interesting.
ENGLAND
Men’s Squad
Jake Burnage (111)
Todd Clements (56)
Jack Gaunt (188)
David Hague (146)
Matthew Jordan (34)
Gian-Marco Petrozzi (126)
Charlie Strickland (212)
Andrew Wilson (329)
Men’s A Squad
George Bloor (270)
Bailey Gill (378)
Ben Jones (417)
Josh McMahon (431)
Nick Poppleton (260)
Tom Sloman (201)
Other Elite Players
Toby Briggs (902) – U.S. University of San Francisco, Freshman
Harry Ellis (35) – U.S. Florida State University, Redshirt Junior
Alex Fitzpatrick (408) – Committed to Wake Forest University – Summer 2018
Harry Hall (134) – U.S. University of Las Vegas, Junior
Billy McKenzie (247) – U.K. full time amateur.
Daniel O’Loughlin (328) – U.S. University of Colorado, Sophomore
Pavan Sagoo (352) – U.S. St. Mary’s College, Senior
Daniel Sutton (347) – U.S. University of Kansas, Junior
Laird Shepherd (222) – U.K. Stirling University
David Wicks (173) – U.S. Jacksonville, Junior
Players Who Have Recently Turned Pro
Dan Brown, Jamie Clare, Tom Gandy, Scott Gregory, Josh Hilleard, Cameron Long, Richard Mansell, Bradley Moore, Marco Penge, Alfie Plant, Jack Singh Brar, Sean Towndrow, Will Whiteoak and Jack Yule (14).
IRELAND
Men’s Senior Panel
Barry Anderson (1,051)
Colm Campbell (311)
Robin Dawson (68)
Jamie Fletcher (1,425)
Alex Gleeson (212)
Rowan Lester (215)
Paul McBride (43) – U.S. Wake Forest University, Senior
Tiarnan McLarnon (517)
Ronan Mullarney (323)
John Murphy (541)
Peter O’Keeffe (344)
Mark Power (690)
Conor Purcell (291) – U.S. University of North Carolina Charlotte, Sophomore
Caolan Rafferty (103)
James Sugrue (1,028)
Jonathan Yates (579)
Other Elite Players
Thomas Mulligan (1,591) – U.S. University of Oregon, Freshman
5 Players Who Have Recently Turned Pro
Colin Fairweather, John Ross Galbraith, Stuart Grehan, Kevin Le Blanc and Conor O’Rourke (5).
SCOTLAND
Men’s Squad
Darren Howie (492)
Sam Locke (509)
Jamie Stewart (120) – U.S. Missouri University, Freshman
Eric McIntosh (404) – U.S. Northwestern University, Freshman
Ryan Lumsden (132) – U.S. Northwestern University, Junior
Matthew Clark (436)
Calum Fyfe (131)
Sandy Scott (110) – U.S. Texas Tech University, Sophomore
Euan Walker (266)
Other Elite Players
Rory Franssen (314) – U.S. Missouri University, Sophomore
Players Who Have Recently Turned Pro
Liam Johnston, Chris Maclean, Robert MacIntyre, Craig Ross and Connor Syme. Craig Howie (49) is also expected to turn Pro shortly (6).
WALES
National Performance Programme
Ben Chamberlain
Gaelen Trew – U.S. Florida Institute of Technology, Junior
Luke Harries – U.S. Lincoln Memorial University, Freshman
Tim Harry
National Support Programme
Jake Hapgood
Kyle Harman
Matt Harris
Lee Jones
Llew Matthews
Lewys Sanges
Players Who Have Recently Turned Pro
David Boote, Jack Davidson, Joshua Davies, Owen Edwards and Evan Griffith (5).
Sam HORSFIELD (21) won the 2017 Final Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School at Lumine Golf & Beach Club in Tarragona, Spain.
The Florida-based Englishman was simply too good for Lumine’s Hills and Lakes courses and for that matter the rest of the field.
His final -27 score, with all six rounds in the 60’s and a best of the day final round of 63 (-8), saw him win the 108 hole event by an impressive 8 shots.
Following in the footsteps of Nathan KIMSEY last year he becomes the second player in a row and the third in total to come through all three stages of Q-School and win.
Horsfield left the University of Florida in May 2017 after his sophomore year had concluded. He had enjoyed a superb freshman year in US College golf in 2015/16 but had been inconsistent in this his second year, distracted by trialling equipment ahead of his move into the paid ranks.
A former amateur world number 1 and arguably Britain’s strongest golfing prospect in the last few years this victory should come as no surprise to anyone.
After a few starts on the PGA Tour Sam chose to try his hand in Europe this summer and received invitations to three late season tournaments. He made the cut at both the Made in Denmark (T49 -3) and Portugal Masters (T59 -4) but missed out at the KLM Open (T99 +3). In summary a steady if unspectacular start to his pro career.
His 2017 European Tour year to date earnings of €12,800 have now been more than doubled by the Final Q-School winner’s cheque of €16,000.
Sam Horsfield – Winner of the European Tour’s 2017 Q-School (Photo: @hr59sam)
Connor SYME (22) finished tied 9th on -17, continuing his seamless transition over the last 2 months from amateur golf and the 2017 Walker Cup match to the professional game.
Jonathan THOMSON (21) finished tied 18th on -14 capping a great season for the Yorkshireman. He finished 9th on the PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit and also showed he belonged on the European Tour with strong performances at both the D+D REAL Czech Masters (T54) and Portugal Masters (T25).
It was also good to see Gavin MOYNIHAN (23) progress. The Irishman, who played in both the 2013 and 2015 Walker Cups finished tied 25th on -13. After finishing 19th on the Challenge Tour’s 2017 Order of Merit he has clearly taken another important step forward this week.
English pair James HEATH and Ben EVANS should also be congratulated too, having fought their way into the Top 25 and ties on the final day. They both shot 66 (-5) when it mattered most in Round 6.
Horsfield, and the other players who finished in the top 25 and tied for 25th place, can now look forward to 2018 with confidence and the foundation of Category 17 and 5 cards for the European Tour and Challenge Tour respectively.
156 golfers started out in the Final Stage marathon with 49 from Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) – 31.4% of the field.
After a 72 holes cut, following two rounds on each of Lumine’s courses, 74 players remained representing those that had finished 70th and tied.
27 GB&I players made the cut with 12 going on to achieve 2018 European Tour Category 17 playing privileges. In total 33 players finished in the Top 25 and tied places.
Here is a summary of the GB&I results showing each player’s Q-School entry point, finishing place and score as well as their 2018 European Tour (ET) and Challenge Tour (CT) categories: –
Sam HORSFIELD (ENG) – First Stage 1st (-27) Charlie FORD (ENG) – Final Stage T2 (-19) Mark FOSTER (ENG) – Second Stage T9 (-17) Connor SYME (SCO) – Second Stage T9 (-17) Laurie CANTER (ENG) – Second Stage T12 (-16) Ross MCGOWAN (ENG) – Final Stage T15 (-15) James HEATH (ENG) – Final Stage T18 (-14) Jonathan THOMSON (ENG) – First Stage T18 (-14) Matthew BALDWIN (ENG) – Second Stage T18 (-14) Ben EVANS (ENG) – Final Stage T25 (-13) Gavin MOYNIHAN (IRE) – Final Stage T25 (-13) Matthew NIXON (ENG) – Final Stage T25 (-13)
72 Hole Cut Made (Top 70 and Ties) – ET cat. 22 / CT cat. 9
Marcus ARMITAGE (ENG) – Second Stage T34 (-12) Tom MURRAY (ENG) – Final Stage T37 (-11) Chris LLOYD (ENG) – Second Stage T37 (-11) Robert MACINTYRE (SCO) – Second Stage T37 (-11) David LAW (SCO) – Second Stage T42 (-10) Tom LEWIS (ENG) – Final Stage T42 (-10) Paul HOWARD (ENG) – Final Stage T42 (-10) Nathan KIMSEY (ENG) – Final Stage T50 (-9) Scott HENRY (SCO) – Second Stage T54 (-8) Steve WEBSTER (ENG) – Final Stage T54 (-8) Stuart MANLEY (WAL) – Second Stage T58 (-7) Steven TILEY (ENG) – Second Stage T58 (-7) Ruaidhri MCGEE (IRE) – Second Stage T62 (-6) Simon KHAN (ENG) – Final Stage T68 (-2) Paul MADDY (ENG) – Second Stage T68 (-2)
Amateurs Adri ARNAUS (ESP) – First Stage T65 (-5) – Adri turned pro after the 4th round Kim KOIVU (FIN) – First Stage T68 (-2)
Missed Cut – CT cat. 15 (72 holes played)
Ewen FERGUSON (SCO) – Second Stage T75 (-1) Ross KELLETT (SCO) – Second Stage T75 (-1) Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) – Second Stage T82 (Ev) Matt FORD (ENG) – Final Stage T82 (Ev) Grant FORREST (SCO) – Final Stage T82 (Ev) Oliver WILSON (ENG) – Final Stage T82 (Ev) Joe DEAN (ENG) – First Stage T94 (+1) Toby TREE (ENG) – Second Stage T94 (+1) Cormac SHARVIN (N.I.) – Second Stage T94 (+1) John PARRY (ENG) – Second Stage T103 (+2) Scott GREGORY (ENG) – Second Stage T103 (+2) Max ORRIN (ENG) – Second Stage T112 (+3) Simon DYSON (ENG) – Final Stage T112 (+3) Dan BROWN (ENG) – First Stage T112 (+3) Dermot MCELROY (N.I.) – First Stage T121 (+5) Chris DOAK (SCO) – Second Stage T121 (+5) Richard MCEVOY (ENG) – Final Stage T121 (+5) Sam HUTSBY (ENG) – Second Stage T132 (+7) Rhys ENOCH (WAL) – Second Stage T136 (+8) Robert DINWIDDIE (ENG) – Second Stage T144 (+11) Duncan STEWART (SCO) – Final Stage T147 (+13) Garrick PORTEOUS (ENG) – Final Stage WD (+11, after 3 rounds)
Amateurs Oliver GILLBERG (SWE) – First Stage T94 (+1)
FINAL STAGE Q-SCHOOL REWARDS
At the conclusion of play the leading 25 players (and ties) were eligible for Category 17 membership of the European Tour and Category 5 membership of the Challenge Tour for the 2018 season.
With regard to Category 17 the European Tour will be adopting a new structure in 2018. The Top 10 Q-School finishers will be ranked first, followed by those players who finished 101st-110th in the 2017 Race To Dubai and finally the 11th-25th Q-School leading finishers.
The leading 70 players (and ties) who made the 72-hole cut will be handed Category 22 membership of the European Tour and Category 9 membership of the Challenge Tour.
Those who missed the cut will receive Category 15 membership of the Challenge Tour.
The final Q-School finishing positions are important when it comes to determining each player’s standing in each Category and as such their actual playing opportunities next season.
The 2017 Final Q-School has a total prize fund of €150,000. The winner receives €16,000 with those finishing in the Top 25 (and ties) reducing amounts down to €1,860.
FINAL STAGE Q-SCHOOL BACKGROUND
The competition was played over 108 holes on Lumine’s Lakes (6,909 yards, par 71) and Hills (6,975 yards, par 72) Courses.
Whilst Lumine’s Lakes Course has hosted one of the Second Stage events for some time this is the first time the Club has been used for Final Stage Qualifying. The PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona has hosted the Finals for the last 9 years.
70 players were exempted into the Q-School process at the Final Stage. Amongst this number are many experienced pros and previous European Tour winners. If reaching this Stage isn’t hard enough make no mistake the bar is once again raised at the Finals.
Eight First Stage and four Second Stage events were completed in recent months in the 2017 Q-School series. 176 players progressed from the former to Second Stage whilst 86 advanced from the latter to the Finals.
For a recap on these 2017 Q-School competitions please read my earlier articles: –
Last year England’s Nathan KIMSEY (-13) won the Final Stage of the European Tour’s Qualifying School series at the PGA Catalunya Resort.
Nathan was just the second player to come right through from First Stage to win Q-School outright.
Nathan Kimsey – Winner of the European Tour’s 2016 Q-School (Photo: @ETQSchool)
Sadly Nathan wasn’t able to retain his European Tour card during the 2017 season and as you can see above finished tied 50th this week.
In fact just three players retained their playing status from the 30 2016 Q-School graduates. These were Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG), Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA) – who finished 44th and 66th on the Race To Dubai regular season standings – and Ashley CHESTERS (ENG), who was 110th but 8th on the Access List.
The introduction of the Rolex Series and the ever rising standard of play means that making the most of a good finish at Q-School is unquestionably getting harder each year.
Well done to the 33 2017 Q-School graduates. Enjoy your achievements this week and best wishes for next season.
Harold Hilton was born on 12th January 1869 in West Kirby, near Liverpool in England’s North West.
Following in the footsteps of his father he joined the nearby Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake when he was 8 years old. The Club, which received its patronage in 1871, is the one he was associated with all of his life and where his collection of medals are still proudly displayed to this day.
Harold Hilton (Photo: Royal Liverpool Golf Club)
It was fellow Hoylake junior member Willie More that helped him most in his formative years, encouraging him to watch better players and practice as much as he possibly could. He was of course fortunate that Johnny Ball, 8 years older than him and arguably Britain’s greatest ever amateur, was a fellow member of Royal Liverpool and clearly someone to aspire to and learn from.
Harold Hilton was one of the very best players for the 25 years between 1890 and 1915. Freddie Tait was the only player of this era he rarely got the better of. Whilst Hilton did beat Tait in stroke play he never beat him in a match play game and this drew a lot of comment at the time. Tait to a lesser degree had the same problem with Ball in match play.
His outstanding golfing achievement was winning both the 1911 Amateur Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship. He was the first player to complete this double and he did so at the age of 42. Until Matthew Fitzpatrick won in 2013 Hilton had been the last Englishman to win the U.S. Amateur.
The 1911 U.S. Amateur has gone down in history for two reasons; firstly the manner of the victory and secondly the impact it had on the growth of the game in the United States.
Harold Hilton at Apawamis CC (Photo: The Ron Watts Collection)
The 1911 U.S. Amateur took place at Apawamis Country Club in Rye, New York State. Hilton won the stroke play by two shots (76+74=150) leading 32 qualifiers into the match play stage. He then reached the 36 hole Final where he faced Brooklyn-born Fred Herreshoff (24). At lunch Hilton led 4Up and he quickly extended this to 6Up early in the afternoon round. Herreshoff fought back bravely and managed to draw level after 34-holes. The American had chances to win on both of the final two holes but putts just missed for him as Hilton struggled for halves.
Playing their 37th hole (the par 4 1st), with both players having driven into the fairway, Hilton sliced his 3-wood approach. What happened next remains uncertain. The ball either hit the rocky outcrop to the right of the green (in those days surrounded by trees and rough) or benefitted from a kind bounce on the slope before it. Either way from looking dead off the club face it ended up in the middle of the green 20 feet from the hole. In shock Herreshoff – no doubt thinking he had one hand on the trophy just moments earlier – topped his own approach short and then proceeded to take three more to get down. Despite his experience Hilton nervously two-putted for par, in the end having to hole a 3 footer to secure the Havemeyer Trophy.
Herbert Warren Wind described the ‘rock shot’ many years later in his The Story of American Golf (1948) as “the most discussed single shot ever played in an American tournament.” He went on to explain why it had motivated the next generation of U.S. golfers so much: “Americans were not at all pleased over the idea that a foreigner had carried one of our championship cups out of the country, and that men who had never cared about golf before now wanted to know the real inside story.”
Hilton’s Rock on the 1st Hole of Apawamis CC in 2015 (Photos: Dave Donelson, Westchester Magazine)
In total Harold Hilton won four Amateur Championships:-
1900 – at Royal St. George’s GC v. James Robb SCO (8&7)
1901 – at St. Andrews v. John L. Low SCO (1 Up)
1911 – at Prestwick v. Edward Lassen ENG (4&3)
1913 – at St. Andrews v. Robert Harris SCO (6&5)
It was perhaps no coincidence that his success in the Amateur started in 1900, the first year that both Tait (who had been killed that February in the Second Boer War) and Ball (who was still serving in South Africa) were both absent.
Hilton also lost three Amateur Finals; in 1891 to John Laidlay (19th hole), 1892 to Johnny Ball (3&2) and 1896 to Freddie Tait (8&7).
He achieved an impressive Won 95, Lost 29 (76.6%) overall Amateur Championship record. Between 1887 and 1927, he appropriately started and finished at Royal Liverpool, he played more Championships (33) and matches (124) than anyone else has in history. World War I deprived him of 5 Amateurs between 1916-1919 too.
Harold Hilton also won the Open Championship in 1892 (Muirfield, 305 – 66 entrants) and 1897 (Royal Liverpool, 314 – 86 entrants). The 1892 Open was the first played over 72 holes.
Just Johnny Ball (the first to do so in 1890), Bobby Jones (1926, 1927 & 1930) and Hilton have achieved this feat as amateurs. All three were members of Royal Liverpool GC.
It is in some respects surprising that Hilton won both of his Opens before he had secured an Amateur Championship but he was a renowned stroke player. In total he played in 20 Open’s between 1891 and 1914.
It’s worth noting that Hilton also finished tied third in the 1911 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s with Sandy Herd, one shot behind Harry Vardon, who won the subsequent play-off, and Arnaud Massy. What a hat trick of wins that would have been !
Harold Hilton’s Medals at Royal Liverpool GC (Photo: GolfBible)
It is easy to forget that many equipment changes took place around the the turn of the century. Hilton dealt reasonably well with the transition, coping better than many of his peers with new clubs such as the Driver and the rubber-cored Haskell ball which replaced the old gutta-percha one. Interestingly of the seven Majors Hilton won the first four saw him use the more exacting gutty whilst the final three were with the easier rubber-core ball.
He also won the St. George’s Challenge Cup in 1893 and 1894, a major amateur competition back in the day.
He won the Irish Open Amateur Championship three years in a row and in some style too. In 1900 he beat S.H. Fry 11&9 at Newcastle, in 1901 P. Dowie 6&5 at Dollymount and in 1902 W.H. Hamilton 5&4 at Portrush.
In October 1910 Hilton (41) played Miss Cecil Leitch (19), a future women’s champion golfer, in a two day 72 hole exhibition match at Walton Heath and Sunningdale. Hilton had publically said he or for that matter any other first class male golfer could give 9 shots to an equivalent women over 18 holes. The Ladies’ Field magazine wanting to see if he could deliver on his word arranged the match and the publicity drew large crowds to the famous courses. Helped by the 18 shots she received Leitch ended up winning 2&1 but Hilton had largely made his point particularly as had been 2 Up after the first day’s play at Walton Heath.
Hilton’s last major win came in 1914 when he won the Golf Illustrated Gold Vase at Sunningdale with a 151 total. As one of the organisers of this event he paired himself with Francis Ouimet, the reigning U.S. Open champion, and proceeded to comprehensively out play him over the 36 holes.
Hilton’s swing was ungainly and notable for the fact he started by moving onto his toes before then very noticeably re-gripping the club at the point of transition. He almost always played whilst smoking too although it is said he limited himself to 50 cigarettes a day. However, like all the greats he practiced hard and honed his style. As he said himself “(I) served a long apprenticeship in the art of learning how to control the club in the upward swing.”
As Robert Harris, the runner-up in the 1913 Amateur, said: “His cap used to fall off his head at the end of full swings, as if jerked off, but this did not indicate if the swing was pure if unduly forceful. He was a small man with a powerful physique; it was exhilarating to watch his perky walk between shots. His assiduity was his greatness.”
Harold Hilton’s Swing (Photo: ingolfwetrust.com)
Hilton also spent a lot of time thinking about the mental side of the game. He believed it was “possible to develop the habit of concentration” and believed “that the majority of good match players are inclined to be very silent men” and tend to be those that play the game “without allowing any outside influence to affect them in any way whatever.”
Hilton was also a member of West Lancashire Golf Club and was this club’s first paid Secretary in the early 1900’s. He was also Secretary of Ashford Manor Golf Club later in his life.
In 1912 he played a leading role in designing the highly regarded Old Course at Ferndown Golf Club in Dorset. The 16th hole is still named ‘Hilton’s’ in memory of his involvement with the Club.
He turned his hand to writing about the sport as he came to the end of his playing career. As well as a frequent contributor he was the first editor of Golf Monthly magazine (from 1911) before taking on the same role at Golf Illustrated, then a weekly paper (from 1913).
He wrote three books My Golfing Reminiscences (1907), The Royal and Ancient Game of Golf (with Garden C. Smith, 1912) and Modern Golf (1913). The fact that he wrote his autobiography in 1907 is probably down to opportunity but also reveals that at 38 he probably thought his best playing days were behind him. It was in 1903 that he also started to suffer with rheumatism and sciatica. His confidence in his own game was such that he chose not to even enter The Open in 1906, 1907 (at Hoylake), 1908 or 1910. History of course shows how wrong he was to nearly retire from competitive golf.
‘Hoylake’ – the chain smoking Harold Hilton depicted by ‘Spy’ (Sir Leslie Ward)
Hilton died aged 73 on 5th May 1942 at his home in Westcote, near Stow on the Wold in Gloucestershire. He had a heart attack but had been suffering with Parkinson’s Disease for some time prior to this.
Harold Hilton was admitted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the game.
In 1992 John L.B. Garcia wrote Harold Hilton His Golfing Life and Times. It was published in a limited edition of 750 copies by Grant Books.
Royal Liverpool Golf Club inaugurated the Harold Hilton Medal for amateur golfers over the age of 30 in 1997 to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of their member’s famous home Open Championship victory. It is played in early June annually.
The Harold Hilton Medal (Photo: Royal Liverpool Golf Club)
Whilst small in stature, he was just 5 foot 6 inches tall, Harold Hilton is unquestionably one of the giants in the history of British golf.
It is amazing that Royal Liverpool produced first Johnny Ball and then just a short while afterwards Harold Hilton, two of the leading players of the time and looking back a 100 years later two of the biggest names in the history of amateur golf.
The Second Stage QSchool Results can be found at the bottom of this article.
The Second Stage of the European Tour’s Qualifying School started on Friday 3rd November at four venues in Spain.
The 72 hole competitions were all to be played over four days with no cut. However, following strong winds Sunday’s Round 3 at the Panoramica course was postponed. This Qualifier therefore finished on Tuesday, a day later than the others.
The fields included the 176 players that qualified from the eight First Stage events.
For a recap on the First Stage competitions and specifically on the progress of the Great British and Irish (GB&I) amateurs and new professionals please read my earlier article – European Tour Q-School – 2017 First Stage Preview & Results
The qualifiers were joined by those players who were exempt from First Stage due to their performances on the 2017 European Tour, Challenge Tour and other feeder / satellite tours.
Exemptions were also given to the leading 5 entrants as at 23rd August 2017 to a limit of 15th place in the World Amateur Golf Ranking provided that they had applied to enter the First Stage by this date. In 2017 this rule benefited Scott GREGORY (ENG), Connor SYME (SCO) and Robert MACINTYRE (SCO) [all of whom qualified this week for Final Stage].
86 players progressed to the Final Stage of Qualifying School. The Panoramica site was originally scheduled to have 21 qualifiers but for unknown reasons 22 players were allowed through. With the final round delayed perhaps time ran out for the ‘3 for 4’ play off that should have taken place ? Sudden death play-offs were required and used at the three other Second Stage qualifying sites where play concluded on Monday.
This year the Final Stage competition is being played at Lumine Golf Club in Tarragona, Spain between the 11th and 16th November. The Lakes and Hills courses will both be used.
This should be beneficial to the less experienced players who make the latter stage as this represents a new venue for the six round marathon, albeit the Lakes has hosted one of the Second Stage events for some time. You will recall that prior to 2017 PGA Catalunya Resort had been used for Final Stage for many years.
The leading 25 players (and ties) from the 156 that will contest Final Stage will be eligible for Category 17 membership of the European Tour and Category 5 membership of the Challenge Tour for the 2017/18 season. The leading 70 players (and ties) who make the 72-hole cut will obtain Category 22 membership of the European Tour and Category 9 membership of the Challenge Tour. Those who miss the cut receive Category 15 membership of the Challenge Tour.
Here are the links to the European Tour’s Q-School Second Stage results webpages as well as my summaries of which GB&I players have and have not qualified this week: –
There were 76 entries at Desert Springs with 21 from GB&I (26%).
QUALIFIED – 22 players at -8 or better, including
Matthew BALDWIN (ENG) 1st (-17) Scott GREGORY (ENG) T4 (-12) Max ORRIN (ENG) T4 (-12) Cormac SHARVIN (N.I.) T7 (-11) Chris LLOYD (ENG) T10 (-10) Robert MACINTYRE (SCO) T13 (-9) Scott HENRY (SCO) T13 (-9) Sam HORSFIELD (ENG) T18 (-8) – via a 5 from 6 play off.
DID NOT QUALIFY (selected)
Jonathan CALDWELL (N.I.) T24 (-7) Daniel YOUNG (SCO) T24 (-7) James ALLAN (ENG) T37 (-4) Liam JOHNSTON (SCO) T37 (-4) Jamie CLARE (ENG) T51 (Ev) Joey LAMB (ENG) WD (+8 after 36 holes)
2. Campo de Golf El Saler, Valencia – 7,052 yards, Par 72
There were 74 entries at El Saler with 25 from GB&I (34%).
QUALIFIED – 21 players at +1 or better, including
Ewen FERGUSON (SCO) T2 (-10) Laurie CANTER (ENG) T2 (-10) Dan BROWN (ENG) 5th (-5) Ross KELLETT (SCO) T6 (-3) Stuart MANLEY (WAL) T6 (-3) Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) T8 (-2) Rhys ENOCH (WAL) T10 (-1) Steven TILEY (ENG) T10 (-1) Dermot MCELROY (N.I.) T13 (Ev) Jonathan THOMSON (ENG) T17 (+1) – via a 5 from 6 play off.
DID NOT QUALIFY (selected)
Jack SINGH BRAR (ENG) T23 (+2) Jamie DICK (ENG) T57 (+13) Craig ROSS (SCO) 62nd (+15)
3. Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, Alicante – 6,974 yards, Par 71
There were 73 entries at Las Colinas with 23 from GB&I (32%).
QUALIFIED – 21 players at -3 or better, including
David LAW (SCO) T3 (-15) Toby TREE (ENG) 5th (-14) Paul MADDY (ENG) T6 (-13) Marcus ARMITAGE (ENG) 9th (-10) Connor SYME (SCO) T10 (-9) Chris DOAK (SCO) 13th (-7) John PARRY (ENG) T14 (-6)
DID NOT QUALIFY (selected)
David BOOTE (WAL) T20 (-3) – via 2 from 10 play off. Colin FAIRWEATHER (N.I.) T30 (-2) Josh HILLEARDAM (ENG) T46 (+3) JR GALBRAITH (IRE) 60th (+11) Jack DAVIDSON (WAL) WD (+5 after 3 rounds) Alfie PLANT (ENG) WD (+7 after 3 rounds)
4. Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort, Castellón – 7,030 yards, Par 72
There were 74 entries at Panoramica with 26 from GB&I (35%).
QUALIFIED – 22 Players on -7 or better, including
Mark FOSTER (ENG) T4 (-13) Ruaidhri MCGEE (IRE) T6 (-12) Robert DINWIDDIE (ENG) 8th (-11) Joe DEAN (ENG) T17 (-8) Sam HUTSBY (ENG) T19 (-7)
DID NOT QUALIFY (selected)
Henry SMART (ENG) T23 (-6) Gary HURLEY (IRE) T23 (-6) Jordan WRISDALE (ENG) T23 (-6) Nick MARSH (ENG) T39 (-3) Henry SHERIDAN-MILLS (ENG) T47 (Ev) Craig HOWIEAM (SCO) T47 (Ev) Jack MCDONALD (SCO) T52 (+1)
So 30 GB&I players, representing 31.5% of the 95 that entered Second Stage, have made it through to Final Stage. Of course more GB&I players, those with stronger exemptions, will now enter the fray which starts again this coming Saturday.
Sadly the two remaining GB&I amateurs in the field, Josh HILLEARD (ENG) and Craig HOWIE (SCO) both missed out.
The First Stage QSchool Results can be found at the bottom of this article.
The 2017 European Tour Qualifying School started on Tuesday 12th September.
A new Far East First Stage Qualifying competition had been scheduled to be played at Saujana G&CC in Malaysia on 5th September. However, the Tour cancelled this on 23rd August due to a lack of interest.
The First Qualifying Stage consisted of eight separate 72-hole events which were split into four Sections, A, B, C and D. The final Section D events of the series came to a conclusion on 6th October.
There were 54-hole cuts at each of these Qualifiers. Only those players who were within 7 shots of the final allocated qualifying place at this point played the final rounds.
2017 saw a record First Stage entry with a total of 838 competitors signing up. 45 countries were represented with England contributing the most with 211 players.
The leading five Q-School entrants as at 23rd August 2017, up to a limit of 15th place, in the World Amateur Golf Rankings were exempted into the Second Stage. This year Scott GREGORY (ENG), Connor SYME (SCO) and Robert MACINTYRE (SCO) were therefore not required to contest the First Stage.
The European Tour Q-School entrance fee is €1,800. Each First Stage Qualifier has a prize fund of €5,000 with the winner being allocated €1,800.
At the end of the series 176 players were allocated places in Second Stage. That’s 21% of the entries received.
The Second Qualifying Stage consists of four separate 72-hole events that will be played concurrently in Spain on 3rd-6th November 2017.
The Final Qualifying Stage consists of 108 holes at Lumine GC which has taken over from PGA Catalunya Resort this year. This competition will be played on 11th-16th November 2017.
As in previous years I am following the Q-School series, specifically focussing on the amateur and recently turned pro entries from Great Britain & Ireland.
Check out all the First Stage results below: –
FIRST QUALIFYING STAGE RESULTS
SECTION D – BOGOGNO GOLF CLUB, ITALY (3-6 October)
QUALIFIED (24 players at -7 or better)
No GB&I AM / new PRO qualifiers
DID NOT QUALIFY
Richard MANSELL (ENG) T25 (-6) Seb CROOKALL-NIXON (ENG) T83 MC Owen EDWARDS (WAL) T96 MC
SECTION D – FRILFORD HEATH GC, ENGLAND (3-6 October)
QUALIFIED (20 players at -2 or better)
Joe DEAN (ENG) 3rd (-7) Colin FAIRWEATHER (NI) T5 (-4) David BOOTE (WAL) T10 (-3) Sam HORSFIELD (ENG) T10 (-3) Dermot MCELROY (IRE) T10 (-3) Jonathan THOMSON (ENG) T19 (-2) Henry SHERIDAN-MILLS (ENG) T19 (-2)
DID NOT QUALIFY
Kyle MCCLATCHIE (RSA) AM T21 (-1) Conor O’ROURKE (IRE) T21 (-1) Paul KINNEAR (ENG) T24 (Ev) Adam CHAPMAN (ENG) T29 (+1) Alex STUBBS (ENG) AM T29 (+1) Billy SPOONER (ENG) T37 (+3) Craig LAWRIE (SCO) T42 (+4) Harrison ENDYCOTT (AUS) AM T42 (+4) Travis SMYTH (AUS) AM T49 (+5) Dan BROWN (ENG) AM T58 (+7) Tomasz ANDERSON (ENG) T65 MC Cameron MORALEE (RSA) AM T65 MC Stuart GREHAN (IRE) T65 MC Luke TURBETT AM T71 MC Patrick RUFF (ENG) T73 MC Ben AMOR (ENG) T79 MC Freddie SHERIDAN-MILLS (ENG) T92 MC Kevin LE BLANC (IRE) 97th MC
SECTION B – STOKE BY NAYLAND GOLF & SPA, ENGLAND (19-22 September)
QUALIFIED (20 players at -3 or better)
Dan BROWN (Yorkshire, ENG) 5th (-7) Josh HILLEARD (ENG) AM T6 (-6)
DID NOT QUALIFY
Ashton TURNER (ENG) T21 (-2) Will ENEFER (ENG) T33 (+1) James WALKER (ENG) AM T33 (+1) Evan GRIFFITH (WAL) T43 (+3) Jay BEISSER (ENG) AM T45 (+4) Oliver CLARKE (ENG) T49 (+5) Tom GANDY (IOM) T52 (+6) Jack YULE (ENG) AM T60 (+10) Lewis PEARCE (ENG) AM T72 MC Jordan FORSTER (ENG) AM T84 MC Delon HAU (ENG) AM T94 MC
SECTION A – ROXBURGHE HOTEL & GC, SCOTLAND (12-15 September)
QUALIFIED (22 players at -5 or better)
Liam JOHNSTON (SCO) AM T4 (-9) Craig HOWIE (SCO) AM T8 (-7) Jamie CLARE (ENG) AM T8 (-7) JR GALBRAITH (IRE) AM T11 (-6)
DID NOT QUALIFY
Will WHITEOAK (ENG) T27 (-3) Sean TOWNDROW (ENG) T47 (+2) George BLOOR (ENG) AM T76 MC Tom DOLAN (ENG) AM T76 MC Chris MACLEAN (SCO) AM T82 MC Bradley MOORE (ENG) T100 MC Marco PENGE (ENG) RETIRED AFTER RD 1 MC
Doc REDMAN came back from 2 Down with two holes to play to beat Doug GHIM in the 36 hole U.S. Amateur Final at Riviera Country Club.
Redman eagled the 17th and birdied the 18th to force extra holes. Ghim, presumably in shock, then made a mess of the tricky short par 4 10th, the 37th hole played, and having made a bogey conceded Redman his birdie putt and the Championship.
Doc Redman, 2017 U.S. Amateur Champion (Photo: USGA)
Doug GHIM (21) will play Doc REDMAN (19) for the Havemeyer Trophy in today’s 36 hole U.S. Amateur Final at Riviera Country Club. The Final will tee off at 7.45am (3.45pm GMT).
The champion will also receive a Gold Medal, whilst the runner-up a Silver one.
Both finalists are now exempt in to the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills G.C. The champion will also be exempt in to the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links and can expect an invitation to play in the 2018 Masters at Augusta National G.C.
Finalists Doug Ghim (l) and Doc Redman (r) with the U.S. Open Trophy (Photo: USGA)
Both players are US College students; Ghim plays for the University of Texas and Redman for Clemson University.
Doug Ghim is ranked 1st in the SPWAR (updated as at 19/08/17) and 7th in the WAGR (as at 13/08/17). Ghim has enjoyed a very strong season and was already a very likely Walker cup pick for the U.S.A.
Doc Redman is ranked 7th in the SPWAR (as at 19/08/17) and 70th in the WAGR (as at 13/08/17). Redman has come on strong in the last few weeks. He was runner up in the Final of the Western Amateur a couple of weeks ago and has now backed it up with a great run at the U.S. Amateur. He must therefore be right in the Walker Cup picture too.
Sophia Schubert, who won the U.S. Women’s Amateur last week also studies at Texas. Whilst I am sure Doug Ghim won’t be thinking too much about it never in the history of the USGA have their reigning men’s and women’s amateur champions attended the same College.
ME.
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Saturday 19th August 2017
Semi-Finals (4)
Doug GHIM (USA) beat Theo HUMPHREY (USA) 2&1
Mark LAWRENCE Jr (USA) lost by 1 hole to Doc REDMAN (USA)
ME.
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Friday 18th August 2017
Quarter Finals (8)
In a game where neither player was at their best Connor SYME eventually lost 2&1 to Doug GHIM (USA) in the Quarter Final match.
Connor was 5-over par for the 17 holes played, albeit a double bogey on the 16th hole makes this appear worse than it really was. A single birdie on the 8th only produced a half for the Scotsman and against an in form and confident Ghim this was unlikely to be enough.
In his post round interview with the USGA Connor said “I just didn’t quite have my best stuff today. I was grinding away as much as I could. It was a good Championship but I’m obviously disappointed to lose today.”
Nevertheless a great week for Connor and he can now positively look forward to the Walker Cup down the road at Los Angeles Country Club.
Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)
Match Play Quarter Finals Qualifying Hole Locations (Photo: U.S.G.A.)
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Thursday 17th August 2017
PM – Match Play Round 3 (16)
Connor SYME beat Norway’s Kristoffer VENTURA by 1 hole in their Round of 16 match.
In the previous round Ventura beat Stroke Play medalist Hayden WOOD (USA) 3&2.
In a tight match it took a forty yard chip in on the 18th hole for Connor to come out on top.
Connor SYME beat Ricky CASTILLO (USA) 4&3 in a very impressive performance. Teeing off at 7.25am Connor wasted little time in taking the lead, birdieing the 493 yard 1st. A sequence of birdies on holes 6, 7 and 8 put the Scotsman 4 Up and cruising. The match finished on the 15th with Connor -4 for the holes played and bogey free. Let’s hope he can maintain that kind of form for a little while longer.
Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)
Robert MACINTYRE lost 3&1 to Dawson ARMSTRONG (USA) in their Round of 32 match. Robert made a great start – two birdies helping him into a 3Up lead after four holes. However, Armstrong, one of USA’s strongest players, won the 5th with a birdie before winning five holes in a row between the 7th and 11th to lead 3Up. Unfortunately he didn’t have to work too hard for this match turning run as MacIntyre bogeyed four of the five. The end of the line for Robert but he can take comfort in a good Championship which must surely have secured his GB&I Walker Cup place.
Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)
Match Play Round 2 (32) & Round 3 (16) Qualifying Hole Locations (Photo: U.S.G.A.)
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Wednesday 16th August 2017 – Match Play Round 1 (64)
The day started badly for GB&I with Harry ELLIS losing out in the play-off on the famous short par 4 10th hole at Riviera Country Club. His double bogey 6 in the second group out sadly saw him fall out of contention quickly.
Some better news was to come when the Round of 64 started in earnest.
Connor SYME beat Maverick MCNEALY (USA) 2&1. Connor won his match around the turn, winning the 9th with a par, the 10th with a conceded eagle 2 and the 11th with a birdie 4. 3Up at this point he was able to see out the match, albeit bogeys on 13 and 14 gave McNealy some hope. However, the American then proceeded to bogey the short 160 yard 16th and after shared birdies on the par 5 17th the match was over. Connor finished 2-under for the 17 holes played.
Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)
Fellow Scot Robert MACINTYRE then beat Cameron YOUNG (USA) by 1 hole. In what appears to have been a high class game our man from Oban had to be at his match play best to overcome Young who battled all the way to the finish line. Robert finished 2-under for the 18 holes played.
Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)
In the final GB&I match to finish Jack SINGH BRAR lost by 3 & 1 to Joey VRZICH (USA). As can be seen from the scores below Jack had a bad day at the office, starting very poorly and not really improve. He finished 7-over par for the 17 holes played. Worryingly in the context of the forthcoming Walker Cup this is the second time in three weeks, following the English Amateur, that Jack has qualified easily in stroke play before falling to a relatively unknown player in the first round of match play.
Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)
Here are the hole locations for the Round of 64 Match Play at Riviera Country Club: –
Match Play Round 1 (64) Qualifying Hole Locations (Photo: U.S.G.A.)
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Tuesday 15th August 2017 – Stroke Play Round 2
Jack SINGH BRAR, Robert MACINTYRE and Connor SYME have all qualified for the Match Play Stage of the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Harry ELLIS will contest a 13 player for 8 spots play-off tomorrow morning to see if he can join them.
Here are the Round 2 GB&I scores from the U.S. Amateur Championship which started today.
GB&I Round 2 Scores (Photo: USGA US Amateur Scoring)
The Stroke Play Medalist was Hayden Wood who broke the U.S. Amateur Championship 36-hole qualifying record with a total of 131. Wood followed his 64 at Riviera with a 67 at Bel-Air to beat the 132 shot by Hank Kim (1994), Gregor Main (2011) and Bobby Wyatt (2012).
Wood said. “To play that way these last two days has been good. I like where my game is. I feel comfortable on this course (Riviera) and it fits my game. I am looking forward to it because the tournament starts tomorrow.”
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Monday 14th August 2017 – Stroke Play Round 1
Here are the Round 1 GB&I scores from the U.S. Amateur Championship which started today.
GB&I Round 1 Scores (Photo: USGA US Amateur Scoring)
Here are the hole locations for the 36 hole Stroke Play Qualifying at Riviera Country Club and Bel-Air Country Club: –
Stroke Play Qualifying Hole Locations (Photo: U.S.G.A.)
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Sunday 13th August 2017
The 117th U.S. Amateur Championship starts tomorrow in Los Angeles, California.
This year the championship is being staged at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades and Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles.Administered by the United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious competition in the amateur golf calendar.
Competition Format
On Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th August all of the contestants will play 36-holes of stroke play, one at Riviera and the other at Bel-Air.
The Top 64 qualifiers will then move forward to the match play stage of the competition. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.
18 hole match play rounds will then be played between Wednesday 16th and Saturday 19th, culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final on Sunday 20th August. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.
2017 Field
A field of 312 players from 29 different countries will contest this year’s Championship.
251 players are from the U.S.A. with Australia (11) and Canada (7) the next best represented countries.
This year 100 (2015: 99) 36 hole Sectional Qualifying events were held in July across the USA, with one each in Canada and Mexico too.
The introduction of a European Sectional Qualifier, like the U.S.G.A. stage for the U.S. Open Championship, is long overdue. Perhaps it could be rolled into the South of England Open Amateur Championship ? Walton Heath have staged the U.S. Open one for many years so I am sure they would be pleased to extend their relationship with the U.S.G.A. further.
This year’s average competitor age is 22.39 (2016: 22.29).
The oldest player being George ZAHRINGER (64, b. 23rd April 1953), who successfully came through Sectional Qualifying and will be playing in his 19th U.S. Amateur.
The youngest Alec NACHMANN (15, b. 27th March 2002) will be one of three 15 year olds competing. One of them Karl VILIPS (AUS), who is certainly one to watch, turns 16 on 16th August.
There are nine GB&I players competing this year. There were 11 in 2016 at Oakland Hills.
Here is a list of them with their exemption category or sectional qualifying event noted: –
David BOOTE 22 (WAL) – QF 2016 U.S. Amateur, Top 50 WAGR 21/6/17
Harry ELLIS 21 (ENG) – 2017 Amateur Champion
Scott GREGORY 22 (ENG) – 2016 Amateur Champion, 2017 U.S. Open Qualifier, Top WAGR 21/6/17
Stuart GREHAN 24 (IRE) – Top 50 WAGR 21/6/17
Robert MACINTYRE 21 (SCO) – WAGR 21/6/17
Alfie PLANT 25 (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR 21/6/17
Jack SINGH BRAR 20 (ENG) – Qualifier at New City, New York (07/07/17)
Daniel SUTTON 21 (ENG) – Qualifier at Iowa City, Iowa (17/07/17)
Connor SYME 21 (SCO) – Top 50 WAGR 21/6/17
2017 Stroke Play Qualifying Draw
The draw for the 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifying competition was confirmed yesterday and can be viewed here – U.S. Amateur SP Draw
Interestingly the two Scots in the field, Robert MACINTYRE and Connor SYME, have been drawn together.
Host Courses
Riviera Country Club
7,284 yards, Par 70.
Opened 1927.
Designed by George C. Thomas and William P. Bell.
Riviera has hosted one U.S. Open (1948 Ben Hogan), two P.G.A. Championships (1983 Hal Sutton & 1995 Steve Elkington) and one U.S. Senior Open (1998 Hale Irwin) as well as serving as the perennial host of the US PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open.
Bel-Air Country Club
6,785 yards, Par 70.
Opened 1926
Designed by George C. Thomas and William P. Bell, assisted by Jack Neville.
Bel-Air has previously hosted the U.S. Amateur (1976 Bill Sander) and 2004 U.S. Senior Amateur (2004 Mark Bemowski).
Weather Forecast (as at 7.00pm 13th August 2017)
Stroke Play Stage
Mon 14th Aug – Sunny. Wind 8mph (N). Temp. Max. 26°C / Min 18°C.
Tues 15th Aug – Sunny. Wind 8mph (N). Temp. Max. 23°C / Min 17°C.
Match Play Stage
Weds 16th Aug – Sunny. Wind 7mph (N). Temp. Max. 25°C / Min 15°C.
Thurs 17th Aug – Sunny. Wind 7mph NW). Temp. Max. 27°C / Min 15°C.
Fri 18th August – Sunny. Wind 7mph (W). Temp. Max. 28°C / Min 16°C.
Sat 19th August – Sunny. Wind 7mph (NW). Temp. Max. 27°C / Min 17°C.
Sun 20th August – Sunny. Wind 7mph (NW). Temp. Max. 26°C / Min 17°C.
As one would expect in California in August the weather is expected to be perfect for golf all week.
UK Television Coverage
Sky Sports normally take the US television feed, via the Red Button, over the final weekend.
Prizes
The 2017 U.S. Amateur Champion will receive the following (assuming they remain amateur): –
a) A Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the ensuing year.
b) An exemption to play in the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills G.C.
c) An exemption to play in the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links.
d) An invitation to play in the 2018 Masters at Augusta National G.C.
e) An exemption to play in the 2018 – 2027 U.S. Amateurs; and no doubt
f) Invitations to play in a variety of PGA Tour and European Tour competitions.
A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists.
The original silver Havemeyer Trophy was presented to the U.S.G.A. on March 1895 in honour of the Association’s first President Theodore A. Havemeyer. This was lost in a fire at Bobby Jones’ home club, East Lake, in 1925.
A new gold trophy was produced in 1926. This was retired in 1992 with a copy of the trophy being produced and passed from champion to champion ever since.
Sadly the original gold trophy was stolen from the USGA Museum in 2012 and has never been seen since.
The 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship
The 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship was played at Oakland Hills Country Club near Detroit.
Curtis LUCK (AUS) won beating Brad DALKE (USA) 6&4 in the 36-hole Championship match.
Curtis Luck (Photo: U.S.G.A.)
Alex SMALLEY (USA) earned medalist honours in the Stroke Play Qualifying. His 133 (-7) total came after two impressive rounds; a 65 on the North Course (NC), followed on Day 2 by a 68 on the tougher South Course (SC).
In the Stroke Play 56 players scored +1 or better to progress. A further 23 players finished with a +2 total and were required to participate in a sudden death play-off to determine the final 8 qualifiers.
Collectively Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) enjoyed a relatively successful Championship. Six of our players progressed to the Match Play Stage including one from each of the four home nations.
Here is a summary of the GB&I performances (in order of success): –
David BOOTE (WAL)
MP – Brad DALKE (USA) won 3&2 in the Quarter Finals.
SP – Tied 57th, SC 70 / NC 72 (+2)*
Sam HORSFIELD (ENG)
MP – Dylan MEYER (USA) won 19th hole in Round of 16.
SP – Tied 11th, NC 66 / SC 72 (-2)
Scott GREGORY (ENG)
MP – Nick CARLSON (USA) won 19th hole in Round of 32.
SP – Tied 6th, NC 69 / SC 68 (-3)
Connor SYME (SCO)
MP – Dylan MEYER (USA) won 2Up in Round of 64.
SP – Tied 30th, SC 70 / NC 70 (Ev)
Bradley MOORE (ENG)
MP – Dawson ARMSTRONG (USA) won 1Up in Round of 64.
SP – Tied 57th, NC 71 / SC 71 (+2)*
Jack HUME (IRE)
MP – Bryson NIMMER (USA) won 1Up in Round of 64.
SP – Tied 41st, SC 72 / NC 69 (+1)
Jack SINGH BRAR (ENG)
MP – Did Not Qualify
SP – Tied 80th, SC 71, NC 72 (+3)
Ewen FERGUSON (SCO)
MP – Did Not Qualify
SP – Tied 80th, NC 72, SC 71 (+3)
Robert MACINTYRE (SCO)
MP – Did Not Qualify
SP – Tied 99th, NC 68, SC 76 (+4)
Grant FORREST 23 (SCO)
MP – Did Not Qualify
SP – Tied185th, NC 73, SC 75 (+9)
Jamie BOWER (ENG)
MP – Did Not Qualify
SP – Tied 243rd, SC 74, NC 77 (+11)
* David BOOTE and Bradley MOORE both birdied the 11th in the Stroke Play Qualifying play-off to progress to the match play stage, holing putts of 20 and 45 yards respectively on the 465 yard par 4.
The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and this will be its 117th playing.
It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.
It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.
Former US winners include Walter Travis (1900-01-03), Jerome Travers (1907-08-12-13), Bobby Jones (1924-25-27-28-30), Francis Ouimet (1914-31), W. Lawson Little (1934-35) Arnold Palmer (1954), Jack Nicklaus (1959-61), Deane Beman (1960-63), Lanny Wadkins (1970), Craig Stadler (1973), Mark O’Meara (1979), Hal Sutton (1980), Phil Mickelson (1990), Justin Leonard (1992), Tiger Woods (1994-95-96), Matt Kucher (1997), Ryan Moore (2004), Peter Uihlein (2010) and Bryson DeChambeau (2015).
British players have won the Championship on six occasions but just twice in the last 100 years – H.J. Whigham (1896-97), Findlay Douglas (1898), Harold Hilton (1911), Richie Ramsay (2006) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013).
Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: U.S.G.A.)
Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) is the only player from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.
Future U.S. Amateur Venues
2018 – Pebble Beach Golf Links, California.
2019 – Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, North Carolina.
Jake Burnage (Photo: GolfBible)
Golf Bible 