The Lytham Trophy – 2025 Preview & Results

Sunday 4th May 2025

Hugo LE GOFF, the highest ranked WAGR player in the field at #93, won the 59th Lytham Trophy becoming the first Frenchman to achieve this honour.

Le Goff also won this year’s Spanish International Amateur Championship at the start of March. He will be moving to the USA in the summer having earned a golf scholarship at the University of Virginia.

Disappointingly the event only generated a WAGR Power Rating of 409.3219, the lowest ever recorded for the Lytham Trophy.

Hugo Le Goff (Royal Lytham G.C.)

Round 4

France’s Hugo LE GOFF produced a superb final round 66, which included six birdies, to come through the field and win the 2025 Lytham Trophy.

Hugo Le Goff’s Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Genius / Royal Lytham G.C.)

Le Goff’s 285 (+5) total was one better than 2nd placed Tom OSBORNE (ENG) who matched the winner’s 33 on the back nine to deliver a well timed 69 of his own.

Max HOPKINS (ENG) finished 3rd, recent Battle Trophy winner Andrew DAVIDSON (SCO) 4th, Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) 5th and Matt ROBERTS (WAL) 6th after they all finished on 288 (+8) and their places had to determined on last 18 and 9 hole count backs.

Gregor TAIT (SCO) +11 8th, Oliver CATON (ENG) +11 9th, Jamie VAN WYK (ENG) +12 11th, Eliot BAKER (ENG) +12 12th and David KITT (IRL) +14 14th were the other GB&I players to finish in the top 15 at Royal Lytham.

The other 54 hole co-leader Michele FERRERO (ITA) will be disappointed with his final round 78 which saw him having to settle for 10th place. 

The average Round 4 score was 75.91 (Rd 3: 75.12). Le Goff and Osborne delivered the only under par rounds whilst two other players, Luke O’NEILL (IRL) and Henry FEATHERSTONE (ENG), shot even par 70s on the final circuit.

Final Results – Leaders (Graphic: Golf Genius / Royal Lytham G.C.)

Click here to view the – 2025 Lytham Trophy Results

Round 3

After rounds of 74 and 76 respectively Matt ROBERTS (WAL) and Michele FERRERO (ITA) fell back to +3, sharing the 54 hole lead at the Lytham Trophy.

Eliot BAKER (ENG) and Oliver CATON (ENG) on +5 and Andrew DAVIDSON (SCO), Max HOPKINS (ENG) and Luke KELLY +6 are all within striking distance.

The average Round 3 score by the reduced field of 43 players was 75.12. As in Round 2 there were no under par scores. Just two competitors managing to deliver an even par 70 on Sunday morning.

Round 3 Leaders (Graphic: Golf Genius / Royal Lytham G.C.)

ME.

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Saturday 3rd May 2025

Round 2

Despite starting his second round with a double bogey five and also finishing with a bogey on 18 Michele FERRERO (ITA) managed to negotiate Royal Lytham in a very creditable even par 70 to take a 2 shot lead into the final day.

Michele Ferrero’s Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Genius / Royal Lytham G.C.)

Matt ROBERTS (WAL) and Oliver CATON (ENG) are the Italian’s nearest challengers on 139 (-1). Roberts shot a 72 and Caton a 71 to stay in touch with the leader. They were both 3-over after just four holes of their second rounds so fought back well to stay in contention.

On a tough scoring day only these three players remained under par for the tournament after 36 holes. 

Gregor TAIT (SCO) +1, Luke KELLY (ENG) +2 and Max HOPKINS (ENG), Daniel HAYES (ENG), Eliot BAKER (ENG) & Jackson GARNETT (ENG) +3 will all know that a good final day could still take them to the title.

44 players made the cut which fell at 148 (+8) albeit one of these, Judd SUNDELSON (RSA), withdrew from the competition after his second round.

The average Round 2 score was 77.26 which was over 2 shots worse than that seen in Round 1 (75.03). No under par scores were achieved on the day with just three players producing an even par 70.

Round 2 Leaders (Graphic: Golf Genius / Royal Lytham G.C.)

ME.

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Friday 2nd May 2025

Round 1

Jackson GARNETT (ENG) leads the 59th Lytham Trophy after an opening 66 (-4). Jackson’s round contained five birdies including one on the 1st and one on the last.

Jackson Garnett’s Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Genius / Royal Lytham G.C.)

Matt ROBERTS (WAL), who finished 4th last year, sits alongside Italian Michele FERRERO in tied 2nd after they both recorded 67’s. Roberts recorded one of 11 eagles in Round 1 ; his coming on the short par 4 13th.

Daniel HAYES (ENG), who enjoyed a top 10 finish in 2024, Oliver CATON (ENG) and Gregor TAIT (SCO) are one shot further back in tied 4th place.

16 players out of the 144 starters finished on even par or better. The average Round 1 score was 75.03. 

There were two holes-in-one on Day 1; David KITT (IRL) on the 163 yard 9th and Charlie ROBB (ENG) on the 196 yard 12th. 

 

Round 1 Leaders (Graphic: Golf Genius / Royal Lytham G.C.)

ME.

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30th April 2025

The 2025 Lytham Trophy will be played between 2nd and 4th May at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England.

Traditionally viewed as the first major event in the Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) men’s amateur golf season it is always a privilege for the players to compete on this superb links course.

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Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C. (Photo: Golf Bible)

Format and Tee Times

144 scratch golfers from across Europe will tee off in what will be the 59th playing of this prestigious competition.

The Lytham Trophy is a 72-hole stroke play event. 18 holes are played on the first two days before a top 40 and ties cut is made. 36-holes are then played on the final day by the leading competitors.

In the event of a tie for the lowest score there will be a 3-hole stroke play play-off on holes 1, 2 and 18. If a winner still hasn’t been determined then the play-off moves to sudden death over the same holes.

Click here to view the – 2025 Lytham Trophy Tee Times (use filter for each round)

Players

Most of GB&I’s leading home-based amateurs are competing. However, due to the popularity of U.S. college golf, where the playing season ends in late May, many notable names will unfortunately be missing.

In 2024 the WAGR Event Power Number for this event was 579.9235. It was 661.0000 in 2022 and 566.2711 in 2023.

Nine players in the field are ranked in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) Top 250 with 19 in the Top 500.

Here are the 15 highest ranked competitors based on the current WAGR rankings (30/04/25 release): –

Hugo LE GOFF (FRA) #93
Pablo ALPERI LOPEZ (ESP) #126
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) #168
Tomi BOWEN (WAL) #180
Harley SMITH (ENG) #192
Michele FERRERO (ITA) #215
Magnus BECKER FREDERIKSEN (DEN) #224
Oscar COUILLEAU (FRA) #228
Simon HOVDAL (SWE) #236
Tom OSBORNE (ENG) #291
Eliot BAKER (ENG) #300
Daniel HAYES (ENG) #303
Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL) #349
Jarno TOLLENAIRE (BEL) #380
Matt ROBERTS (WAL) #400

Lytham Trophies

The Lytham Trophy and the Winner’s Replica (Photo: Royal Lytham & St. Annes G.C.)

Course

The Royal Lytham course presents a stern test. Playing off the blue championship tees competitors have to meet a 7,091 yard par 70 challenge; the front nine being 3,427 yards, a par 34, and the back nine being 3,664 yards, a par 36.

Players will tee off between 7.10am and 3.30pm on the Friday and Saturday so changes in the weather and wind speeds throughout the first two days can play a big part in scoring.

Weather Forecast (as at Wednesday 30th April)

The weather forecast for this year’s event looks excellent.

Friday 2nd May – Sunny / Wind 15 mph NW / Temp. Min. 6°C, Max. 15°C.
Saturday 3rd May – Sunny / Wind 14 mph N / Temp. Min. 6°C, Max. 17°C.
Sunday 4th May – Sunny Intervals / Wind 15 mph NE / Temp. Min. 4°C, Max. 14°C.

The 2024 Lytham Trophy

Will HOPKINS (ENG) won the 58th Lytham Trophy after a three hole play-off with Tomi BOWEN (WAL) and James ASHFIELD (WAL). All three players finished the regulation 72 holes on 279 (-1).

Matt ROBERTS (Ev) made it three Welshmen in the top 4 with a strong performance on the final day. Ukraine’s Lev GRINBERG finished tied 5th alongside South Africa’s Daniel BENNETT and Lytham member Jamie VAN WYK (all on +1). England Internationals Daniel HAYES (+2) and Ben BOLTON (+3) finished in the top 10.

Click here to view the – 2024 Lytham Trophy Final Results

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Will Hopkins (Photo: Royal Lytham G.C.)

History, Past Winners and Records

The competition was first played in 1965 after the Club identified a need for a new top class amateur competition and one that could be played in the North of England.

A date on the first weekend in May was established and a 72 hole stroke play format adopted.

Member’s subscribed to purchase the unique sputnik trophy. This remains at Royal Lytham with a smaller replica handed out annually to the winner.

The event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

As one would expect the list of past winner’s is a who’s who of GB&I amateur golf.

Of the older winners the most notable are: –

Michael BONALLACK – 1965 (s), 1972
Rodney FOSTER – 1967, 1968
Geoffrey MARKS – 1970 (s)
Charles GREEN – 1970 (s), 1974
Michael KING – 1973
George MACGREGOR – 1975
Peter MCEVOY – 1978
Ian HUTCHEON – 1980
Roger CHAPMAN – 1981
John HAWKSWORTH – 1984
Paul BROADHURST – 1988
Gary EVANS – 1990, 1991
Stephen GALLACHER – 1995
Graham RANKIN – 1997
Stuart WILSON – 2003
(s) = shared

In 2004 21 year old James HEATH won with a record score of 266 (-18), recording rounds of 67, 68, 66, and 65. Garth McGimpsey, the then Walker Cup captain, described Heath’s performance as ‘the best amateur golf I’ve ever seen’.

No one else has ever come close to this low scoring mark. The next best scores being Matthew JORDAN‘s 272 (-12) in 2018 and Daan HUIZING’s 273 (-11) in 2013.

In 1999 the Lytham Trophy was won by German Tino SCHUSTER, the first time a non-GB&I player had been successful.

After a spell of overseas winners the last seven tournament winners have all come from England: –

Albert ECKHARDT – 2013 (Finland)
Thriston LAWRENCE – 2014 (South African
Marcus KINHULT – 2015 (Sweden)
Alfie PLANT – 2016 (England)
Jack SINGH BRAR – 2017 (England)
Matthew JORDAN – 2018 (England)
Josh MCMAHON – 2019 (England)
John GOUGH – 2022 (England)
Frank KENNEDY – 2023 (England)
Will HOPKINS – 2024 (England)

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Lytham Trophy Honours Board (Photo: GolfBible)

Click here to view the complete list of – Lytham Trophy Past Winners

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2025, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

NCAA Division I Women’s Regionals – 2025 Preview & Results

7th May 2025

Here is a summary of the results from the six 54-hole NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regional Championships which were played on 4th-7th May 2025.

The low five teams (30 in total) and the low individual (6 in total) not on one of those teams from each Regional advanced to the National Championships.

For more information on these Regional Championships please read the Preview article lower down this page.

The 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship will be played at Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California on 16th-21st May 2025.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTSTEAM and INDIVIDUAL

TEAM QUALIFIERS: 1st South Carolina -2, 2nd Ole Miss +9, T3 Virginia +12, T3 Florida +12, 5th UCLA +17 

INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST:  1st Marie Madsen (USA / NC State) -5

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIER: 1st Marie Madsen (USA / NC State) -5

GB&I PLAYERS:
Qualified – T4 HANNAH DARLING (SCO / SOUTH CAROLINA) Ev
Non-Qualified – 50th CAITLIN WHITEHEAD (ENG / NC STATE) +18, T64 KATIE POOTS (IRL / UCF) DNF

COLUMBUS, OHIO

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTS – TEAM and INDIVIDUAL

TEAM QUALIFIERS: 1st Kansas -6, 2nd Arkansas -3, 3rd Ohio State +1, 4th UNLV +4, 5th LSU +18 

INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST: 1st Lyla Louderbaugh (USA / Kansas) -12

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIER: 5th Moa Svedenskiold (SWE / Houston) -2

GB&I PLAYERS:
Qualified – T6 NELLIE ONG (ENG / OHIO STATE) -1, T26 ÁINE DONEGAN (IRL / LSU) +6, T35 MARINA JOYCE-MORENO (IRL / OHIO STATE) +10,  LILY HIRST (ENG / KANSAS) SUB

GOLD CANYON, ARIZONA

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTSTEAM and INDIVIDUAL

TEAM QUALIFIERS: 1st Oregon -12, 2nd Arizona State -3, 3rd Oklahoma State +2, 4th Mississippi State +11, 5th CSU Fullerton +23 

INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST: 1st Kiara Romero (USA / Oregon) -16 

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIER: 6th Anna Davis (USA / Auburn) -1

GB&I PLAYERS:
Qualified – 2nd PATIENCE RHODES (ENG / ARIZONA STATE) -9, T3 ISLA MCDONALD-O’BRIEN (ENG / ARIZONA STATE) -3, 5th DAVINA XANH (ENG / CAL STATE FULLERTON) -2, T20 BETH COULTER (IRL / ARIZONA STATE) +5
Non-Qualified – T32 ANNA MOLLOY (ENG / CALIFORNIA) +10, T28 CARYS WORBY (WAL / AUBURN) +8, 62nd RACHEL GOURLAY (ENG / AUBURN) +27  

LEXINGTON, KENTUCK

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTSTEAM and INDIVIDUAL

TEAM QUALIFIERS: 1st Florida State -15, T2 Georgia Southern -10, T2 Kansas State -10, 4th Southern California -7, 5th Vanderbilt +2 

INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST: 1st Carla Bernat Escuderos (ESP / Kansas State) -12

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIER:  4th Sofia Barroso Sá (POR / TCU) -6

GB&I PLAYERS:
Qualified – T2 LOTTIE WOAD (ENG / FLORIDA STATE) -10, T38 SOPHIA FULLBROOOK (ENG / FLORIDA STATE) +7
Non-Qualified – T21 CARMEN GRIFFITHS (SCO / LOUISVILLE) +1, T46 REBEKAH GARDNER (IRL / MIAMI) +10

LUBBOCK, TEXAS

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTSTEAM and INDIVIDUAL

~ Due to forecast thunderstorms on Mon 5th Round 1 was played at Lubbock on Sun 4th and play was completed on Tue 6th.

TEAM QUALIFIERS: 1st Wake Forest -2, 2nd Texas +2, 3rd Iowa State +10, 4th Tennessee +22, 5th Purdue +25 (after a one hole play-off with Texas A&M) 

INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST: 1st Carolina Lopez-Chacarra Coto (ESP / Wake Forest) -7

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIER: 4th Lousiane Gauthier (URY / Florida Gulf Coast) -2

GB&I PLAYERS:
Non-Qualified – 57th JADE POTTER (SCO / CAMPBELL) +19 

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA
CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTSTEAM and INDIVIDUAL

~ Due to forecast thunderstorms on Tues 6th & Wed 7th 36 holes were played at Norman on Mon 5th.

TEAM QUALIFIERS: 1st Stanford -13, 2nd Northwestern -14, 3rd Michigan State -1, 4th Oklahoma Ev, 5th Baylor +3 

INDIVIDUAL MEDALIST: 1st Andrea Revuelta (USA / Stanford) -8

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIER: 7th Audrey Ryu (USA / Furman) -3

GB&I PLAYERS:
Qualified – T41 GRACIE MAYO (WAL / OKLAHOMA) +8
Non-Qualified – T55 FFION TYNAN (WAL / MISSOUIRI) +14

SUB – Substitute

ME.

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23rd April 2025

Regional Championships

The six 54 hole NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regional Championships will be played on 5th-7th May 2025.

72 teams and 36 individuals, from non-qualifying teams, were selected on 23rd April 2025 to compete at these competitions.

Local Conference Championships were played across the country in April with 28 Conference team champions granted automatic qualification into the 2025 Regionals. The remaining teams progressed based on their performances throughout the season.

12 teams and 6 individuals were allocated to each of the six Regional venues with a strength-of-field metric factored in to ensure balance and fairness across all of them.

Teams of five players play 72 holes of stroke play with their best four scores counting towards their team’s total score. Players, who play in each round, are also eligible for a separate Individual competition.

The leading 5 teams and the top individual (not on one of those teams) from each Regional event will progress to the National Championship which will be played at Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California on 16th-21st May 2025.

Regional Champion Awards have been given to the team champions at each site since 2024.

I will be updating this article with a summary of the results when play is completed.

National Championships

The Division I Competition Oversight Committee announced in January 2023 that the field for the Division I Women’s Golf National Championships would be increased from 147 to 156. The number of teams was also increased from 27 to 30 with the number of individual participants falling from 12 to 6.

The National Championships start off with 54 holes of stroke play. The top 15 teams and 9 individuals, not on an advancing team, then progress to a final 18 holes of stroke play. After these 72 holes have been played an Individual champion is determined and the top 8 teams advance to a match play stage to establish the Team champions.

Stanford beat UCLA in the Final of the 2024 NCAA Div. I Women’s National Championship in Carlsbad with Adela Cernousek (FRA / Texas A&M) winning the Individual title, her first collegiate win.

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The six Regional Championships are shown below with each team listed in seed order.

GB&I players attached to the qualifying colleges are highlighted in bold blue type. Each team is now allowed to take a Reserve to the event so it is possible some may not play or be subbed in and out during the week. 21 GB&I players will be participating in this year’s Regional Championships.

Schools and Individuals with a Conference affiliation also noted below were the Team or Individual winners of these earlier tournaments.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
Course: Birdwood G.C. / Host: University of Virginia
CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTSTEAM and INDIVIDUAL

Teams
1. South Carolina – Southestern Conference – HANNAH DARLING (SCO)
2. Virginia
3. Ole Miss
4. Florida
5. UCLA
6. UCF – KATIE POOTS (IRL)
7. College of Charleston – Coastal Athletic Association
8. North Carolina State – CAITLIN WHITEHEAD (ENG), ELLISE RYMER (ENG) NS
9. BYU
10. Princeton – The Ivy League
11. Richmond – Atlantic 10 Conference
12. Radford – Big South Conference

Individuals
Pinky Chaisilprungruang, Charlotte
Nicha Kanpai, Maryland
Isabella Rawl, Clemson
Melena Barrientos, Clemson
Hannah Altman, UNC Wilmington – Coastal Athletic Association
Paris Fieldings, Howard – Northeast Conference

COLUMBUS, OHIO
Course: OSU Golf Club / Host: Ohio State University
CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTS – TEAM and INDIVIDUAL

Teams
1. Arkansas
2. LSU – ÁINE DONEGAN (IRL)
3. Ohio State – MARINA JOYCE-MORENO (IRL), NELLIE ONG (ENG)
4. Kansas – LILY HIRST (ENG) SUB
5. Houston – ELLEN YATES (ENG) NS
6. SMU
7. UNLV – Mountain West Conference
8. Illinois
9. Kent State – Mid-American Conference
10. Illinois State – Missouri Valley Conference
11. Xavier – Big East Conference
12. Oakland – Horizon League

Individuals
Isabella McCauley, Minnesota
Vanessa Zhang, Harvard – The Ivy League
Savannah de Bock, Eastern Michigan
Mara Janess, Michigan
Neeranuch Prajunpanich, Youngstown State – Horizon League
Jillian Cosler, Bradley – Missouri Valley Conference

GOLD CANYON, ARIZONA
Course: Superstition Mountain G.&C.C. / Host: Arizona State University
CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTSTEAM and INDIVIDUAL

Teams
1. Oregon – Big Ten Conference
2. Arizona State – BETH COULTER (IRL), PATIENCE RHODES (ENG), ISLA MCDONALD-O’BRIEN (ENG)
3. Auburn – CARYS WORBY (WAL), RACHEL GOURLAY (ENG)
4. Mississippi State
5. Oklahoma State
6. California – ANNA MOLLOY (ENG), OLIVIA LEE (ENG) NS
7. Virginia Tech
8. San Jose State
9. Sacramento State – Big Sky Conference
10. Cal State Fullerton – Big West Conference – DAVINA XANH (ENG)
11. Navy – Patriot League
12. Quinnipiac – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Individuals
Vivian Lu, Washington
Jasmine Leovao, Long Beach State
Janae Leovao, Long Beach State
Jensen Jalufka, Cal Poly
Daniela Campillo, ULM
Maddie Montoya, Montana State – Big Sky Conference

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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
Course: Keene Trace G.C. / Host: Kentucky University
CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTSTEAM and INDIVIDUAL

Teams
1. Florida State – Atlantic Coast Conference – LOTTIE WOAD (ENG), SOPHIA FULLBROOOK (ENG)
2. Southern California (USC)
3. TCU
4. Vanderbilt
5. Kansas State
6. Georgian Southern
7. Pepperdine
8. Louisville – CARMEN GRIFFITHS (SCO)
9. Miami – REBEKAH GARDNER (IRL)
10. Western Kentucky – Conference USA
11. Morehead State – Ohio Valley Conference
12. Fairleigh Dickinson – Northeast Conference

Individuals
Emma Bunch, New Mexico State
Gabi NiCastro, Samford
Marta López Echevarría, Kentucky
Madison Dabagia, Indiana
Caroline Smith, Indiana
Jasmine Driscoll, Ball State – Mid-American Conference

LUBBOCK, TEXAS
Course: The Rawls Course / Host: Texas Tech University
CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTSTEAM and INDIVIDUAL

Teams
1. Texas
2. Wake Forest
3. Arizona – Big 12 Conference
4. Texas A&M
5. Iowa State
6. Tennessee
7. Purdue
8. Campbell – JADE POTTER (SCO)
9. UC Davis
10. Florida Gulf Coast – Atlantic Sun Conference
11. Tarleton State – Western Athletic Conference
12. Texas A&M Corpus Christi – Southland Conference

Individuals
Ryann Honea, Abilene Christian
Chantel El Chaib, Georgia
Klara Hurtova, Texas Tech
Kara Kaneshiro, Colorado State
Yvonne Chamness, Texas State
Julia McLaughlin, High Point – Big South Conference

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA
Course: Jimmie Austin Oklahoma University G.C. / Host: Oklahoma University
CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOREBOARD RESULTSTEAM and INDIVIDUAL

Teams
1. Stanford
2. Northwestern
3. North Carolina
4. Michigan State
5. Duke
6. Oklahoma – GRACIE MAYO (WAL)
7. Baylor
8. Oregon State – West Coast Conference
9. Tulsa – American Conference
10. Denver – The Summit League
11. Furman – Southern Conference
12. Southern Mississippi – Sun Belt Conference

Individuals
Riana Mission, San Francisco
Grace Jin, Sam Houston
Cynthia Zhang, Kansas
FFION TYNAN (WAL), Missouri
Amelia Guo, Sam Houston
Zoe Pinillos, Augusta – Southland Confereence

NS – Not Selected / SUB – Substitute

ME. 

Copyright © 2014-2025, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

The Masters – 2025 Amateur Preview & Results

13th April 2025

Results

Rory McILROY (NIR) became the sixth player to win the career grand slam when he overcame Justin ROSE (ENG) with a birdie on the first play-off hole (the 18th). Both players finished the 72 hole Augusta National G.C. test on 277 (-11), 2-shots ahead of Patrick REED (USA) and 3 ahead of defending champion Scottie SCHEFFLER (USA). 

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No amateur made the cut so no Silver Cup was awarded at The 89th Masters.

53 players made the 36 hole top 50 and ties cut which fell at 146 (+2). 

The average field score in Round 1 was 73.59 which fell to 72.67 in Round 2.

Round 2 Amateur Leaderboard (Graphic: The Masters)

Justin HASTINGS (CAY) produced the lowest round by an amateur shooting an even par 72 on Day 2.

Justin Hastings Scorecard – 148 +4 Tied 59th (Graphic: The Masters) 

Hiroshi TAI (SGP) led the five amateurs after the opening round on +1 but was unable to follow it up on Friday.

Hiroshi Tai Scorecard – 150 +6 Tied 73rd (Graphic: The Masters)

Mid-Amateur Evan BECK (USA) enjoyed five birdies over his 36 holes but these were mixed up with far too many dropped shots.

Evan Beck Scorecard – 153 +9 Tied 87th (Graphic: The Masters

The favourite for the Silver Cup Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP) got off to a poor start on Thursday and fell away badly on the back nine in Round 2.

Jose Luis Ballester Scorecard – 154 +10 Tied 90th (Graphic: The Masters)

Noah BECK (USA) shot the worst amateur total score but enjoyed a rollercoaster ride whilst doing it. Four birdies and an eagle on the 13th in Round 2 were his highlights.

Noah Beck Scorecard – 155 +11 Tied 93rd (Graphic: The Masters)

ME.

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8th April 2025

The 89th Masters will take place at Augusta National G.C. this week between Thursday 10th and Sunday 13th April.

A field of 95 players will be competing, six more than last year.

Five amateurs will be playing, the same number as last year.

The primary goal for each amateur is to make the 36 hole cut and if they achieve that to then go on and win the low amateur Silver Cup.

I will be updating this article with amateur scoring information and reports as the tournament unfolds.

Click here to view the – 2025 Masters Final Results

The 2025 Masters Journal

2025 Amateur Player Biographies

The legacy of Bobby Jones, the co-founder of the tournament and a lifelong amateur (at least during his competitive years), means The Masters has always found a place for the world’s leading amateurs.

This year’s intake will see the total number of amateurs to have played in The Masters rise to 464.

The five amateurs competing at The Masters in 2025 are: –

JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO (ESP), 21 – winner of the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship
The Arizona State senior Ballester beat Noah Kent in last year’s U.S. Amateur final by 2 Holes to secure his place at Augusta.
WAGR #6 (09/04/25) 
Top Amateur Odds – 15/8 FAV

EVAN BECK (USA), 34 – winner of the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship
Beck beat Bobby Massa 9&8 in the final of the U.S. Mid-Amateur. After regaining his amateur status he returned to amateur competition in 2021. He is in pole position for the mid-amateur spot on the 2025 U.S. Walker Cup team. Beck now works as an investment analyst at Browns Advisory in Washington D.C.  
WAGR #21 (09/04/25)
Top Amateur Odds – 5/2

JUSTIN HASTINGS (CAY), 21 – winner of the 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship
Hastings won the Latin America Amateur at Pilar G.C. in Argentina. He is a senior at San Diego State University.
WAGR #25 (09/04/24)
Top Amateur Odds – 5/2

NOAH KENT (USA), 20 – runner-up at the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship
Floridian Kent now plays his golf at the University of Florida having transferred from Iowa last summer.
WAGR #140 (09/04/25) 
Top Amateur Odds – 15/2

HIROSHI TAI (SGP), 23 – winner of the 2024 NCAA Division I Individual Championship 
Tai was born in Hong Kong but represents Singapore; he is their first golfer to compete in The Masters. He was playing for Georgia Tech when he won the NCAA Championship.
WAGR #50 (09/04/24)
Top Amateur Odds – 8/1

U.S. and Amateur champions also receive non-playing honorary invitations which mean they are invited to attend The Masters every year for the rest of their lives.

Jacob Skov Olesen (DEN), 25, the 2024 Amateur champion, and Wenyi Ding (CHI), 20, the 2024 Asia-Pacific Amateur champion, both turned pro since their wins, having won cards on the DP World Tour, which entailed them giving up their exemptions.

2025 Amateur Tee Times (GMT +5hrs)

Round 1

Group 6 – 8.35am EDT / 1.35pm BST – Bernhard LANGER (GER), Will ZALATORIS (USA) & Noah KENT (USA)

Group 14 – 10.15am EDT / 3.15pm BST – Scottie Scheffler (USA), Justin Thomas (USA) & Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP)

Group 20 – 11.21am EDT / 4.21pm BST – Bubba Watson (USA), Matthieu Pavon (FRA) & Evan BECK (USA)

Group 22 – 11.49am EDT / 4.49pm BST – Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Denny McCarthy (USA) & Hiroshi TAI (SGP)

Group 24 – 12.11pm EDT / 5.11pm BST – Dustin Johnson (USA), Nick Taylor (CAN) & Justin HASTINGS (CAY)

Round 2

Group 4 – 8.13am EDT / 1.13pm BST – Bubba Watson (USA), Matthieu Pavon (FRA) & Evan BECK (USA)

Group 6 – 8.35am EDT / 1.35pm BST – Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Denny McCarthy (USA) & Hiroshi TAI (SGP)

Group 8 – 9.03am EDT / 2.03pm BST – Dustin Johnson (USA), Nick Taylor (CAN) & Justin HASTINGS (CAY)

Group 22 – 11.49am EDT / 4.49pm BST – Bernhard LANGER (GER), Will ZALATORIS (USA) & Noah KENT (USA)

Group 30 – 1.23pm EDT / 6.23pm BST – Scottie Scheffler (USA), Justin Thomas (USA) & Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP)

By tradition the reigning U.S. Amateur champion is always paired with the reigning Masters champion. Accordingly Jose Luis Ballester has been paired with Scottie Scheffler this year (with Nick Taylor making up the three ball).

Click here to view all of the – Masters 2025 Tee Times

Amateur Perks

Only amateur competitors are permitted to stay in the Crow’s Nest accommodation in the clubhouse. Most of them normally spend at least one night there during Masters week.  

The Amateur Dinner, hosted by chairman Fred Ridley and normally attended by around between 50-100 guests, was held in The Founders Room on the evening of Monday 7th April. The Captain of The R&A, President of the USGA, a former amateur participant and an amateur contestant from this year normally speak.

Evan Beck, Jose Luis Ballester, Fred Ridley, Noah Kent, Justin Hastings and Hiroshi Tai (Photo: Chris Turvey / Augusta National G.C.)

2024 Masters – Amateur Performances

22 year old NEAL SHIPLEY (USA) won the low amateur Silver Cup at The 88th Masters Invitational at Augusta National G.C.

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Neal Shipley (Photo: The Masters)

His rounds of 71-76-80-71 and total score of 300 +12 saw him finish in tied 53rd place.

NEAL SHIPLEY (USA) – 300 +12 Tied 53rd

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Neal Shipley’s 72 Hole Scorecard (Graphic: The Masters)

The 36-hole cut fell at 150 (+6) with 60 players progressing to the weekend. This was the first year that the cut has fallen at +5 or higher since 2017 highlighting how tough Augusta played on the opening two days.

There was a 2.5 hour weather delay on Day 1 of The Masters following overnight rain. As a result 27 of the 89 players in the field were required to complete their first rounds on Friday morning.

Neal SHIPLEY (USA), on +3, was the only amateur to make the cut with rounds of 71 and 76.

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Round 2 Amateur Leaderboard (Graphic: The Masters)

Click here to view the – 2024 Masters Final Results

The Masters – Amateur Playing Records

For more information on amateur performances at The Masters please take a look at this companion article – The Masters – Amateur Records.

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2025, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

March 2025 Men’s Amateur Rankings

8th April 2025

Throughout the year I analyse the main golf rankings to help us assess the performances of Great Britain and Ireland’s leading players as well as the status of events they compete in.

This information is maintained on the Rankings page of the GolfBible website and is updated quarterly.

The latest update covering the March 2025 Quarter period has now been added.

I have selected Freddie Turnell (ENG), a freshman at The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, as my Player of the Quarter after he enjoyed a very consistent opening to the 2025 year, capped off by an excellent win at The Goodwin U.S. collegiate event in California.

Freddie Turnell (Photo: Turnell Family) 

Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG), Charlie FORSTER (ENG), Luke POULTER (ENG), Tyler WEAVER (ENG), who all enjoyed U.S. College wins in 2025, and Eliot BAKER (ENG), who recently won the Portuguese International Amateur, all deserve honourable mentions.

Pease click this link to be redirected to my Rankings page – GolfBible Rankings

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2025, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

The Georgia Cup – 2025 Preview & Results

6th April 2025

José Luis BALLESTER (ESP) beat Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN) by 1 Hole in the 2025 Georgia Cup match.

The Amateur champions now lead the U.S. Amateur champions 15-12 in the series.

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The 28th Georgia Cup Match will commence at 9.00am (BST 1.00pm) on Sunday 6th April on the Lakeside Course at The Golf Club of Georgia.

The Georgia Cup is an 18-hole match play event played annually between the reigning United States and (British) Amateur champions.

The two champions traditionally play the match as a precursor to competing in The Masters which both of their respective wins earn them an invitation to.

This year the 2024 Amateur Champion Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN) will play the reigning U.S. Amateur Champion José Luis BALLESTER (ESP).

Whilst Ballester will head to Augusta National G.C. next week to compete in The Masters, Olesen, having turned professional in November 2024 has forfeited his invitation.

Coming into the 2025 match the Amateur champions lead the U.S. Amateur champions 15-11 in the series which was first played in 1998.

Jacob Skov Olesen and José Luis Ballester (Photo: The GC of Georgia)

Players

Left-handed Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN), 25, became the first Danish player to win the Amateur Championship beating Dominic Clemons by 4&3 at Ballyliffin Golf Club in Ireland. He maintained his good form to successfully negotiate the DP World Tour Q-School which left him with little alternative but to turn pro.

José Luis BALLESTER (ESP), 21, became the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Amateur Championship, claiming a 2 Hole victory over Noah Kent at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. Born in Castellon de la Plana he is well acclimatised to U.S. conditions having been a student at Arizona State University for the last four years. He is currently ranked 6th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Venue

The match was established by The Golf Club of Georgia (GCOG).

Located in Alpharetta the GCOG has two Arthur Hills-designed courses, the Lakeside (L) and the Creekside (C). Both have hosted the Georgia Cup match in the past but since 2006 the Lakeside has always taken precedence.

The match is used as a charitable fundraiser with The Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides support to the families of fallen and disabled military personnel, the main benficiary.

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The Georgia Cup (Photo: The Golf Club of Georgia)

Previous Matches and Results

The Amateur champions now lead the U.S. Amateur champions 15-11 in the series. The Amateur champion has overcome the U.S. Amateur champion in seven of the last ten matches played.

All of 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) – 1 Hole
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 (British) def. Bryson DeChambeau (US) – 4&3
2017 (L) – Scott Gregory (British) def. Curtis Luck (US) – 19th hole
2018 (L) – Harry Ellis (British) def. Doc Redman (US) – 6&5
2019 (L) – Jovan Rebula (British) def. Viktor Hovland (US) – 1 Hole
2020 (L) – Cancelled*
2021 (L) – Tyler Strafaci (US) def. Joe Long (British) – 2 Holes
2022 (L) – James Piot (US) def. Laird Shepherd (British) – 1 Hole
2023 (L) – Aldrich Potgieter (British) def. Sam Bennett (US) – 5&4
2024 (L) – Christo Lamprecht (British) def. Nick Dunlap (US) – 1 Hole
2025 (L) – Jose Luis Ballester (US) def. Jacob Skov Olesen (British) – 1 Hole

*The 2020 match between Andy Ogletree (USA) and James Sugrue (IRL) was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a postponement in the playing of The Masters until November.

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2025, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

Men’s European Nations Championship – 2025 Preview & Results

29th March 2025

Round 4

Team (best 3 from 4 scores count)

ENGLAND (-8) won the Men’s European Nations Championship at RCG Sotogrande by 14 shots.

The England Team (Photo: England Golf)

SPAIN (+6) finished 2nd, ESTONIA (+7) were 3rd, ITALY (+16) 4th and FRANCE (+17) 5th.

It was a disappointing week in Spain for the other three home nation teams who were all well off the pace. WALES (+39) finished tied 11th, IRELAND (+34) tied 13th and SCOTLAND (+45) 15th.

Team Results (Graphic: RFE Golf / GolfDirecto)

Click here to view the – 2025 ENC Men’s Team Results

Individual

Estonia’s Kevin JEGERS (-14) completed an impressive wire-to-wire victory in the Individual competition at the European Nations Championships.

Harley SMITH (-6) finished 2nd, Daniel HAYES (-5) 3rd and Pablo LOPEZ (-3) 4th. Only four of the 72 competitors completed the 72 holes with an under par score demonstrating the extent of the test posed by Sotogrande.

Eliot BAKER (+7) tied 13th, Ross LAIRD (+13) tied 29th, Jonathan BALE (+15) tied 34th and Matt MCCLEAN (+16) tied 39th were the other GB&I players to finish the event in the top 40.

The average score in Round 4 was 75.82 (+3.82).

Individual Results (Graphic: RFE Golf / GolfDirecto)

Click here to view the – 2025 ENC Men’s Individual Results

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28th March 2025

Round 3

Team (best 3 from 4 scores count)

A superb -11 team score in Round 3 lifted ENGLAND (-8) into a commanding 1st place in the Men’s European Nations Championship at RCG Sotogrande.

SPAIN (+3) are now 2nd, ITALY (+7) 3rd, ESTONIA (+8) 4th and FINLAND (+11) 5th heading into tomorrow’s final round.

The other home nations are finding the going tough in Spain with IRELAND (+34) tied 14th, WALES (+36) 16th and SCOTLAND (+37) 17th.

Round 3 Team Scores (Graphic: RFE Golf / GolfDirecto)

Click here to view the – 2025 ENC Men’s Team Round 3 Scores

Individual

Estonia’s Kevin JEGERS (-9) continues to lead the way in the Individual standings with Spain’s Pablo LOPEZ (-7) two shots behind him in 2nd place.

The English trio of Daniel HAYES (-5) 3rd, Harley SMITH (-2) 5th, after a tournament best bogey free 7-under 65 today, and Eliot BAKER (+3) tied 9th are all in the top 10.

Jack MCDONALD (+7) tied 19th, Tomi BOWEN (+8) tied 22nd and Luke O’NEILL (+11) tied 32nd lead the way for the other home nation teams.

The average score in Round 3 was 76.05 (+4.05) which demonstrates how good Smith’s 65 was.

Round 3 Individual Scores (Graphic: RFE Golf / GolfDirecto)

Click here to view the – 2025 ENC Men’s Individual Round 3 Scores

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27th March 2025

Round 2

Team (best 3 from 4 scores count)

FINLAND (-3) lead SPAIN (-1) and ESTONIA (Ev) after Round 2 of the Men’s European Nations Championship at RCG Sotogrande.

ENGLAND (+3) are 4th, IRELAND (+19) tied 11th, SCOTLAND (+25) 15th and WALES (+29) 17th.

Round 2 Team Scores (Graphic: RFE Golf / GolfDirecto)

Click here to view the – 2025 ENC Men’s Team Round 2 Scores

Individual

Estonia’s Kevin JEGERS (-7) continues to lead the way in the Individual standings with Finland’s Ville VIRKKALA three shots behind him in 2nd place.

From a home nation perspective Daniel HAYES (-2) is tied 3rd, Eliot BAKER (+4) tied 18th, Harley SMITH, Tomi BOWEN & Luke O’NEILL (+5) all tied 24th and Jack MCDONALD (+6) tied 34th.

The average score in Round 2 was 75.37 (+3.37).

Round 2 Individual Scores (Graphic: RFE Golf / GolfDirecto)

Click here to view the – 2025 ENC Men’s Individual Round 2 Scores

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26th March 2025

Round 1

Team (best 3 from 4 scores count)

ESTONIA (-2) lead the Men’s European Nations Championship at RCG Sotogrande in Spain.

AUSTRIA (-1) are 2nd and ITALY and ENGLAND (Ev) are tied 3rd.

The other home nations had a disappointing opening round with defending champions IRELAND (+9) tied 12th, SCOTLAND (+13) tied 14th and WALES (+20) tied 17th.

Round 1 Team Scores (Graphic: RFE Golf / GolfDirecto)

Click here to view the – 2025 ENC Men’s Team Round 1 Scores

Individual

Estonia’s Kevin JEGERS and Austria’s Jacob LOTSCHAK shot 3-under 69’s to take the early lead in the Individual standings.

English pair Eliot BAKER and Daniel HAYES (-1), tied 5th, were the best of the GB&I players.

Ireland’s John DOYLE (+2) tied 24th, Wales’ Tomi BOWEN (+3) tied 35th and Scotland’s Ross LAIRD & Gregor TAIT (+4) tied 43rd led the way for the other countries.

The average score in Round 1 was 75.04 (+3.04).

Round 1 Individual Scores (Graphic: RFE Golf / GolfDirecto)

Click here to view the – 2025 ENC Men’s Individual Round 1 Scores

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25th March 2025

The Men’s European Nations Championship (ENC) starts on Wednesday 26th March at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande in Andalucía, Spain.

R.C.G. Sotogrande is the permanent home of the ENC and this will be the 17th playing of the event.

It is a 72 hole stroke play Team and Individual competition.

I will be providing daily reports on this page once the Championship commences.

Field
18 four-man teams (72 players) will play for the Team prize.

Teams representing Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales will be joined by one from RCG Sotogrande.

There is also an Individual prize on offer to the field.

The following players have been selected to represent the four competing home nations in 2025: –

England – Eliot BAKER, Daniel HAYES, Tom OSBORNE, Harley SMITH

Ireland – Brian DORAN, John DOYLE, Matt MCCLEAN, Luke O’NEILL

Scotland – Alexander FARMER, Ross LAIRD, Jack MCDONALD, Gregor TAIT

Wales – Tomi BOWEN, Jonathan BALE, Caolan BURFORD, Archie DAVIES

A Women’s ENC, made up of 10 three player teams, also takes place alongside the Men’s competition. No home nations are competing this year.

Format and Prizes
72 holes of stroke play, with 18 holes played daily, will be contested by all of the players. There is no cut.

In the Team event the best three 18-hole scores from the four players count towards the overall total.

In the case of a tie for 1st place it will be resolved by the best player score being discarded and if the tie persists, the second best score discarded and so on. If scores are still tied a team member will be nominated and a sudden death play-off will be contested. Other tries will not be resolved.

The Individual prize is awarded to the lowest scoring player. Ties for 1st place will be broken via a sudden death play-off. Any remaining ties will be broken by the best results of the last 18, 27, 36, etc., holes.

Winning Team members each receive a replica of the Nations Trophy. The Individual champion receives a trophy and a bright yellow jacket.

Venue and Course
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande was opened in 1964 and was originally designed by Robert Trent Jones. One of the best courses in Continental Europe it first held the Spanish Open in 1966, won that year by Roberto de Vicenzo.

In 1970 The Sherry Cup, the precursor of the European Nations Cup / Championship, was established. Former Individual winners of this include Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia. (see below for the full list of past Individual winners).

In 1973 a Women’s event started to be played alongside the Men’s.

In 1983 Sotogrande hosted the Spanish Amateur Championship with Jose Maria Olazabel victorious.

Sotogrande was awarded royal patronage by HM King Juan Carlos I in 1994.

Between 1996 and 2001, in tandem with nearby San Roque GC, the course hosted the European Tour’s Qualifying School.

In 2006 The Sherry Cup was rebranded as the European Nations Cup and in 2017 become known as the European Nations Championship played for the Sotogrande Cup.

In 2011, ahead of it’s 50th anniversary, the Club decided to embark upon a major course renovation appointing Roger Rulewich and David Fleury. With the work on greens, bunkering and drainage taking place in 2015 and early 2016 the ENC moved temporarily to the nearby La Reserva Club de Golf for two years. Since 2017 the competition has been played on the renovated course.

The Black Tee Championship Course at Sotogrande plays 6,492m with a par of 72. The front nine measures 3,163m and the back 3,329m.

Weather Forecast
The forecast looks good with unusually low winds currently expected. Wind, often stronger in the afternoon, can cause problems given the numerous water hazards on the course.

Wednesday 26th – Mist AM / Sunny PM.  Min. 10°C / Max. 18°C; Wind W 5mph
Thursday 27th – Sunny. Min. 10°C / Max. 19 °C; Wind NW 6mph
Friday 28th – Sunny. Temp. Min. 11°C / Max. 20°C; Wind N 7mph
Saturday 29th – Sunny. Temp. Min. 12°C / Max. 20°C; Wind N 8mph

Past ENC Winners

The home nations have an excellent record, particularly in recent years, in this event.

Team Competition

2024  Ireland     2024 ENC Team Results

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Ireland Team (Photo: Golf Ireland) 

2023  England     2023 ENC Team Results
2022  Spain     2022 ENC Team Results
2021  Cancelled
2020  Cancelled
2019  England     2019 ENC Team Results
2018  England     2018 ENC Team Results
2017  Wales    2017 ENC Team Results
2016  Ireland    2016 ENC Team Results
2015  England
2014  Scotland
2013  England
2012  France
2011  England
2010  England
2009  England
2008  Scotland
2007  Denmark

Past Sherry Cup Team Winners (started 1998)

2006  Spain
2005  Spain
2004  England
2003  England
2002  Wales
2001  England
2000  England
1999  Germany
1998  Spain

Individual Competition

2024 James Ashfield (WAL)     2024 ENC Men’s Individual Results

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James Ashfield (Photo: Golf Wales)

2023 Albert Hansson (SWE)     2023 ENC Men’s Individual Results
2022 Jaime Montojo (ESP)     2022 ENC Men’s Individual Result
2021  Cancelled
2020  Cancelled
2019  Tom Sloman (England)     2019 ENC Individual Results
2018  Todd Clements (England)    2018 ENC Individual Results
2017  Jack Davidson (Wales)    2017 ENC Individual Results
2016  Jack Hume (Ireland)    2016 ENC Individual Results
2015  Mario Galliano (Spain)
2014  Guido Migliori (Italy)
2013  Adrien Saddier (France)
2012  Robin Kind (The Netherlands)
2011  Julien Brun (France)
2010  Nino Bertasio (Italy)
2009  Sam Hutsby (England)
2008  Shane Lowry (Ireland)
2007  Rory McIlroy (Ireland)

Past Sherry Cup Individual Winners

2006  Nigel Edwards (Wales)
2005  Gary Wolstenholme (England)
2004  Francesco Molinari (Italy)
2003  Gary Wolstenholme (England)
2002  Lee Harpin (Wales)
2001  Gary Wolstenholme (England)
2000  Gary Wolstenholme (England)
1999  Marcel Siem (Germany)
1998  Sergio Garcia (Spain)
1997  Sergio Garcia (Spain)
1996  Alvaro Salto (Spain)
1995  José María Zamora (Spain)
1994  Francisco Cea (Spain)
1993  Francisco Valera (Spain)
1992  Frederic Cupillar (France)
1991  Padraig Harrington (Ireland)
1990  Alvaro Prat (Spain)
1989  Diego Borrego (Spain)
1988  Yago Beamonte (Spain)
1987  Yago Beamonte (Spain)
1986  Borja Queipo de Llano (Spain)
1985  José L. Padila (Spain)
1984  John Marks (England)
1983  José L. de Bernardo (Spain)
1982  Borja Queipo de Llano (Spain)
1981  Veit Pagel (Germany)
1980  Jesús López (Spain)
1979  Veit Pagel (Germany)
1978  José L. de Bernardo (Spain)
1977  F. Jiménez (Spain)
1976  Alberto Croze (Italy)
1975  Veit Pagel (Germany)
1974  Veit Pagel (Germany)
1973  Alberto Croze (Italy)
1972  E. de la Riva and J. Gancedo (Spain)
1971  Alberto Croze (Italy)
1970  Henric Adam (England)

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2025, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

Jones Cup Invitational – 2025 Preview & Results

12th January 2025 – Final Round 

Gray ALBRIGHT (USA) won the 21st Jones Cup Invitational after a play-off with Jack BIGHAM (ENG).

Albright parred the 18th, the first sudden death hole, whilst Bigham bogeyed.

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Gray Albright (Photo: Jones Cup Invitational) 

Gray ALBRIGHT (USA) holed a 50 foot birdie putt on the par 3 17th and parred the tough 18th to force a play-off with his Florida State University teammate Jack BIGHAM (ENG). Bigham produced four birdies on his back nine to force his way into the lead but will rue his inability to par the 54th hole which opened the door to Albright.

Hopefully Bigham, who has often struggled to make the FSU line up over the last 12 months, can use this excellent performance to kick on in 2025. 

Both players finished on 212 (-4) two shots ahead of Luke SAMPLE (USA), Jackson VAN PARIS (USA) and Miles RUSSELL (USA) who had to settle for tied 3rd. 

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Top 10 Results (Graphic: Jones Cup Invitational / Golf Genius) 

Tyler WEAVER (ENG), another FSU player, and Cameron ADAM (SCO) finished tied 12th on 219 (+3).

Jonathan BALE (WAL) 221 +5 and Connor GRAHAM (SCO) 223 +7 made it five top 30 finishers for GB&I which is a solid return for such an elite tournament.  

The average Round 3 score was 74.79 (+2.79). 17 of the 82 players achieved par or better in the final round.

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GB&I Results (Graphic: Jones Cup Invitational / Golf Genius) 

Click here to view the – 2025 Jones Cup Invitational Golf Genius Results

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11th January 2025 – Round 2 

Miles RUSSELL (USA), the 16 year old recent winner of the South Beach International Amateur, shot a bogey-free 68 to move into a share of the lead with overnight co-leader Gray ALBRIGHT (USA) who produced a 72 on Day 2 at Ocean Forest G.C.

Ryan VOOIS (USA) moved into tied 3rd on -3, alongside Luke SAMPLE (USA) and Jack BIGHAM (ENG), after he recorded an excellent 5-under 67, which included six birdies. Bigham moved up the leaderboard with an error free 68 to finish the day as the leading GB&I player.

Henry GUAN (USA) shot nine birdies in his Round 2 7-under 65; comfortably the best round of the tournament so far.

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Round 2 Top 10 Scores (Graphic: Jones Cup Invitational / Golf Genius) 

After a second round 72 Cameron ADAM (SCO) +2 is tied 14th and Connor GRAHAM (SCO) & Jonathan BALE (WAL) +3 tied 19th.

The average Round 2 score was 74.72 (+2.72). Just 16 of the 82 players achieved par or better on Saturday.

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GB&I Round 2 Scores (Graphic: Jones Cup Invitational / Golf Genius) 

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10th January 2025 – Round 1 

Luke SAMPLE (USA) and Gray ALBRIGHT (USA) took the Round 1 lead after they both recorded scores of 68 -4 at Ocean Forest G.C.

Connor GRAHAM (SCO) and Jonathan BALE (WAL) 71 (-1) are the best of the nine man British contingent. Tomi BOWEN (WAL) 72 Ev is also in the top 10.

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 Round 1 Top 10 Scores (Graphic: Jones Cup Invitational / Golf Genius) 

It was a disappointing start for two of our leading players, Matthew DODD-BERRY (ENG) 79 +7 tied 69th and Calum SCOTT (SCO) 85 +13, who will be hoping to bounce back strongly in Round 2.

The average Round 1 score was 75.21 (+3.21). Just 18 of the 84 players achieved par or better.

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GB&I Round 1 Scores (Graphic: Jones Cup Invitational / Golf Genius) 

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7th January 2025 – Preview

The 21st Jones Cup Invitational will be played between 10th-12th January 2025 at Ocean Forest G.C. on the northern tip of Sea Island in Georgia.

Historically a top 10 ranked amateur tournament it has always attracted a strong field.

The winner of the Jones Cup Invitational, subject to them remaining an amateur, traditionally receives an exemption into the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic played at Sea Island in November.

The Jones Cup Invitational was first played in January 2001 as a prelude to that year’s Walker Cup match which was being staged at Ocean Forest in the following August.

The Sea Island resort is a big supporter of amateur golf with the Jones Cup Junior Invitational, Jones Cup Senior Invitational and Sea Island Women’s Amateur also played at the nearby Seaside Course since 2009, 2012 and 2021 respectively.

I will be updating this article with daily reports throughout the tournament. 

Format

The Jones Cup Invitational is a 54 hole individual stroke play competition played over three days.

Given the relatively small field there is no cut. 

The winner receives the silver Jones Cup and the Layne Williams Medal which was awarded for the first time in 2022. Layne Williams was a rules official for the Georgia State Golf Association.

Players

The Jones Cup Invitational Committee invites 84 players to contest their tournament.

The majority of invites are granted based on each player’s previous performances and their world amateur rankings.

77 players contested an 18 hole qualifier on Sea Island’s Retreat Course on 16th December with Henry GUAN (USA), Max GREEN (USA) and Brycen JONES (USA), all of whom shot 66 -6, securing spots in the field. Click here to view the – 2025 Jones Cup Invitational Qualifier Results 

John Daniel ‘JD’ CULBRETH (USA), the winner of the Jones Cup Junior Invitational which was played a few weeks ago on 19th-21st December also earned an exemption. Click here to view the – 2024 Jones Cup Junior Invitational Results 

Nine golfers from Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) are competing this year and I am sure a few more would have liked to have played if they could. They are (in alphabetical order with their 8th January 2025 WAGRs): –

Cameron ADAM (SCO) #84
Jonathan BALE (WAL) #327
Jack BIGHAM (ENG) #59 
Tomi BOWEN (WAL) #150
Matthew DODD-BERRY (ENG) #91 
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) #101
Matt ROBERTS (WAL) #333
Calum SCOTT (SCO) #14
Tyler WEAVER (ENG) #70

In addition to Scott, Bigham and Dodd-Berry there are 35 other players in the WAGR Top 100 who are competing (in rank order): –

Jackson KOIVUN (USA) #2
Gordon SARGENT (USA) #5
David FORD (USA) #6
Jackson VAN PARIS (USA) #9
Tommy MORRISON (USA) #11
Jackson BUCHANAN (USA) #12
Michael LA SASSO (USA) #17
Josiah GILBERT (USA) #21
Max HERENDEEN (USA) #24
Cameron TANKERSLEY (USA) #30
Jack TURNER (USA) #34
Jake PEACOCK (USA) #35
Wells WILLIAMS (USA) #36
Daniel SVARD (SWE) #39
Lance SIMPSON (USA) #40
Jacob MODLESKI (USA) #41
Parker BELL (USA) #42
Maxwell FORD (USA) #46
Justin HASTINGS (CAY) #47
Ethan EVANS (USA) #48
Miles RUSSELL (USA) #51
Luke POTTER (USA) #54
Mahanth CHIRRAVURI (USA) #56
Matthew TROUTMAN (USA) #60
Gray ALBRIGHT (USA) #62
William SIDES (USA) #67
Nicholas MATTHEWS (USA) #68
Luke SAMPLE (USA) #71
Scotty KENNON (USA) #73
Cohen TROLIO (USA) #85
Frankie HARRIS (USA) #87
Jonathan GRIZ (USA) #89
Tyler WATTS (USA) #96
Zach KINGSLAND (USA) #98
Zac JONES (USA) #100

Course

Ocean Forest is a challenging course with an exposed seaside links feel. Holes run alongside both the Hampton River and the Atlantic Ocean with marshes and the sea abutting a number of the fairways and greens. The remaining holes are cut through a pine forest. 

Natural sand dunes are evident albeit the defining feature is the small undulating greens. 

The course plays to 7,308 yards with a standard par of 72. If the wind blows here scores can be unusually high.

The Club was founded in 1995 by Bill Jones III. His family’s Sea Island Company having owned the land since the 1920’s.

Jones invited architect Rees Jones to design a championship course on the site with work commencing in September 1993. Some renovation work was subsequently done by Rees Jones in 2007. Beau Welling Design worked on the course in 2023 refreshing most of the tees, greens and bunkers as well as adding a number of new sandy waste areas.

President George H. Bush, Bill Jones III, former U.S. attorney general Griffin Bell, David Love III and Rees Jones played the opening round in Spring 1995. 

The course was awarded the 2001 Walker Cup shortly after opening. At just 6 years old it remains the youngest club to be afforded this honour. Peter McEvoy led GB&I to a convincing 15-9 victory.

Weather Forecast (as at 7th January)

Generally sunny weather is expected this week albeit it will be cold and as always a little windy.

Fri 10th Jan. – Cloudy / Wind 11 mph NE / Temp. Min. -1°C, Max. 9°C.
Sat 11th Jan. – Rain AM, Sunny PM / Wind 11 mph NW / Temp. Min. 8°C, Max. 11°C.
Sun 12th Jan. – Sunny / Wind 5 mph W / Temp. Min. 2°C, Max. 14°C.

2024 Jones Cup Invitational

Jacob MODLESKI (USA) won the 20th Jones Cup Invitational at Ocean Forest G.C. with a 215 (-1) total. He was the only player to finish the 54-holes under par and earned him a 1-shot victory.

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Jacob Modleski (Photo: Jones Cup Invitational)

Caleb SURRATT (USA) and Jackson KOIVUN (USA) finished tied 2nd on Even par.

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2024 Results (Graphic: Jones Cup Invitational / Golf Genius)

It was a disappointing Jones Cup for the GB&I contingent who were competing. Jack BIGHAM (ENG) +8 finished tied 18th, James ASHFIELD (WAL) +11 tied 27th and Calum SCOTT (SCO) +13 tied 33rd.

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2024 GB&I-Only Results (Graphic: Jones Cup Invitational / Golf Genius)

Click here to view the – 2024 Jones Cup Invitational Results

Here is a list of the past winners with their finishing scores: –

2024 – Jacob MODLESKI (USA) 215 (-1)
2023 – David FORD (USA) 204 (-12)
2022 – Palmer JACKSON (USA) 211 (-5)
2021 – Ludvig ÅBERG (SWE) 214 (-2)
2020 – Davis THOMPSON (USA) 203 (-13)
2019 – Akshay BHATIA (USA) 142 (-2) – event shortened to 36 holes due to bad weather
2018 – Garrett BARBER (USA) 212 (-4) – winner of the Jones Cup Junior Invitational in 2016
2017 – Braden THORNBERRY (USA) 212 (-4)
2016 – Beau HOSSLER (USA) 214 (-2)
2015 – Austen CONNELLY (USA) 216 (Ev) 
2014 – Corey CONNORS (CAN) 218 (+2)
2013 – Sean DALE (USA) 213 (-3)
2012 – Justin THOMAS (USA) 216 (Ev)
2011 – John PETERSON (USA) 217 (+1)
2010 – Patrick READ (USA) 222 (+6)
2009 – Kyle STANLEY (USA) 217 (+1)
2007 – Luke LIST (USA) 206 (-10) – played at Frederica G.C. due to renovation work at Ocean Forest
2005 – Nicholas THOMPSON (USA) 214 (-2)
2003 – Gregg JONES (USA) 211 (-5)
2001 – DJ TRAHAN (USA) 210 (-6)

Canada’s Corey Connors (2014) and Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg (2021) are the only non-American winners of the Jones Cup Invitational.

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2025, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

South Beach International Amateur – 2024 Preview & Results

22nd December 2024

Round 4

Miles RUSSELL (USA) won the 2024 South Beach International Amateur (SBIA) title with a record breaking 264 (-19) total.

As the lowest WAGR ranked player in the field 16 year old left hander Russell backed up his favourite status to enhance his reputation even further.

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Jim McClean and Miles Russell (Photo: SBIA)

Henry GUAN (USA) -17 finished 2nd, Alex HEFFNER (USA) -15 3rd, Lev GRINBERG (UKR) -14 4th and J. Holland HUMPHRIES (USA) -13 5th. 

Zach ADAMS (USA) produced the best round of the day matching Russell’s 8-under 63 from Rounds 1 and 3. A tied 6th place result was the outcome of his final day charge.

The average Round 4 score at Miami Beach from the 77 remaining players was 71.08 (+0.08).

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SBIA Results – Leading Players

Tom BASTOW (WAL) and Daniel HAYES (ENG) finished on -9 to secure a tied 16th result.

Charlie FORSTER (ENG) -6 finished tied 33rd and Ben BOLTON (ENG) -5 tied 36th.

Given the starting field of 210 players these all represent encouraging results for all four GB&I players. 

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SBIA Results – GB&I Players

Click here to view the – SBIA 2024 Leaderboard

ME.

__________________________________________

21st December 2024

Round 3

Miles RUSSELL (USA) produced his second 63 of the tournament at Miami Beach, the best of the day, to move into a 3-shot 54 hole lead at the SBIA on -18.

Lev GRINBERG‘s (UKR) and Henry GUAN‘s (USA) 66’s kept them firmly in the mix on -15 and -14 respectively.

Probably too far back to challenge tomorrow Cooper CLAYCOMB (USA), Alex HEFFNER (USA) and Jack SCHOENBERGER (USA) are all tied 4th on -11.

The average Round 3 score at Miami Beach from the 77 remaining players was 70.56 (-0.44).

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SBIA Round 3 Scores – Leading Players

Daniel HAYES (ENG) -9 remained in the top 10 after a third round 69.

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SBIA Round 3 Scores – GB&I Players

ME.

__________________________________________

20th December 2024

Round 2

Lev GRINBERG (UKR) and Miles RUSSELL (USA) share the 36 hole lead at the SBIA on 131 (-10). Grinberg posted a 65 (-5) and Russell a 68 (-2) for their second rounds at Normandy Shores.

Adam BRESNU (MOR), Henry GUAN (USA) and Drew WILSON (USA) are all tied 3rd on -9.

Julio ARRONTE (MEX), a 63 (-8) at Miami Beach, and Hugo TROMMETTER (FRA) & Deven PATEL (USA), 64’s (-6) at Normandy Beach, posted the low rounds of the day.

The average Round 2 scores at Miami Beach and Normandy Shores were 71.01 (+0.01) [Round 1: 71.39 (+0.39)] and 70.91 (-0.09) [Round 1: 69.90 (-0.10)] respectively.

77 players made the top 72 and ties 36 hole cut which fell at record low of 139 (-2).

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SBIA Round 2 Scores – Leading Players

After both recorded Round 2 68’s at Miami Beach Ben BOLTON (ENG) and Daniel HAYES (ENG) -7 finished the day tied for 10th place.

Tom BASTOW (WAL) -6, tied 19th, and Charlie FORSTER (ENG) -4, tied 37th, were the only other GB&I players to make the cut.

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SBIA Round 2 Scores – GB&I Players

ME.

__________________________________________

19th December 2024

Round 1

Cooper CLAYCOMB (USA) took the early lead at the SBIA with a blemish free round of 62 (-9) at Miami Beach (par 71).

Highly rated junior Miles RUSSELL (USA), the lowest WAGR-ranked player in the field at #77, is 1-shot back after his own 63 (-8) also at the main tournament course.

Henry GUAN (USA), Carter LOFFIN (USA), Cooper SMITH (USA) and Dylan TEETER (USA) all produced the best score at co-hosting Normandy Shores (par 70); a 6-under 64.

The average Round 1 scores at Miami Beach and Normandy Shores were 71.39 (+0.39) and 69.90 (-0.10) respectively. 

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SBIA Round 1 Scores – Leading Players

Tom BASTOW (WAL) -5 (NS), Ben BOLTON (ENG) -4 (NS), Daniel HAYES (ENG) -4 (NS), Tom SCULLION (ENG) -2 (MB), Jake HIBBERT (ENG) -1 (MB) and Kris KIM (ENG) -1 (NS) all made encouraging under par starts to the tournament.

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SBIA Round 1 Scores – GB&I Players

ME.

__________________________________________

16th December 2024

The 14th South Beach International Amateur (SBIA) will be played between 19th-22nd December 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida (GMT -5 hours).

Screenshot 2024-12-18 at 19.26.51

First played in 2011 the SBIA has quickly become one of the world’s leading amateur golf competitions, attracting an international field.

This article will be updated on a daily basis once play commences.

Format

The SBIA is a 72 hole stroke play competition played over four days.

18 holes are played at both Miami Beach G.C. and the nearby Normandy Shores G.C. by the full field over the first two days.

After a top 72 and ties cut the final 36 holes are played exclusively at Miami Beach over the remaining two days.

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Miami Beach Golf Club

Players

A maximum field of 210 players are permitted with the entry fee set at $465.

14 golfers from Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) are in this year’s starting field, a number of whom are studying at U.S. colleges. There were also 14 last year with the highest ever entry being 19 in 2018.

I’ve listed all of this year’s GB&I entries below (in alphabetical order) along with their current WAGR (as at 16th December): –

Tom BASTOW (WAL) #619
Max BERRISFORD (ENG) #N/R
Ben BOLTON (ENG) #398
Charlie FORSTER (ENG) #161
Daniel HAYES (ENG) #423
Jake HIBBERT (ENG) #2,783
Kris KIM (ENG) #380
Cameron MUKHERJEE (SCO) #1,372
Oliver MUKHERJEE (SCO) #1,631
Sam MUKHERJEE (ENG) #1,641
Joe PAGDIN (ENG) #938
Luke POULTER (ENG) #328
Alexander ROWLAND (ENG) #2,360
Tom SCULLION (ENG) #883

Other players in the WAGR Top 200 competing include (in rank order): –

Miles RUSSELL (USA) #77
Deven PATEL (USA) #83
Jackson HERRINGTON (USA) #129
Hugo LE GOFF (FRA) #139
Lev GRINBERG (UKR) #146

Courses

Both courses were designed by Arthur Hills and play to around 6,800 yards.

They are typical Florida layouts with numerous lakes coming into play throughout the 18 holes. As a result scores can be high if the wind blows – which it frequently does here.

Normandy Shores plays to a par of 70 and Miami Beach a par of 71 during the tournament.

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Normandy Shores Golf Club

Weather Forecast (as at 16th December)

The weather generally looks good for the duration of the event albeit the wind shouldn’t be under-estimated as it normally proves to be a factor on both of these flat exposed coastal courses.

Tue 19th Dec – Thundery Showers / Wind 7 mph SE / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 26°C.
Wed  20th Dec – Sunny Intervals / Wind 9 mph NW / Temp. Min. 11°C, Max. 26°C.
Thu 21st Dec – Sunny / Wind 10 mph NW / Temp. Min. 9°C, Min 22°C.
Fri 22nd Dec – Sunny Intervals / Wind 13 mph NE / Temp. Min. 13°C, Max. 23°C.

SBIA Website Link

Click here to view the – SBIA Website

2023 South Beach International Amateur

Ben JAMES (USA) won the 2023 South Beach International Amateur (SBIA) by 2 shots with a 271 (-12) total.

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Ben James (Photo: SBIA)

His nearest challengers were Michael LA SASSO (USA) and Miles RUSSELL (USA) who tied for 2nd place.

Here are the final results of the leading players: –

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SBIA Results – Leading Players

Here are the 72 hole results for the GB&I players who made the cut: –

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SBIA Results – GB&I Only After 72 Holes

Here are the GB&I 36 hole scores: –

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SBIA Scores – GB&I Only After 36 Holes

Click here to view the – SBIA 2023 Final Results

Historic Results

Here is a list of past winners, provided with their winning scores and the 36 hole cut marks for each year: – 

2024 – Miles RUSSELL (USA) -19 / Cut -2
2023 – Ben JAMES (USA) -12 / Cut +1
2022 – Luke CLANTON (USA) -17 / Cut Ev
2021 – Finigan TILLY (USA) -15 / Cut -1
2020 – Cole HAMMER (USA) -16 / Cut Ev
2019 – Ben SHIPP (USA) -2 / Cut +8
2018 – Pierceson COODY (USA) -11 / Cut +3
2017 – Jacob BERGERON (USA) -3 / Cut Ev
2016 – Danny WALKER (USA) -4 / Cut +1
2015 – Jorge GARCIA (VEN) -5 / Cut +6
2014 – Gabriel LENCH (USA) -4 / Cut +3
2013 – Greg EASON (ENG) -5 / Cut +6
2012 – Juan Pablo HERNANDEZ (MEX) -10 / Cut +3
2011 – Kelly KRAFT (USA) -4 / Cut +11

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2025, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

DP World Tour Q-School – 2024 Final Stage Preview & Results

4th November 2024 (Updated 14th November 2024)

FINAL RESULTS

Eduardo MOLINARI (ITA) -29 secured medalist honours at the DP World Tour Q-School’s Final Stage event played at Infinitum Resort in Tarragona, Spain. The experienced Italian ended the 2024 Race to Dubai standings in 140th place but bounced back from this disappointment in some style.

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Eduardo Molinari (Photo: DP World Tour Q-School)

A total of 21 players from 13 different countries secured their cards for the 2025 season.

Niklas LEMKE (SWE) -28 finished 2nd and Davis BRYANT (USA) -27, who finished with a 9-under 62, was 3rd.

Joshua BERRY (ENG), who was the star of last year’s Q-School – Final Stage as an 18 year old, also finished strongly. His final round 63 saw him rise from tied 29th to tied 10th.

Ben SCHMIDT (ENG) -19, tied 12th, was the only other Great British and Irish player to finish in the all-important top 20 and ties places.

Amateur champion Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN) -18 came home in tied 18th. Still an amateur he will presumably turn pro now and forego The Masters Invitational and U.S. Open Championship exemptions he earned at Ballyliffin.

Davis BRYANT (USA), Albert BONETA (ESP), Riggs JOHNSTON (USA), Corey SHAUN (USA), Dan ERICKSON (USA) and Danny LIST (AUS) successfully contested all three rounds of Q-School to earn their cards. That’s a total of 14 competitive rounds and 252 holes over the last few weeks.

Bastian AMAT (FRA) -21, who tied 7th to also advance, turned pro ahead of Final Stage Q-School having been exempted into Second Stage due to his high World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Screenshot 2024-11-14 at 16.18.36

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Qualifiers – Final Results (Graphic: DP World Tour)

David LAW (SCO) -17, Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG) and Irish amateur Max KENNEDY (IRL) all finished on -17 to miss out on a card by 1-shot. A final round 64 from Kennedy will hopefully bolster his confidence ahead of turning pro and starting out on the Challenge Tour.

Play in Round 5 on Tuesday was suspended at 3.50pm local time with 20 players still to complete a few holes of their rounds. Due to a severe weather forecast for Wednesday play only re-started at 8.30am on Thursday with the final round tee times slightly delayed. A 24 hour delay to the playing of such an important round will no doubt have tested the nerves of the field.

Screenshot 2024-11-14 at 16.16.22

GB&I & Amateurs Final Results (Graphic: DP World Tour)

83 players made the 72 hole 65 player and ties cut which fell at -7 on Monday. These players are now eligible for the Challenge Tour in 2025.

Vince VAN VEEN (NED) produced the low round of the tournament in Round 3 with a 12-birdie 59 (-12) on the par 71 Lakes Course.

22 GB&I players missed this cut as shown below.

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Round 4 GB&I Missed Cut Leaderboard (Graphic: DP World Tour)

Click here to view the – DP World Tour 2024 Q-School – Final Stage Results

__________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

The DP World Tour Q-School consists of three stages; First, Second and Final.

This post covers FINAL STAGE QUALIFYING which is being played at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona, Spain between the 8th-13th November.

My focus remains on the amateur players, the Great British & Irish (GB&I) professionals, any newly turned professionals from abroad and all of the 1st and 2nd Stage Q-School Winners.

Earlier articles have covered the nine FIRST STAGE and four SECOND STAGE events which have led us to this week’s FINAL STAGE.

156 players will battle over six rounds for a top 20 and ties finish and a place on the DP World Tour for the 2025 season. The number of places available has been reduced from 25 and ties this year.

The Final Results will be added to this article in due course.

More information on the whole 2024 Qualifying School can be found in the Appendix at the end of this article.

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COMPETITION AND FIELD 

156 players will play a total of six rounds or 108 holes over Infinitum’s two championship courses; the Lakes which plays 7,001 yards (par 71) and the Hills which is slightly shorter at 6,956 yards (par 72).

100 players – 94 qualifiers and 6 alternates – came through the four Second Stage competitions with the remaining 56 being exempted into Final Stage through their recent endeavours on the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour.

36 Great British & Irish (GB&I) players will be competing this week; 20 came through Second Stage with 16 being exempt.

3 amateurs have made it through to the Finals; namely Tiger Christensen (GER), Max Kennedy (IRL) and the Amateur champion Jacob Skov Olesen (DEN).

Alternates from Second Stage will be added to the field in the event of any withdrawals.

After two rounds are played on both the Hills and Lakes courses (72 holes) the field will be cut to the leading 65 players and ties (previously 70). The final 36 holes will then be played on the Lakes Course over the remaining two competition days.

Here is an alphabetical list of the 51 players that I am specifically following with details of their Q-School journeys so far: –

Great British & Irish (36)
Callan BARROW (ENG) – 2nd Las Pinaillas
Joshua BERRY (ENG) – 2nd Las Pinaillas
Charlie CROCKETT (ENG) – 1st Stage Donnington Grove / 2nd Desert Springs
Jack DAVIDSON (WAL) – 2nd Las Pinaillas
Will ENEFER (ENG) – 2nd Las Pinaillas
Rhys ENOCH (WAL) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Giles EVANS (ENG) – 1st Stage The Players Club / 2nd Desert Springs
Ryan EVANS (ENG) – 1st Stage The Players Club / 2nd Isla Canela Links
Jack FLOYDD (ENG) – 1st Stage Horsens GK / 2nd Desert Springs
Stephen GALLACHER (SCO) – EX DP World Tour Career Money List Top 75
Bailey GILL (ENG) – 1st Huddersfield GC / 2nd Desert Springs
Chris HANSON (ENG) – 1st Stage Huddersfield GC / 2nd Las Pinaillas
David HORSEY (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Toby HUNT (WAL) – 1st Golf de Léry Poses / 2nd Desert Springs
Gary HURLEY (IRL) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Sam HUTSBY (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Frank KENNEDY (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Max KENNEDY (IRL) AM1st Stage Horsens GK / 2nd Isla Canela Links
David LAW (SCO) – EX DP World Tour 2024 Ranked 111th-145th 
Tom LEWIS (ENG) – 2nd Isla Canela Links
Ryan LUMSDEN (SCO) – 2nd Isla Canela Links
Stuart MANLEY (WAL) – 2nd Fontanals
Dermot MCELROY (NIR) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
James MORRISON (ENG) – EX DP World Tour 2024 Ranked 111th-145th 
Eddie PEPPERELL (ENG) – EX DP World Tour 2024 Ranked 111th-145th 
Alfie PLANT (ENG) – 2nd Desert Springs
Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Ben SCHMIDT (ENG) – EX Challenge Tour 2024 Ranked 21st-45th
Tom SHADBOLT (ENG) – 2nd Desert Springs
Lee SLATTERY (ENG) – 2nd Fontanals
Tom SLOMAN (ENG) – 1st Stage The Players Club / 2nd Desert Springs
Matthew SOUTHGATE (ENG) – EX DP World Tour 2024 Ranked 111th-145th 
Thomas THURLOWAY (ENG) – 1st Stage Millennium Golf / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Marc WARREN (SCO) – EX DP World Tour Career Money List Top 75
Oliver WILSON (ENG) – EX DP World Tour 2024 Ranked 111th-145th 
Chris WOOD (ENG) – EX DP World Tour Career Money List Top 75

Overseas (15)
Bastian AMAT (FRA) TURNED PRO 10/242nd Fontanals
Haydn BARRON (AUS) – 2nd Fontanals Co-Winner
David BORIBOONSUB (THA) – 1st Stage Donnington Grove / 2nd Las Pinaillas Winner
Matthew CHEUNG (HKO) -16 T3 – 1st Stage Millennium Golf Co-Winner / 2nd Fontanals
Tiger CHRISTENSEN (GER) AM1st Stage Golf Nazionale / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Dan ERICKSON (USA) – 1st Stage Arlandastad Winner / 2nd Las Pinaillas
Jakub HRINDA (SLO) – 1st Stage Huddersfield GC / 2nd Fontanals Co-Winner
Palmer JACKSON (USA) TURNED PRO 9/241st Arlandastad Winner / 2nd Desert Springs
Luis MASAVEU (ESP) TURNED PRO 10/242nd Fontanals
Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN) AM 2nd Isla Canela Links
Clement SORDET (FRA) – 2nd Isla Canela Links Co-Winner
Max STEINLECHNER (AUS) – 2nd Isla Canela Links Co-Winner
Scott STEVENS (USA) – 1st Stage Golf Nazionale Co-Winner / 2nd Fontanals
Tim TILLMANNS (GER) – 1st Stage Donnington Grove Co-Winner / 2nd Isla Canela Links
Jiri ZUSKA (SLO) – 1st Golf de Léry Poses Winner  / 2nd Desert Springs Winner

EX – Exempt Into Final Stage

PRIZES

Players finishing in the The top 20 and ties will earn conditional membership (Category 18) on the DP World Tour and fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour for the 2025 season.

Players making the cut and finishing lower than 20th will earn conditional membership (Category 21) on the DP World Tour and fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour for the 2025 season.

Players who miss the Top 70 cut after 72 holes are eligible for membership of the Challenge Tour in 2025.

Each player will be ranked according to their final results with ties resolved by card play-off. For those that make the cut the initial focus will be on the best last 18 holes, then best last 36 holes and then the best 3rd or 4th round over the Lakes Course.

This finishing position ranking is important as it can make a big difference to the number of Tour starts recevied.

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Infinitum – 18th hole, Hills Course (Photo: http://www.infinitumliving.com)

APPENDIX

THE 2024 DP WORLD TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL SERIES

The DP World Tour (previously known as the European Tour) Qualifying School was first played in 1976, four years after the European Tour was founded. What started out as a 72 hole test has grown into potentially a 252 hole marathon.

Nowadays there are three stages of stroke play qualifying; First, Second and Final.

The 2024 European Tour Q-School entrance fee is £2,750 (2023: £2,500, 2022: £2,000, 2019: £1,800) with entries closed on 14th August 2024.

Male amateur golfers who are listed in positions 1-2,000 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) or have a handicap index of not more than +1.5 can enter.

Some entrants are exempted straight into Second Stage or Final Stage based on their past results and ranking.

From an amateur perspective, and subject to entering First Stage, exemptions into Second Stage are available to: –

  • the leading 3 entrants as at 14th August 2024 to a limit of 20th place in the WAGR; and
  • the leading 2 entrants as at 14th August 2024 to a limit of 10th place in the Global Amateur Ranking.

FIRST STAGE

First Stage consisted of nine 72 hole stroke play qualifying events.

Around 20% of each field, between 20-30 players, progressed from each event. The actual number of places were confirmed after all of the players had teed off on Day 1 of each qualifier. All players tied for the last qualifying position advanced to the Second Stage.

This year the DP World Tour introduced a 36 hole cut to First Stage removing players not within 12-shots of the final qualifying place. The 54 hole cut, where only players within 7-shots of the final qualifying place play the final round, also remained in place.

808 players competed in First Stage this year. This included 199 players from GB&I (24.6%) and 76 amateurs (9.4%). 190 of them progressed to Second Stage. 50 were from GB&I and 10 were amateurs.

For more information on this year’s First Stage please read – DP World Tour Q-School – 2024 First Stage Preview & Results

Here are links to all of the results from the First Stage events:-

27th-30th Aug 2024 1. GOLF NAZIONALE, SUTRI, ITALYGolf Nazionale Q-School Results

27th-30th Aug 2024 2. THE PLAYERS CLUB, ENGLAND The Players Club Q-School Results

3rd-6th Sept 2024 3. MILLENIUM GOLF, BELGIUM – Millennium Golf Q-School Results

3rd-6th Sept 2024 4. HUDDERSFIELD GC, ENGLAND Huddersfield Q-School Results

10th-13th Sept 2024 5. ARLANDASTAD GOLF, SWEDEN Arlandastad Q-School Results

11th-14th Sept 2024 6. GOLFCLUB SCHLOSS, AUSTRIA Ebreichsdorf Q-School Results

17th-20th Sept 2024 7. DONNINGTON GROVE GC, ENGLAND – Donnington Grove Q-School Results

24th-28th Sept 2024 8. HORSENS GOLFKLUB, DENMARK Horsens Q-School Results

24th-28th Sept 2024 9. GOLF DE LÉRY POSES, FRANCE – Golf de Léry Q-School Results

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SECOND STAGE

The Second Qualifying Stage consists of four separate 72-hole events.

31st October – 3rd November 2024

DESERT SPRINGS RESORT, ALMERIA, SPAINDesert Springs Q-School Results

FORTANALS GOLF CLUB, GIRONA, SPAINFortanals Q-School Results

ISLA CANELA (LINKS COURSE), HUELVA, SPAINIsla Canela Q-School Results

GOLF LAS PINAILLAS, ALBACETE, SPAINGolf Las Pinaillas Q-School Results

The leading three amateur entrants – down from five last year – as at 14th August 2024 to a limit of 20th place in the WAGR were exempt from First Stage and could start their Q-School journeys at Second Stage. Bastian Amat (FRA), Wenyi Ding (CHN) and Jacob Skov Olesen (DEN) earned these exemptions.

The leading two amateur entrants as at 14th August 2024 to a limit of 10th place in the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking were also exempt from First Stage. James Ashfield (WAL) and Luis Masaveu (ESP) enjoyed these exemptions. Ashfield turned pro in late September 2024 ahead of Second Stage but retained his exemption.

There is no cut but players are able to withdrawal after each round if they wish to.

Sudden death play-offs are held to resolve ties at this Stage and provide an Alternates list.

The actual number of places available for Final Stage are again confirmed after all of the players have teed off on Day 1 of each event. Sudden death play-offs are held to resolve ties at this Stage.

For more information on this year’s Second Stage please read – DP World Tour Q-School – 2024 Second Stage Preview & Results

FINAL STAGE

The Final Qualifying Stage consists of 108 holes on the Lakes and Hills Courses at Infinitum Golf, previously known as Lumine GC, in Tarragona, Spain.

8th-13th November 2024

INFINITUM, TARRAGONA, SPAIN

Infinitum replaced PGA Catalunya Resort in 2017 and will be hosting Final Stage for the sixth time this year. No Q-School was held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new 3 year contract through to 2027 was announced on 12th November 2024 which will see the Tarragona venue continue to stage the Finals.

156 players will play two rounds over each of the Lakes and Hills Courses. After these 72 holes the field will be cut to the leading 65 players and ties who will play a final 36 holes.

The leading 20 players (plus those tied for 20th place) – it has previously been the leading 25 players and ties – in the Final Stage competition will earn Conditional Membership of The DP World Tour (and fully exempt status on the Challenge Tour) for the 2025 season. On average the medalist receives 27 tournament starts whilst the 25th qualifier has receives 18.

Those who make the 72 hole cut but finish outside the Top 20 will also earn a membership category, albeit a lower one, on the DP World Tour (and Challenge Tour).

Players who miss the cut will be eligible for membership of the Challenge Tour.

Every player is ranked according to their finishing score, card count backs assisting in this process, and this ranking matters when it comes to future playing opportunities.

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2024, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

September 2024 Men’s Amateur Rankings

8th October 2024

Throughout the year I analyse the main golf rankings to help us assess the performances of Great Britain and Ireland’s leading players as well as the status of events they compete in.

This information is maintained on the Rankings page of the GolfBible website and is updated quarterly.

The latest update covering the September 2024 Quarter period has now been added.

I have selected Daniel Hayes (ENG) as my Player of the Quarter after he won three events and capped off an excellent breakthrough season.

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Daniel Hayes (Photo: Leaderboard Photography / England Golf)

Here is a summary of Daniel’s Quarter 3 performances:-

The South East of England Links Championship  (72 Holes SP)- 1st
The Jacques Leglise Trophy – Foursomes L1 / Singles W1 L0 H1
R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship – SPQ (36 Holes) Tied 4th, MP Quarter Finals
Women’s and Men’s Home Internationals – Foursomes H1, Singles W1 L1 H1
English Men’s Amateur Championship – SPQ (36 Holes) 7th / MP Round of 64
English U18 Boys’ Carris Trophy (72 Holes SP) – 1st
The Cheshire Cat (72 Holes SP) – 1st
European Boys’ Team Championship – SPQ Tied 3rd (36 Holes) / MP Foursomes L1, Singles W1 L1 H1

Pease click this link to be redirected to my Rankings page – GolfBible Rankings

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2024, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.