Saturday 21st June 2025
Ethan FANG (USA), 20, won the 130th Amateur Championship at Royal St. George’s G.C. He is the 23rd champion from the United States and the first since Drew Weaver in 2007.
Ethan Fang Holds The Amateur Championship Trophy (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)
He beat Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) by 1 Hole in the 36 hole Final. After the County Louth man had birdied the 16th and 17th holes on their second circuit with lengthy putts to draw back level the American played a superb approach into the 18th and converted his 4 foot birdie putt to take the title.
Both players were a little nervous at the start of the Final before setting down to play some excellent golf in the opening 18 holes. Tiernan took a 1Up lead into the lunch break helped by winning birdies on the 12th and 16th holes.
Fang, playing links golf for the first time this week, made the fewer mistakes in the afternoon and in the end deserved his narrow win. “It’s probably the most consistent golf I’ve played in my life. It’s a super long tournament and it just feels really good to finally get it done” the champion said afterwards.
The Amateur Championship Final Scoreboard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Click here to view the – 2025 Amateur Championship Match Play Results
Fang will receive the Championship Trophy and a Gold Medal. On the basis he remains an amateur, he can now look forward to exemptions into the 2025 Open Championship, the 2026 Masters Tournament, the 2026 U.S. Open Championship and the 2025 Betfred British Masters Hosted By Sir Nick Faldo on the DP World Tour.
Runner-Up Tiernan, on the basis he stays amateur, will receive an invitation to compete in a future Challenge Tour event and will also be exempt into Final Qualifying for the 2025 Open Championship.
Reflecting on his defeat the East Tennessee State golfer said “I’m disappointed. It was touch and go the whole time. I made a couple of silly mistakes around the middle part of the back-nine, and that really cost me. But he hit a fantastic shot in on 18. Just a great birdie. Fair play to him.”
It will be interesting to see how GB&I captain Dean Robertson assesses the Irishman’s performance this week. Tiernan, not even close to being selected before this week, would have earned an automatic selection for both the GB&I St. Andrews Trophy and Walker Cup teams with victory but now his fate is out of his hands.
The 131st Amateur Championship will be played at Royal Liverpool G.C. from 15-20 June 2026.
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Friday 20th June 2025
Match Play Semi-Finals (PM)
Ethan FANG (USA) secured his place in the Championship Match with a convincing 5&4 victory over Veikka VISKARI (FIN). Fang took the lead on the 3rd and impressively built on it after not being punished for a few early errors. It is so hard to deliver two quality rounds in one day under the pressure of the Amateur Championship and Viskari simply struggled to get going after looking so assured in his Quarter Final.
E. Fang v. V. Viskari Semi-Final Scorboard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
As in the first semi-final Riccardo FANTINELLI (ITA) just seemed to hit the wall this afternoon – seven rounds in five days does that to you – and pleasingly Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) was good enough to take advantage. Tiernan’s solid golf saw him take a 4&3 victory on the 15th green.
R. Fantinelli v. G Tiernan Semi-Final Scorboard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
The two losing semi-finalists receive a Bronze Medal. They also earned invitations to compete in a Challenge Tour event and will be exempt into Final Qualifying for the 2025 Open Championship.
Match Play Quarter Finals (AM)
Ethan FANG (USA), 20, beat Callixte ALZAS (FRA), 16, by 2 Holes in the opening Quarter Final match at Royal St. George’s G.C. In a competitive match Fang’s three consecutive birdies on the back nine proved decisive.
Fang was understandably delighted to reach the Final: “Yeah, it feels great. It’s just been a long week, and we’ve got another 36 to go. I’m ready to get some rest after this. I try to stay pretty calm when I play. The tournament is not over, so I think after tomorrow we’ll celebrate either way because it’s been a good week.”
E. Fang v. C. Alzas Quarter Final Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
In a high quality encounter Veikka VISKARI (FIN) fought back well from losing the three opening holes to birdies to take out the experienced Frenchman Matthis LEFEVRE. Viskari played error free golf and slotted home four birdies, the key one coming on the par 3 16th, to ultimately secure a narrow 1 Hole win.
M. Lefevre v. V. Viskari Quarter Final Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
In Game 3 Riccardo FANTINELLI (ITA) proved to be too good for Billy DOWLING (AUS) who was unable to repeat his low scoring of yesterday. Three bogeys in the opening six holes set the Australian back and when Fantinelli, the 2024 and 2025 Ivy League Player of the Year, eagled the 7th and birdied the 8th to go 4Up there was unlikely to be a way back for him.
B. Dowling v. R Fantinelli Quarter Final Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Not for the first time this week Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) finished his round at Royal St. George’s strongly to take a narrow 1 Hole win against Richard TEDER (EST). The East Tennessee State student, who let’s not forget came through Pre-Qualifying last Friday, birdied 14 and 16 before a delivering a no stress par on 18 to take the lead for the first time.
Talking to The R&A after his semi-final win Tiernan said “If you’d told me at the start of the week I’d be in the final, I would have been over the moon. I’m just really enjoying it, taking it one shot at a time, and just having fun out there. That’s all I’m trying to do”. ‘(The WAGR difference) doesn’t really mean much to me, to be honest. In my head, I’m the best player here. Might not be the truth, but that’s what I believe. It doesn’t really matter who I’m playing against. Really I’m just playing against the golf course. Playing against myself really.”
R Teder v. G Tiernan Quarter Final Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
The losing Quarter Finalists, on the basis they are still an amateur, receive exemptions into Final Qualifying for next month’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
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Thursday 19th June 2025
Match Play Round of 16 (PM)
Milan REED (ENG) couldn’t re-produce his form from this morning in Round 3 and when Ethan FANG (USA), 20, now the top WAGR-ranked player in the field, recorded five birdies in eight holes the match quickly came to an end and we had our first quarter finalist.
Ethan Fang v. Milan Reed Last 16 Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
French pair Callixte ALZAS, 16, and Matthis LEFEVRE, 24, quickly ensured that France would be the best represented country in the Quarter Finals with comfortable 4&3 wins in Games 2 and 3.
Finland’s Veikka VISKARI made up for compatriot’s Sakke SILTALA earlier loss to Alzas in Game 4 by beating Rintaro NAKANO (JAP). The Fin took the lead on the 2nd hole and held onto it with relative comfort for the remainder of the match.
Billy DOWLING (AUS), 20, again impressed recording an eagle and four birdies in his 3&2 win against Filippo PONZANO (ITA).
Riccardo FANTINELLI (ITA) kept Italian hopes alive with a 3&1 win against Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER). Fantinelli, a rising senior at Princeton University, may prove to be a danger man in the later stages. He is clearly playing well and is very comfortable in the South East of England. He was educated at Reeds School in Surrey and was runner-up to Jack Bigham in the 2021 Boys’ Amateur played at Royal Cinque Ports G.C.
It was probably ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ for Ben GREGG (USA) this afternoon having disposed of Tommy Morrison in the round of 32. Having fallen 6Down after six holes to Richard TEDER (EST), 20, who reached the Quarter finals in 2023 before losing to the eventual champion Christo Lmaprecht, he fought back bravely but eventually lost by 3&2.
Having started with 89 players in the Stroke Play Qualifying and then 17 in the Match Play Round of 64 GB&I are now left with just Gavin TIERNAN (IRL), 19, to carry our hopes into the latter stages. Tiernan produced a steady performance this afternoon to dispose of Gaspar GLAUDAS (FRA) 3&2. The Frenchman hadn’t played particularly well this morning in beating Eliot Baker and was unable to gain any momentum in his second game of the day.
Gavin Tiernan v. Gaspar Glaudus Round of 16 Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Here are the full Last 16 match results: –
The Amateur Championship Last 16 Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Match Play Round of 32 (AM)
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) enjoyed a dream start against WAGR #7 Ethan FANG (USA), going 3Up after four holes simply by playing par golf. Having then lost this lead around the turn he regained it, moving into a 2Up lead with a birdie on the 14th. However, Fang would have the last word. He birdied 17 and 18 to tie the game before completing a memorable comeback with an another birdie on the 20th Hole.
Like last year medalist Graham again lost in the second round of Match Play.
Connor Graham v. Ethan Fang Round of 32 Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Milan REED (ENG) produced a battling display to stay in touch with Alvaro PASTOR ROMAN (ESP) before pulling away for a 1 Hole win thanks to three late birdies over the final six holes.
Alvaro Pastor Roman v. Milan Reed Round of 32 Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Kris KIM (ENG) fell away badly on the back nine of his match against an equally out of sorts Matthis LEFEVRE (FRA) seemingly, if the scoreboard can be believed, throwing away a 2Up lead with six holes to play.
Matthis Lefevre v. Kris Kim Round of 32 Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Having suggested over the first three days of the Championship that he may be about to break his run of poor form in 2025 Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) was disappointingly beaten 3&2 by the more consistent Rintaro NAKANO (JAP).
Rintaro Nakano v. Dominic Clemons Round of 32 Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Harley SMITH (ENG) came out on the wrong side of a tight game against Italy’s Filippo PONZANO where neither player led by more than one hole throughout. Ponzano birdied the par 3 3rd hole for the second time to take a narrow 1 Hole win.
Filippo Ponzano v. Harley Smith Round of 32 Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) edged a close match with Jarno TOLLENAIRE (BEL). Five birdies, admittedly in a rollercoaster back nine, pushed the County Louth golfer into the Last 16.
Gavin Tiernan v. Jarno Tollenaire Round of 32 Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
An error strewn performance from Eliot BAKER (ENG) means the Devonian can have few complaints about being knocked out in the Round of 32 by France’s Gaspar GLAUDAS who was also off his game for a lot of this encounter.
Eliot Baker v. Gaspar Glaudas Round of 32 Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Callixte ALZAS (FRA), Sakke SILTALA (FIN), Daniel BENNETT (RSA), Veikka VISKARI (FIN), Billy DOWLING (AUS), Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER), Riccardo FANTINELLI (ITA), Richard TEDER (EST) and Ben GREGG (USA) were the other Round of 32 winners.
Dowling, an eagle, four birdies and no bogeys in 15 holes played, Wiedemeyer, five birdies and no bogeys in 13 holes played and Gregg, six birdies in 15 holes played produced the best golf at Royal St. George’s in the morning round.
The Amateur Championship Match Play Round of 32 Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
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Wednesday 18th June 2025
Match Play Round of 64
Medalist Connor GRAHAM (SCO) required three extra holes to overcome Mads Viemose LARSEN (DEN), who had earlier come through this morning’s play-off. The 18 year old Texas Tech rising sophomore birdied the 198-yard par-3 3rd hole to end the Dane’s resistance.
Milan REED (ENG), Kris KIM (ENG) and last year’s runner-up Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) were the other GB&I player’s to successfully negotiate the opening Match Play hurdle in the Upper Half of the draw.
Kim’s win over Oscar COUILLEAU, WAGR ranked #202, was noteworthy as the left-handed Frenchman is one of Europe’s stronger prospects and has been in relatively good form this season.
Like Graham, 4th seed Matthis LEFEVRE (FRA) required extra time to get the job done against Gaven LANE (USA); only securing his place in the Round of 32 on the 19th.
The Amateur Championship Match Play Round of 64 Upper Half Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Harley SMITH (ENG) was too good for Jack BEAUCHAMP (USA), taking the lead early on in their game and holding it with some comfort.
3rd seed Ugo MALCOR (FRA) showed no signs of letting up on the Kent coast with an impressive 6&4 win over Stijn EGGING (NED).
The All-American game between Tommy MORRISON and last year’s semi-finalist Luke SAMPLE proved to be one of the best and certainly the longest of the day. In a tight match where both players led at different times Sample won both 16 and 17 before holing a lengthy putt on 18 to force extra holes. Morrison finally came through on the 23rd hole (5th) with a par.
6th seed Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) maintained Irish interest in this year’s Championship after his compatriots Stuart GREHAN and Joshua HILL had both been beaten earlier in the day. Timing his comeback to perfection to pip Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) on the 18th hole of a match he had trailed in from the start.
Scottish Men’s Open champion Eliot BAKER (ENG) also fought back well in his match against Emil RIEGGER (USA) who got off to a strong start before fading on the back nine.
2 players from England, 8 from USA, 7 from France, 4 from Germany & Italy, 3 from Australia, Ireland & Netherlands, 2 from Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Scotland, Spain & Sweden and 1 each from Canada, Denmark, Iceland, India, Japan, Mexico, Switzerland & South Africa qualified for the Match Play Stage.
Unluckily the four Italians who qualified drew each other in the opening round. Fillipo PONZANO and Riccardo FANTINELLI knocked out 2nd seed Matteo CRISTONI and Giovanni BINAGHI respectively.
Seven GB&I players survived Round 1, namely, Connor GRAHAM (SCO), Milan REED (ENG), Kris KIM (ENG), Dominic CLEMONS (ENG), Harley SMITH (ENG), Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) and Eliot BAKER (ENG). A disappointing return from the 17 who teed off today.
The Amateur Championship Match Play Round of 64 Lower Half Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Play-Off
A 24-for-5 sudden death play-off, played in four groups of six, commenced at 7.00am utilising the 1st and 18th holes at Royal St. George’s G.C. Each participant drew a token to establish their starting position in the contest.
Rintaro NAKANO (JAP) #60, Gaven LANE (USA) #61, Stijn EGGING (NED) #62, Filippo PONZANO (ITA) #63 and Mads Viemose LARSEN (DEN) #64 earned their places in the Match Play Round of 64.
GB&I players Sebastian DESOISA (GIB), Keith EGAN (IRL), Freddie TURNELL (ENG), Jake WALLIS (ENG), Matty DODD-BERRY (ENG) and Zach LITTLE (ENG) all missed out.
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Tuesday 17th June 2025
Stroke Play Qualifying Round 2
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) produced a bogey free 6-under 64 at Royal St. George’s to claim medalist honours at The Amateur Championship. His 133 (-9) total was one better than Matteo CRISTONI (ITA) and Ugo MALCOR (FRA).
Graham became just the third player to win the Stroke Play Qualifying competition in two consecutive years since it was introduced in 1983. The other two cases happened immediately after this format change was made; Philip Parkin (WAL) in 1983-84 and Dana Banke (USA) in 1985-86.
Charlie Maran Presents Medalist Connor Graham With His Flag (Photo: Oisin Kenny / R&A / R&a via Getty Images)
Connor Graham’s Stroke Play Qualifying Score Card (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Matthis LEFEVRE (FRA), one of four Frenchmen to finish in the top 10, Charlie FORSTER (ENG) and Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) secured the 4th, 5th and 6th seeds. Lefevre and Forster enjoyed good rounds at Royal St. George’s whilst Tiernan did well at Royal Cinque Ports.
59 players finished on 140 (-2) or better after their 36 holes at Royal St. George’s G.C. (par 70) and Royal Cinque Ports G.C. (par 72).
Amongst them was Tom HARBERER (GER) who shot a 7-under 63 at Royal St. George’s – 14 shots lower than he managed at Royal Cinque Ports on Day 1 – to rise 204 places on the leaderboard and make the Match Play cut on 140 (-2).
Tom Harberer’s Stroke Play Qualifying Score Card (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Ties for the match play seedings shown below were resolved by reference to the combined back nines (then six, three and one) from each course.
A sizeable 24-for-5 sudden death play-off will be required to sort out which of the players who finished on 141 (-1), 60th to 83rd below, will advance.
The Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
The average Round 2 score at Royal St. George’s was 71.57 (+1.57) whilst at Royal Cinque Ports it was 74.17 (+2.17).
Whilst far from straight-forward, as players mindsets change after their first rounds, based on the average scores on both days a Day 1 Royal Cinque Ports and Day 2 Royal St. George’s draw appears to have been preferable.
Josh HILL (ENG) Ev, Charlie RUSBRIDGE (ENG) Ev, Jack BIGHAM (ENG) +1, Luke POULTER (ENG) +2, Cameron ADAM (SCO) +2, Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) +2, Christiaan MAAS (RSA) +4, Hugo LE GOFF (FRA) +5, Tomi BOWEN (WAL) +6, Seb CAVE (ENG) +6 and Matt ROBERTS (WAL) +8 were amongst the players to miss the Match Play cut.
Click here to view the – 2025 Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Results
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Monday 16th June 2025
Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1
Each of the 288 competitors will play 18 holes at Royal St. George’s G.C. (RSG / par 70) and Royal Cinque Ports G.C. (RCP / par 72) during the Stroke Play Qualifying Stage of the Amateur Championship.
Ugo MALCOR (FRA) -6 RCP, Kris KIM (ENG) -6 RSG and Emil RIEGGER (USA) -6 RSG share the Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 lead at The Amateur Championship. Riegger (7.51am) and Kim (8.13am) were early starters whilst Malcor started his opening round at 11.30am.
Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) RSG, Charlie FORSTER (ENG) RCP, Matteo CRISTONI (ITA) RCP, Max HOPKINS (ENG) RCP and Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG) -5 RCP are all one shot further back on -5.
Other GB&I players to lay strong foundations in Round 1 were Drew SYKES (ENG) -4 RSG, Stuart GREHAN (IRL) -4 RCP, Joshua HILL (IRL) -3 RSG, James WOOD (SCO) -3 RSG, Gavin O’NEILL (IRL) -3 RSG, Connor GRAHAM (SCO) -3 RCP, Ben BOLTON (ENG) -3 RSG and Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) -3 RCP.
The Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Scores (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
In near perfect conditions the average Round 1 score at Royal St. George’s was 72.18 (+2.18) whilst at Royal Cinque Ports it was 70.84 (+0.84).
90 players finished the opening day under par, 56 of these rounds coming at Cinque Ports and 34 at Royal St. George’s.
Top 20 players Kim RSG, Riegger RSG and Tiernan RSG all enjoyed eight eagles or birdies in their rounds whilst Cristoni RCP, Forster RCP, Wilhelm RYDING (SWE) RCP and Drew SYKES (ENG) RSG were all bogey free on Day 1.
Based on the above and given little change in the weather forecast for tomorrow it seems likely that the Match Play Stage cut will fall at 140 (-2) after tomorrow’s round.
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) +4 RCP, Luke POULTER (ENG) +4 RCP, Seb CAVE (ENG) +4 RCP, Matt ROBERTS (WAL) +6 RSG and Tomi BOWEN (WAL) +7 RCP were amongst the notable players who have seemingly played themselves out of the Championship on Day 1.
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Sunday 15th June 2025
Field Update
Sunday saw a further three withdrawals from the field.
Thom LINSSEN (NED), originally Pre-Qualifying Reserve 3, went home thus foregoing his place.
Reserves 4, 5 and 6, Thaddeus Matteo HUAINIGG (AUT), Oliver LEWIS-PERKINS (ENG) and Cormac SHARPE (SCO), were therefore called up today.
This now means that 31 players have advanced from the 72 who contested Friday’s pre-Qualifying event.
89 players (31%) from GB&I will tee off in this year’s Championship.
Based on the final field the DRVN.GOLF Estimator is estimating the Championship’s WAGR Power Number as 881.4290*. Last year at Ballyliffin the Power was 863.9463 and in 2023 at Hillside it was 886.8413.
*WAGR allocated an official Event Power Number of 898.7192.
Caolan BURFORD (WAL), who was Reserve 7 and next in line, ultimately missed out as there were no further withdrawals.
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Saturday 14th June 2025
Field Update
Following two withdrawals from the original field today Tom HUGHES (ENG) and Ken-Marten SOO (EST), Reserves 1 and 2 from yesterday’s Pre-Qualifying event, have been called up.
Thom LINSSEN (NED), Reserve 3, is now the next in line.
Stroke Play Qualifying Tee Times
The draw for the Stroke Play Qualifying has been completed by The R&A today.
Play will commence at 6.45am at Royal St. George’s G.C. and Royal Cinque Ports G.C. on both Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th with the final groups heading out at 3.37pm on both days.
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Friday 13th June 2025
Pre-Qualifying (PQ)
72 players contested an 18 hole pre-qualifying competition at Royal Cinque Ports G.C. to finalise the field for the 2025 Amateur Championship.
After additional withdrawals from the main field 26 spots were available.
Milan REED (ENG) and Max HOPKINS (ENG) both shot 8-under 64’s to qualify in style. Perhaps an indication of how easily the links are playing after the extended period of dry weather in the UK.
With exactly 26 players finishing on 71 (-1) or lower there was no need for a play-off.
Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) -5, Morgan BLYTHE (ENG) -5, George SAUNDERS (ENG) -2, Oscar CRAIG (ENG) -1, Stuart GREHAN (IRL) -1, Oliver MUKHERJEE (SCO) -1 and David HOWARD (IRL) -1 were amongst those to advance.
Tom HUGHES (ENG), who finished 27th, is Reserve #1 so will have his fingers crossed for a further withdrawal over the weekend. The other players who shot 72 (Ev) are shown below in the order in which they are now Reserves.
The Amateur Championship Pre-Qualifying Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)
Click here to view the – 2025 Amateur Championship Pre-Qualifying Results
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13th June 2025
Preview
The 130th Amateur Championship will be played at Royal St. George’s G.C. and Royal Cinque Ports G.C. in Kent, England on 16th-21st June 2025.
Ahead of the main Championship an 18 hole Pre-Qualifying (PQ) event is being played on 13th June 2025 at Royal Cinque Ports G.C.
The Amateur is the most prestigious amateur golf event played outside of the United States and the highlight of the Great British and Irish (GB&I) amateur season.
I will be updating this article as more information becomes available and providing daily reports throughout the Championship.
The Amateur Championship Trophy (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)
Format
Stroke Play Qualifying
Two rounds of stroke play will be completed on Monday 16th June and Tuesday 17th June to determine a top 64 match play field.
Each contestant will play 18 holes around Royal St. George’s G.C. and Royal Cinque Ports G.C. with three-ball tee times between 6.45am and 3.37pm on both days.
For the second year a sudden death play-off will be used to break ties for the last qualifying place. The play-off will be held on the 1st and 18th holes at Royal St. George’s G.C. Previous year’s have more often than not seen all ties advance to the match play stage with a Preliminary Round then having to be played.
Ties for all other match play seedings are resolved by reference to the combined back nines (then six, three and one) from each course.
Match Play Stage
The Match Play stage will be contested between Wednesday 18th and Saturday 21st June solely at Royal St. George’s G.C.
The following Match Play template is used to set up the draw.
Each match will consist of one round of 18 holes except for the Final which will be played over 36 holes. Any tied matches will continue into sudden death extra holes to determine a winner.
Royal St. George’s G.C.
Field
288 male amateur golfers from 42 countries will contest the Championship.
This year saw The R&A receive a record 612 entries, 27 more than the previous record in 2022.
278 competitors were offered places in the Championship when entries closed on 25th May 2023. These players were drawn from 1) a number of exempt categories covering previous Championship performances and representative team selections and 2) allocated to those highest ranked players 1st-2,000th in the WAGR as at Week 20 2025 (i.e. the Wednesday 15th May release), and then via WHS Handicap index at the date of entry.
At entry players were offered the opportunity to play in a Pre-Qualifying (PQ) event, should they not make the initial line-up, for which a minimum of 5 spots were originally guaranteed – see below.
Click here to view the full – 2025 Amateur Championship Terms of Competition
Pre-Qualifying (PQ)
The R&A are running a PQ event for the fourth time to offer some of the players not allocated an original place in the field an opportunity to earn one.
72 players will contest this 18 hole event at Royal Cinque Ports G.C. on 13th June 2025.
This field was made up of the 15 highest ranked WAGR players (who sit between 1,173rd – 1,379th) not originally accepted into the Championship field followed by a lowest handicap ballot for the remainder.
The final number of spots available rose from the guaranteed 5 to 26. This is because 10 spaces in the field were ultimately left open after the close of entries and 16 players subsequently withdrew from the Championship before PQ started.
Amongst the 16 were Justin HASTINGS (CAY) and Tyler WEAVER (ENG) #440 who both qualified for the U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont C.C.
Royal Cinque Ports G.C.
Leading Players
Christiaan MAAS (RSA), WAGR #4, is the lowest ranked player in the Championship.
Tommy MORRISON (USA) #5, Ethan FANG (USA) #7, Gunnlaugur ÁRNI SVEINSSON (ICE) #20, Luke POTTER (USA) #28, Cameron ADAM (SCO) #35, Eric LEE (USA) #37, Daniel BENNETT (RSA) #39, Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) #44, Connor GRAHAM (SCO) #47 and Daniel SVÄRD (SWE) #49 are the other players in the WAGR top 50.
The other leading home players competing this year are Jack BIGHAM (ENG) #52, Luke POULTER (ENG) #54, Charlie FORSTER (ENG) #75, Matthew DODD-BERRY (ENG) #98, Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) #119, Harley SMITH (ENG) #127 and Seb CAVE (ENG) #133.
Host Courses
Royal St. George’s G.C.
Royal St. George’s was founded in 1887 and is a renowned links course situated in Sandwich on the south east coast of England.
The club has hosted 15 Open Championships and 14 Amateur Championships as well as the Walker Cup, twice, and a Curtis Cup. Only Royal Liverpool (18) and St Andrews (16) have hosted the Amateur on more occasions.
Harry ELLIS (ENG) won the Amateur in 2017, the last time it was staged at Kent’s premier course.
It has also hosted the European Men’s Amateur Team Championship twice, in 1965 and 2022.
Whilst the course can be stretched further The R&A have decided to play it at 7,046 yards with a par of 70.
Royal St. George’s G.C. Amateur Championship Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A)
Royal Cinque Ports G.C.
Founded in 1892 Cinque Ports is located in Deal immediately to the south of the Royal St. George’s course.
It hosted The Open Championship in 1909 and 1920 and The Amateur Championship in 1923, 1982 and 2013.
During the Championship Cinque Ports will play to 7,191 yards and a par of 72.
Royal Cinque Ports G.C. Amateur Championship Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A)
Schedule
The R&A have laid out the following provisional schedule for the Championship: –
2025 Amateur Championship Schedule (Graphic: The R&A)
Weather Forecast
The Championship is set to be played in near perfect conditions. Sunny every day with light breezes expected. As a result we can expect scoring to be relatively low.
Click here to view the – Latest BBC Weather Forecast for Sandwich, Kent
With tee times between 6.45am and 3.37pm over the opening two days mean even modest changes in the weather can impact on the stroke play qualifying competition.
Prizes / Exemptions
A momento (a framed championship flag) is presented by The R&A to the leading player in the stroke play qualifying competition, with any ties for this prize decided on the lowest aggregate score for the second nine holes on both courses (or the last six or three or one if necessary).
The winner of the match play stage will become the Amateur Champion receiving the Championship Trophy and a Gold Medal.
The runner-up receives a Silver Medal and each losing semi-finalist a Bronze Medal.
The winner of The Amateur Championship, on the basis they remain an amateur, will receive the following exemptions / invitations into: –
a) the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush G.C., Northern Ireland on 17-20 July 2025;
b) the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National G.C., Georgia on 9-12 April 2026;
c) the 2026 U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills G.C., New York on 18-21 June 2026; and
d) a DP World Tour event (this year it’s The Betfred British Masters Hosted By Sir Nick Faldo).
The Runner-Up and two losing Semi-Finalists, on the basis they are still an amateur, will receive an invitation to compete in a Challenge Tour event and will be exempt into Final Qualifying for the 2025 Open Championship.
The losing Quarter Finalists, on the basis they are still an amateur, will also receive exemptions into Final Qualifying for The Open.
The Open Championship Amateur Series Winner
For the third year The R&A will be running The Open Championship Amateur Series.
The player who gains the most WAGR points in the 2024 St. Andrews Links Trophy (6-8 June), Amateur Championship (16-21 June) and European Amateur Championship (25-28 June) will earn an exemption into the forthcoming Open at Royal Troon G.C.
Alex MAGUIRE (IRL) and Calum SCOTT (SCO) earned this exemption in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
2025 St. Andrews Trophy and Walker Cup GB&I Team Selection
Should a Great Britain & Ireland player win the Amateur Championship they are guaranteed a place on the GB&I St. Andrews Trophy and Walker Cup teams for the match against Continent of Europe and USA later this summer.
More Information
Click here to view the – R&A Amateur Championship Official Website
The Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals and Final of the match play stage will be live streamed on The R&A TV & You Tube channels as well as being shown on Sky TV in the UK.
2024 Amateur Championship
Match Play Stage
Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN), who was 25 at the time and WAGR ranked #88, won the 129th Amateur Championship on the Glashedy Course at Ballyliffin. He beat Dominic CLEMONS (ENG), 22, WAGR #310, by 4&3 in the 36 hole Final. Olesen was the first Dane to win this prestigious title.
Jacob Skov Olesen (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)
Clemons, got the better of his English compatriot Jack BIGHAM and Olesen beat Luke SAMPLE (USA) in the Semi-Finals.
Click here to view the – 2024 Amateur Championship Match Play Results
Stroke Play Qualifying
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) earned medalist honours with a 136 (-7) total score. A 1-under 71 on the Glashedy Course followed a 65 on The Old Links.
Connor Graham with The R&A’s John Miller (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)
Michael MJAASETH (DEN) -4 earned the 2nd seeding with Ben VAN WYK (RSA), the 2023 medalist, taking 3rd place on -3.
Just 10 players out of the 288 starters finished the Stroke Play Qualifying competition with an under par score. Amongst these were GB&I’s Oscar LENT (ENG) -2, Eliot BAKER (ENG) -1, Freddie TURNELL (ENG) -1, Tomi BOWEN (WAL) -1, Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) -1, James ASHFIELD (WAL) -1 and Tom OSBORNE (ENG) -1. Max KENNEDY Ev and Seán KEELING +2 were the only home players to advance out of the 28 Irish starters.
Click here to view the – 2024 Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Results
Pre-Qualifying (PQ)
PQ Results
Keith EGAN (IRL) earned medalist honours at the PQ event with a 69 (-2) score around The Old Links at Ballyliffin.
Sam MUKHERJEE (SCO) -1 was the only other player in the field of 72 players to break par.
With 38 spots available a 13-for-3 sudden death play off was required to finalise the Championship’s 288 player field. These 13 men all finished with 75 ‘s (+4). Charlie DAUGHTREY (ENG), Cian O’CONNOR (IRL) and Kipp POPERT (ENG) were the three successful players.
Click here to view the – 2024 Amateur Championship Pre-Qualifying Results
For more information on last year’s Championship please click here – The Amateur Championship – 2024 Preview & Results Article
A Short History of The Amateur
The Amateur Championship was first played in April 1885 at Royal Liverpool G.C. Allan Macfie (SCO) was the first champion beating Horace Hutchinson (ENG) 7&6 in the Final.
Up until the Second World War it was a hugely prestigious event and in many of these early years was afforded a much higher standing in the game than The Open Championship. Players like Johnny Ball (ENG), Harold Hilton (ENG) and Freddie Tait (SCO) were all amateurs and as good if not better than most of the professionals of the day.
With only modest rewards available in the professional game many of the better players simply stayed amateur. The great American Bobby Jones, who won The Amateur in 1930 on the way to his Grand Slam, remains the most well known career amateur.
Even after the war players remained amateur for much longer and famous names like Frank Stranahan (USA), Joe Carr (IRE), Sir Michael Bonallack (ENG), Peter McEvoy (ENG) and Gary Wolstenholme (ENG) all built their reputations on Amateur Championship wins.
With the growth and transformation of the professional game from the early 1980s onwards both the better players and the media increasingly started to turn their backs on the amateur game.
Any continuity has been lost over the last 30 years and most of the young golfing stars of today rarely play any more than 2 or 3 Amateurs before being lured into the pro ranks by the potentially huge rewards on offer.
Past Winners
The greatest player in the history of The Amateur is Johnny Ball. The Hoylake man won the Championship a record 8 times between 1888 and 1912.
Only three other players have won the competition more than twice; Sir Michael Bonallack (5), Harold Hilton (4) and Joe Carr (3). Bonallack amazingly won it three years in a row between 1968-1970. The last person to retain The Amateur was Peter McEvoy in 1977 and ’78.
Prior to Jacob Skov OLESEN‘s (DEN) win in 2024 the previous 10 winners of The Amateur Championship were: –
2023 Christo Lamprecht (RSA) – Hillside G.C.
2022 Aldrich Potgieter (RSA) – Royal Lytham and St. Annes G.C.
2021 Laird Shepherd (ENG) – Nairn G.C.
2020 Joe Long (ENG) – Royal Birkdale G.C.
2019 James Sugrue (IRL) – Portmarnock G.C.
2018 Jovan Rebula (RSA) – Royal Aberdeen G.C.
2017 Harry Ellis (ENG) – Royal St. George’s G.C.
2016 Scott Gregory (ENG) – Royal Porthcawl G.C.
2015 Romain Langasque (FRA) – Carnoustie G.C.
2014 Bradley Neil (SCO) – Royal Portrush G.C.
A great achievement and honour for all of the players listed above. However, looking through the names reminds us of how incredibly tough golf is and that wins in the biggest amateur events are no guarantee of success in the professional game.
Click here to view a complete list of – Past Amateur Championship Winners
Click here to view a complete list of – Past Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Medalists
ME.
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Luke O’Neill (Photo: Kansas State Men’s Golf Team)
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