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U.S. Amateur Championship – 2025 Preview & Results

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Sunday 17th August 2025

Mason HOWELL (USA) seeded #63 and WAGR ranked #362, beat Jackson HERRINGTON (USA) #37 and WAGR ranked #198, by 7&6 to win the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club.

Mason Howell (Photo: Chris Keane / USGA)

The Georgian became the third-youngest champion behind Byeong-Hun An and Danny Lee at 18 years, 1 month and 20 days old. In fact this was the youngest final in Championship history with Herrington only being 19.

Speaking after the trophy presentation he said “My name next to these other names on this trophy is unbelievable. To be next to somebody named Tiger, that’s an unreal feeling. It’s been such a great week here. Props to The Olympic Club as a world class venue. I felt like I always had it. It was self-belief. I knew it was in me. I just needed to walk with some confidence.”

Howell earned automatic selection to the USA Walker Cup team and exemptions into the 2026 Masters Invitational, U.S. Open Championship and Open Championship. Runner-up Herrington can also look forward to playing in The Masters and U.S Open next year.

In a one sided Final Howell took an early 4Up lead in the opening nine holes against an out of sorts Herrington and despite the magnitude of what he was looking to achieve showed few nerves in seeing out a comfortable victory over the 30 holes that the pair played.

Jackson Herrington v. Mason Howell – MP Final Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Click here to view the full – 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship MP Results – use filter

Mason Howell and Jackson Herrington (Photo: Chris Keane / USGA)

Herrington was the first left-handed player to compete in the final of the U.S. Amateur since Phil Mickelson won the title in 1990 at Cherry Hills.

The 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship will be played at Merion G.C. in Pennsylvania from 10th-16th August with the nearby Philadelphia C.C. co-hosting the stroke play qualifying stage.

ME.

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Saturday 16th August 2025

Match Play Semi-Finals

Jackson HERRINGTON (USA) #37 birdied the 18th hole to win his Semi-Final against Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) #49 at The Olympic Club.

Shiels Donegan won the opening two holes of the contest with pars to make a dream start. However, by the 7th he was 1 Down having bogeyed the 6th and seen Herrington respond to his own nervy start with birdies on the 3rd and 7th holes.

The match entered the back nine All Square after Herrington bogeyed the par 4 9th but Shiels Donegan bogeyed 10 and 11 to fall 2Down a lead Herrington would hold until the 16th. With victory in sight the American played the par 5 hole poorly, his bogey breathing new life into the well supported Scot who two putted for par. A birdie on 17, which he has achieved in every match play round, then saw Shiels Donegan draw level.

The two players played the 18th very well in the circumstances, both hitting the fairway and green in regulation. After Shiels Donegan left his tricky downhill 20 footer in the jaws Herrington stepped up and holed his six footer for victory.

Shiels Donegan’s supporters from nearby Mill Valley meant that Saturday’s Semi-Final round was the second-highest ever attended day on record for the U.S. Amateur Championship.

Reflecting on his week afterwards Shiels Donegan said “I’m only 20. Hopefully I’ve got a long career ahead of me and this is just one of the many building blocks along the journey that hopefully commences. I’m a good golfer and I can show up when I need to.”

Niall Shiels Donegan v. Jackson Herrington – MP Semi-Final Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

In the other Semi-Final 18-year-old Mason HOWELL (USA) beat 20-year-old Eric LEE (USA) by 3&2 in a confident display.

Match Play Semi-Final Results (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Both semi-final losers receive bronze medals and have earned exemptions into the next two U.S. Amateur Championships at Merion Golf Club and Oak Hill Country Club.

ME.

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Friday 15th August 2025

Match Play Quarter Finals

The Quarter Finals started at 1.30pm PDT (9.30pm BST) to allow for U.S. television coverage.

In a career best week Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) #49 became the first GB&I player to reach the Semi-Finals of the U.S. Amateur Championship since Matt Fitzpatrick in 2013, the year he won it. In Match Play he has now beat four WAGR top 30 players in a row; Preston Stout #4 (Round of 16), Christian Maas (Round of 32) #9, Jacob Modleski (Quarterfinals) #15 and Luke Poulter (Round of 64) #28.

2 Down after eight holes, and then again after 12, against Jacob MODLESKI (USA) #56, the World No. 15 and the highest ranked player still competing, the US-based Scot again rose to the occasion down the stretch.

Playing in front of his Mill Valley fans who again made the 30 minute trip into San Francisco to support him in their numbers Shiels Donegan turned the game around with birdies on 13, 16 and 17 before a two-putt par on the 9th (19th hole) helped him claim another memorable victory.

“You’ve just got to stay so patient,” said Donegan, a rising junior at the University of North Carolina. “You can’t get ahead of yourself… one hole is its own event, and it’s just all about staying in the present, not thinking ahead. I feel like with this crowd, I know so many of them, it just feels very natural… I can’t thank them enough for being here. I’m just trying to enjoy the moment… It’s amazing they’re giving me so much support.”

Niall Shiels Donegan v. Jacob Modleski – MP Quarter Final Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Jackson HERRINGTON (USA), Mason HOWELL (USA) and Eric LEE (USA) joined Shiels Donegan in the Semi-Finals.

Match Play Quarter Final Results (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Here is a brief summary of the eight quarter finalists listed in order of their world amateur golf ranking: –

Jacob MODLESKI (USA), 20, WAGR #15
Miles RUSSELL (USA), 16, WAGR #16
Eric LEE (USA), 20, WAGR #29
Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (USA), 20, WAGR #91
John DALY II (USA), 22, WAGR #121
Jackson HERRINGTON (USA), 19, WAGR #198
Mason HOWELL (USA), 18, WAGR #362
Jimmy ABDO (USA), 19, WAGR #4292

Four of the quarter finalists Shiels Donegan, Modleski, Abdo and Howell all came through the 20-for-17 Stroke Play Qualifying play-off on Wednesday morning.

By reaching the Quarter Finals all eight players earned exemptions into the 126th U.S. Amateur, which will be played at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

ME.

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Thursday 14th August 2025

Match Play Round of 16

GB&I’s last man standing Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) #49 secured his third consecutive 1 Hole victory in the Last 16. This time it was the turn of the Stroke Play Qualifying medalist Preston STOUT (USA) #1, WAGR No. 4 and an early selection for the 2025 USA Walker Cup team, to find the overall consistency and sound putting of Shiels Donegan too much to handle.

Stout played the tough opening holes well to take an early 2Up lead after four holes against Shiels Donegan. This lead didn’t last long though as pars on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th holes, with a birdie thrown in on the par 3 8th, enabled the Scot to win four of these five holes and to take his own 2Up lead. Stout then produced his own fight back, winning three holes in succession, the 11th-13th, helped by two birdies, to regain the lead 1Up. The Scot, who has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since he was three, is enjoying strong local support and rose to the challenge again. Birdies on 15 and 16 turned the match around for the fourth time with Shiels Donegan then able to par in for the win.

“Yeah, it’s amazing. Just trying to enjoy the moment right now and get ready for tomorrow,” said Shiels Donegan, who recently joined the University of North Carolina men’s golf team following two seasons with Northwestern. “I think I’ve done a really good job this week of controlling the adrenaline and using it only when I need to, just every shot refocusing, not getting ahead of myself, staying in the present.It’s hard sometimes when you’ve got – the crowd around this amphitheater of the 18th green, you’re shaking a little bit. Those were three putts that I’ve holed to win my matches on 18. It’s been great.”

Preston Stout v. Niall Shiels Donegan – MP Rd. of 16 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Miles RUSSELL(USA) and Eric LEE (USA) remain in the Championship but Max HERENDEEN (USA) and Daniel BENNETT (RSA) missed out on a Quarter Final place.

Match Play Last 16 Results (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Match Play Round of 32

The Round of 32 commenced at 8.00am PDT (4.00pm BST) at The Olympic Club with the two remaining GB&I players amongst the opening games.

An excellent performance from Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) #49 saw him beat World No. 9 Christiaan MAAS (RSA) #17 by 1 Hole. In a game where neither player ever led by more than one hole it was the Scot who out lasted the hugely experienced South African. A nicely timed birdie on the par 5 17th helped Shiels Donegan back into the lead which he then saw out on the 18th.

Niall Shiels Donegan v. Christiaan Maas – MP Rd. of 32 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

It proved to be a game too far for Tyler WEAVER (ENG) #25 who got off to an awful start, 4 Down after five holes, and unable to win any holes eventually lost to Paul CHANG (CHN) #57, who is ranked 45th in the WAGR, by 6&5.

Paul Chang v. Tyler Weaver – MP Rd. of 32 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Amongst the favourites Medalist Preston STOUT (USA), Jacob MODLESKI (USA), Max HERENDEEN (USA), Daniel BENNETT (RSA), Miles RUSSELL(USA) and Eric LEE (USA) all successfully negotiated the Round of 32 in San Francisco.

In addition to Weaver the notable casualties at this stage were Ben JAMES (USA) and Jackson KOIVUN (USA), Jase SUMMY (USA) and Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER).

Here are the full Round of 32 results: –

Match Play Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

ME.

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Wednesday 13th August 2025

Match Play Round of 64

The Match Play Stage commenced at 9.00am PDT (5.00pm BST) on The Olympic Club’s Lake Course.

Having come through the play-off earlier in the day Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) #49 produced a grandstand finish to take out Luke POULTER (ENG) #16 in a competitive encounter. In a roller coaster match Poulter took the early advantage over the Lake Course’s difficult opening holes before Shiels Donegan won three holes in a row, helped by birdies on the 7th and 8th, to take a 1Up lead on the 9th. Pars by Poulter on 12 and 13 then saw him move into his own 1Up advantage which he held until the 17th. A badly timed bogey by the Florida-based Englishman opened the door to the local Scot who barged through it with a clutch match winning 6ft birdie on the closing hole.

Shiels Donegan said afterwards “I think that playoff this morning really helped me. It got me into the competitive mindset super early on, gave me a good prep. It’s amazing. I’m originally from Scotland but I’ve grown up for the past 17 years in Mill Valley which is like 30 minutes away. A bunch of friends and family from the local muni club have been getting me fired up.”

Luke Poulter v. Niall Shiels Donegan – MP Rd. of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Tyler WEAVER (ENG), seeded #25, took advantage of a poor start from Connor GRAHAM (SCO) #40, who bogeyed four of their opening six holes, to build an early 4Up lead. Graham fought back valiantly on the back nine reducing the deficit to just one hole after successive birdies on 15 and 16. However, Weaver birdied the par 5 17th to end any hopes of a memorable comeback and secure a 2&1 win.

Tyler Weaver v. Connor Graham – MP Rd. of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

After a solid start Charlie FORSTER (ENG) #12 fell behind to Caleb BOND (USA); four bogeys between the 5th and 10th holes saw him tumble to a 3Down deficit. Forster made few mistakes thereafter but the damage had been done and he ultimately lost the game by 2&1.

Charlie Forster v. Caleb Bond – MP Rd. of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Medalist Preston STOUT (USA), Christiaan MAAS (RSA), Jacob MODLESKI (USA), Cameron TANKERSLEY (USA), Ben JAMES (USA), Jackson KOIVUN (USA), Max HERENDEEN (USA), Daniel BENNETT (RSA), Miles RUSSELL (USA), Jase SUMMY (USA), Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) and Eric LEE (USA) were amongst the other Round of 64 winners as ‘the cream came to the top’ at The Olympic Club.

Here are the full Round of 64 results: –

Match Play Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Stroke Play Qualifying Play-Off

Due to early morning fog the 20 player for 17 spots play-off was moved from the Ocean Course (1st-3rd) to the Lake Course (9th-11th). It commenced at 7.30am PDT (3.30pm BST).

After a par and a birdie on the two holes that were required to conclude matters Niall SHIELS-DONEGAN (SCO) progressed with the 49th seeding.

Jack BIGHAM (ENG) bogeyed the first play-off hole and was therefore eliminated.

Click here to view the full – 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship SP Qualifying Play-Off Results – use filter

ME.

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Tuesday 12th August 2025

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 2

Following the completion of the 36 hole Stroke Play Qualifying competition 312 players competitors became 67, and after a play-off tomorrow will become 64, in the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Preston STOUT (USA), 21, earned medalist honours with a 132 (-8) total. With his Oklahoma State head coach Alan Bratton on the bag the recently selected USA Walker Cup player separated himself impressively from 2nd placed Tommy MORRISON (USA) -6, top-ranked junior Miles RUSSELL (USA) -4 in 3rd and Logan REILLY (USA) -3 in 4th.

Stout was understandably delighted to win the Stroke Play Qualifying. “I think it’s big. Obviously, it doesn’t mean you won the tournament, but I think it just gives me confidence going into match play that my game’s in a good spot, and yeah, I like where things are at. I love match play. I think it’s the best form of golf, and it’s super fun. I think one hole at time is big in match play, so I’ll be just trying to just take that mentally into it.”

Stroke Play Medalist Preston Stout (Photo: Chris Keane / USGA)

Daniel BENNETT (RSA), Daniel SVÄRD (SWE) and Charlie FORSTER (ENG), who all finished on 139 (-1), were the leading International qualifiers.

20 players tied for the last qualifying place on 143 (+3) and with only 17 spots in Match Play remaining a sudden death play-off will be required on Wednesday morning.

The average Round 2 score on the Lake Course was 74.750 (+4.750) and on the Ocean Course 73.530 (+3.530).

Stroke Play Qualifying Results – Top 10 (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Charlie FORSTER (ENG) -1 tied 8th, Luke POULTER (ENG) Ev tied 16th, Tyler WEAVER (ENG) +1 tied 23rd and Connor GRAHAM (SCO) +2 tied 33rd all advanced to the Match Play Stage.

Forster had an interesting second round on the Lake Course. He was 6-over after 13 holes before a hole-in-one on the 162 yard par 3 15th (with a 9-iron) and a birdie on the par 5 16th straightened his card out.

Jack BIGHAM (ENG) and Niall SHIELS-DONEGAN (SCO) +3 tied 48th will need to come through a 20-for-17 spots play-off on Wednesday morning to join them. Donegan birdied his final hole, the 9th on the Ocean Course, to keep his hopes of progressing alive.

Stroke Play Qualifying Results – GB&I Players (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

After the 36 holes of Stroke Play Qualifying is completed the leading 64 players will advance to the Match Play Stage.

Click here to view the full – 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship SP Qualifying Leaderboard – use filter

ME.

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Monday 11th August 2025

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1

Charlie FORSTER (ENG), 22, and Tommy MORRISON (USA), who was celebrating his 21st birthday, both recorded 4-under 66’s on the Ocean Course to take the Round 1 lead in the Stroke Play Qualifying.

Speaking after his round Forster said “In these sorts of events, it’s always nice to get off to a hot start. It’s nice playing in the Stroke Play but you’re really only trying to get through to the Match Play. So we just kind of kept it steady today, stuck to the game plan. We prioritized hitting the fairway more than getting down there and having a wedge in. I think that’s one of the keys around here — staying out of that rough. A few putts dropped, which was very nice.”

Jackson KOIVUN (USA), the WAGR No. 1, who has three top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour this summer, carded a 2-under 68 around The Ocean Course to finish the day tied 5th.

On a cloudy opening day the average Round 1 score on the Lake Course was 75.030 (+5.030) and on the Ocean Course 74.340 (+4.340) which is in line with their standings.

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Scores – Top 10 (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Jack BIGHAM (ENG) -1 (O) tied 11th, Luke POULTER (ENG) Ev (O) tied 21st, Tyler WEAVER (ENG) +1 (L) tied 38th and Matthew DODD-BERRY (ENG) +2 (L) & Connor GRAHAM (SCO) +2 (L), both tied 64th, are the GB&I players who will start Round 2 the right side of the top 64 Match Play cut line.

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Scores – GB&I Players (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

ME.

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9th August 2025

Following a late withdrawal from the Championship Tomi BOWEN (WAL) has accepted a call up from the USGA’s Alternate’s List to compete at the U.S. Amateur.

The bad news is Tomi played in the Men’s Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa last week which finished yesterday evening (Friday) so his preparation has obviously been compromised. With a flight to San Francisco to make he is unlikely to get to the course until Sunday at the earliest.

The good news is he played well in Lincolnshire winning three, halving one and losing only one of his five games so his game is in good shape. Additionally Tomi has been added to Connor Graham’s three-ball group who have a late tee time on Monday afternoon – 2.21pm PDT (10.21pm BST) on the Lake Course – which may also help a little.

His inclusion takes the number of GB&I  players up to 14 and the Welsh tally up to three; he joins Mike HEARNE (WAL) and Ieuan JONES (WAL) in the field.

ME.

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7th August 2025

Stroke Play Qualifying Tee Times

GB&I Player: Round 1 / Round 2
1 – 1st hole  /  10 – 10th hole /  L – Olympic Lake Course  /  O – Olympic Ocean Course
Time Difference – San Francisco, California PDT: BST – 8 hours

Luke POULTER (ENG):  10-O 7.10am / 1-L 12.45pm
Oliver CAGE (ENG): 1-L 7.41am / 10-O 12.36pm
Ieuan JONES (WAL): 1-O 7.52am / 9-L 1.07pm
Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO): 1-L 8.12am / 10-O 1.07pm
Charlie FORSTER (ENG): 10-O 8.34am / 1-L 2.09pm
Tyler WEAVER (ENG): 1-L 8.44am / 10-O 1.39pm
Mike HEARNE (WAL): 1-O 8.55am / 9-L 2.10pm
Jack BIGHAM (ENG): 10-O 8.55am / 1-L 2.30pm
Cameron ADAM (SCO): 1-O 9.06am / 9-L 2.21pm
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL): 1-L 9.15am / 10-O 2.10pm
Daniel HAYES (ENG): 1-O 1.07pm / 9-L 7.52am
Matthew DODD-BERRY (ENG): 9-L 1.39pm / 1-O 8.24am
Connor GRAHAM (SCO): 9-L 2.21pm / 1-O 9.06am
Tomi BOWEN (WAL): 9-L 2.21pm / 1-O 9.06am

Click here to view the full – 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship SP Qualifying Tee Times

ME.

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5th August 2025

Introduction

The 125th U.S. Amateur Championship is being played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California on 11th-17th August 2025.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious individual competition in the amateur golf calendar.

I will be updating this preview article as more information comes to light and providing daily reports once play starts.

2025 Field

5,245 entries were received by the USGA for this year’s Championship.

312 players from 30 different countries will be competing. 143 were exempt with the remaining 169 coming through qualifying.

The youngest competitor is Aston LIM (USA), 15, and the oldest are Louis BROWN (USA) and Greg SANDERS (USA) who are both 61. The average age of the field is 23 years and 135 days.

47 of the top 50 in the Men’s WAGR are in the field.

Exemptions are granted based on past performances in previous amateur championships, selection for the Walker Cup teams and World Amateur Golf Rankings.

46 Local Qualifying events, all played over 18 holes, were staged between 3rd June and 3rd July before 19 Final Qualifying competitions, again over 18 holes, took place between 15th-31st July.

Click here to view the – 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship Local & Final Qualifying Results

14 Great British & Irish (GB&I) players are competing in 2025: –

Cameron ADAM (SCO) – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 May 2025
Jack BIGHAM (ENG) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 / WAGR Top 100 May 2025
Tomi BOWEN (WAL) – Qualifier: Sara Bay C.C. July 2025 (Alternate #1)
Oliver CAGE (ENG) – Exemption: Sun County G.A. Amateur champion 2025
Matthew DODD-BERRY (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 June 2025
Charlie FORSTER (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 May 2025
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 / WAGR Top 100 May 2025
Daniel HAYES (ENG) – Qualifier: Rockwall G&AC, Texas July 2025
Mike HEARNE (WAL) – Qualifier: Rockwall G&AC, Texas July 2025
Ieuan JONES (WAL) – Qualifier: Ohio State University GC, Ohio July 2025
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023
Luke POULTER (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 June 2025
Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 June 2025
Tyler WEAVER (ENG) – Exemption: U.S. Open Qualifier 2025 / WAGR Top 100 May 2025

Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) held an exemption via his WAGR ranking but has chosen to play in the Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa this week. Having already secured his GB&I Walker Cup selection via his WAGR on 6th August Top 100 he obviously feels he doesn’t need to play.

This is an historically high number of GB&I players. There were 10 at Hazeltine National in 2024, 8 at Cherry Hills in 2023, 9 at Ridgewood in 2022, 5 at Oakmont in 2021, 11 at Bandon Dunes in 2020, 11 at Pinehurst in 2019, 7 at Pebble Beach in 2018, 9 at Riviera in 2017 and 11 at Oakland Hills in 2016.

Format / Schedule

36-holes of stroke play (SP) will determine the top 64 match play (MP) qualifiers. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

Six 18 hole MP rounds will then be played culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

Monday 11th August – SP Qualifying Round 1 (Lake and Ocean – 18 holes)
Tuesday 12th August – SP Qualifying Round 2 (Lake and Ocean – 18 holes)
Wednesday 13th August – SP Qualifying Play-Off / MP Round of 64 (Lake – 18 holes)
Thursday 14th August – MP Rounds of 32 and 16 (Lake – 18 holes)
Friday 15th August – MP Quarter Finals (Lake – 18 holes)
Saturday 16th August – MP Semi-Finals (Lake – 18 holes)
Sunday 17th August – MP Championship Final (Lake – 36 holes)

Host Courses

The Championship is being played on the Lake and Ocean Courses at The Olympic Club.

3rd Hole, Lake Course, The Olympic Club (Photo: USGA / Fred Vuich)

Lake Course – stroke play and match play
7,185 yards / Par 70 / Course Rating 75.8 / Slope 141

Opened in 1924.
Originally designed by Willie Watson with subsequent renovations by Sam Whiting (1927), Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1955), Bill Love (2010s) and Gil Hanse (2023).
It has previously hosted the U.S. Open in 1955, 1966, 1987, 1998 and 2012, U.S. Women’s Open in 2021 and the U.S. Amateur in 1958, 1981 and 2007.

Ocean Course – stroke play co-host
6,825 yards / Par 70 / Course Rating 74.3 / Slope 133

Opened in 1924.
Designed by Willie Watson with more recent renovations by Tom Weiskopf (2000) and Bill Love (2012).

Weather Forecast (as at 10th August 2024)

The weather forecast looks good for the whole Championship week with sunny conditions. The winds rise during the day here and are likely to peak in the high teens in the mid-afternoon.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 11th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 18mph NW / Temp. Min. 14°C, Max. 23°C.
Tues 12th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 18mph NW / Temp. Min. 14°C, Max. 22°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 13th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 18mph NW / Temp. Min. 15°C, Max. 21°C.
Thurs 14th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 20mph NW  / Temp. Min. 13°C, Max. 20°C.
Fri 15th August – Sunny / Wind 22mph NW  / Temp. Min. 14°C, Max. 20°C.
Sat 16th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 20mph NW / Temp. Min. 14°C, Max. 20°C.
Sun 17th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 19mph NW / Temp. Min. 14°C, Max. 21°C.

Prizes

The 2025 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;

b) Automatic selection to the 2026 USA Walker Cup squad (if applicable);
c) An exemption to play in the 2026 U.S. Open which is being staged at Shinnecock Hills C.C.;
and assuming they remain amateur,
d) An invitation to play in the 2026 Masters at Augusta National G.C.;
e) An exemption to play in the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale G.C.;
f) An exemption to play in the 2026-2035 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

g) Various invitations to play in PGA Tour and DP World Tour events.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists.

A Silver Medal is also awarded to the stroke play medalist(s).

The original silver Havemeyer Trophy was presented to the U.S.G.A. on March 1895 in honour of the Association’s first President Theodore A. Havemeyer. This was lost in a fire at Bobby Jones’ home club, East Lake, in 1925.

A new gold trophy was produced in 1926. This was retired in 1992 with a copy of the trophy being produced and passed from champion to champion ever since. Sadly the original gold trophy was stolen from the U.S.G.A. Museum in 2012 and has never been seen since.

US Amateur Information

Click here to view the – 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship Official Website

Spectators / Television Coverage

Some highlights of the SP Qualifying will be shown on the USGA website and social media channels.

In the USA Peacock and Golf Channel will be covering the MP stage.

In the UK Sky Sports Golf normally takes the U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

2024 U.S. Amateur Championship

Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP) won the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota on his 21st birthday. He became the first Spanish champion.

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Jose Luis Ballester with the Havemeyer Trophy (Photo: Chris Keane / USGA)

He beat Noah KENT (USA), who was 19 at the time, by 2 Holes in the 36 hole Championship match.

The best GB&I performances came from Calum SCOTT (SCO) and James ASHFIELD (WAL). They both  advanced from Stroke Play Qualifying before losing in the Match Play Round of 32 (2nd Round). Scott to Omar MORALES (MEX) by 3&2 and Ashfield to Phichaksn MAICHON (THA) by 4&2.

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Results

39 year old Floridian Jimmy ELLIS (USA) was the surprise medalist in the Stroke Play Qualifying with a 132 (-10) total.

The leading 64 player match play cut fell at 142 (Ev) with a 14-for-11 play-off required to set the Match Play field.

James ASHFIELD (WAL) and Calum SCOTT (SCO) both qualified in tied 32nd place with 141 (-1) scores. As the USGA adopts a blind draw to resolve ties they were eventually seeded 15 places apart.

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GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Results

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2024 will see its 124th playing.

It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Former U.S. winners include Walter Travis (1900-01-03), Jerome Travers (1907-08-12-13), Bobby Jones (1924-25-27-28-30), Francis Ouimet (1914-31), W. Lawson Little (1934-35) Arnold Palmer (1954), Jack Nicklaus (1959-61), Deane Beman (1960-63), Lanny Wadkins (1970), Craig Stadler (1973), Mark O’Meara (1979), Hal Sutton (1980), Phil Mickelson (1990), Justin Leonard (1992), Tiger Woods (1994-95-96), Matt Kucher (1997), Ryan Moore (2004) and Bryson DeChambeau (2015).

The last five winners, 2024-2019, have been Jose Ballester (ESP), Nick Dunlap (USA), Sam Bennett (USA), James Piot (USA) and Tyler Strafaci (USA).

British players have won the Championship on six occasions but just twice in the last 100 years – H.J. Whigham (1896-97), Findlay Douglas (1898), Harold Hilton (1911), Richie Ramsay (2006) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013).

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: USGA)

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) and Norway’s Viktor Hovland (2018) are the only players from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Click here to view the full list of past – U.S. Amateur Champions

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

For reasons I have never understood the USGA continue to allocate their Championship venues far out into the future: –

126th – 10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
127th – 9-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York
128th – TBD   August 2028 – Whistling Straits Golf Club, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
129th – 13-19 August 2029 – Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio
130th – 12-18 August 2030 – Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Georgia
131st – 11-17 August 2031 – Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tennessee
132nd – 9-15 August 2032 – Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
133rd – 15-21 August 2033 – Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington
134th – TBD August 2034 – The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts
135th – TBD August 2025 – Erin Hills, Erin, Wisconsin
136th – TBD August 2036 – Scioto Country Club, Upper Arlington, Ohio
137th – TBD
138th – TBD August 2038 – Pinehurst Resort No. 2, Pinehurst, North Carolina
139th – TBD
140th – TBD
141st – TBD August 2041 – Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
142nd – TBD August 2042 – Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey
147th – TBD August 2047 – Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
151st – TBD August 2051 – Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

ME.

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

The European Amateur Championship – 2025 Preview & Results

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28th June 2025

Round 4

A final round 67 (-5) helped 21 year old Filip JAKUBČÍK (CZH) to a 3-shot victory in the 2025 European Men’s Amateur Championship. His winning score was 280 (-8) and he becomes the first Czech player to win the title. This is the most prestigious win for the Czech star who will shortly commence his senior season at University of Arizona and can look forward to improving his current WAGR #9 ranking next week.

With the win Jakubčík earned an exemption into The 153rd Open Championship which will be played at Royal Portrush G.C. next month.

Filip Jakubčik (Photo: European Golf Association)

Kristin BRESSUM (DEN) earned the silver medal on 283 (-5) and Sakke SILTALA (FIN) the bronze medal on 284 (-4).

Bressum and Siltala were joined by Wolfgang GLAWE (GER), WAGR #96, and Matteo CRISTONI (ITA) 285 (-3), WAGR #284, tied 4th, in earning an exemption into Final Qualifying for The Open Championship next Tuesday. Glawe subsequently declined the invitation.

Cameron ADAM (SCO) was the leading GB&I player finishing tied 9th on 287 (-1). Following on from his win in the St. Andrews Links Trophy earlier this month he won The Open Amateur Series to also earn a spot in The Open Championship.

Zach LITTLE (ENG), Charlie FORSTER (ENG) & Stuart GREHAN (IRL) all finished tied 12th on 288 (Ev), Jenson FORRESTER (ENG) & Seb CAVE (ENG) 290 (+2) tied 18th and Freddie TURNELL (ENG) & Eliot BAKER (ENG) 291 (+3) tied 21st.

Defending champion Tommy MORRISON (USA) saved his best to the last round at Vasatorp G.C., an eight birdie 6-under 66 lifting him up to tied 12th.

The average Round 4 score was 72.39 (+0.39) with 24 players breaking par on Saturday and a further eight shooting an even par 72.

Final Results (Graphic: European Golf Association / GolfBox)

Click here to view the – EGA / Golfbox 2025 European Amateur Championship Leaderboard

ME.

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27th June 2025

Round 3

Finn KOELLE (GER), Kristian BRESSUM (DEN) and Filip JAKUBČÍK (CZH) finished Day 2 tied for the lead on 213 (-3). Whilst Bressum and Jakubcik could only manage 1-over 73’s Koelle took advantage with a 2-under 70.

After Round 3 just six players are now under par for the Championship with Sakke SILTALA (FIN) -2 and Nevill RUITER (NED)  and Matteo CRISTONI (ITA) -1 the nearest challengers to the three co-leaders.

Cameron ADAM (SCO) & Stuart GREHAN (IRL) Ev are tied 7th and Charlie FORSTER (ENG), Seb CAVE (ENG) and Jenson FORRESTER (ENG) +1 tied 9th.

60 players made the top 60 and ties 54 hole cut which fell at 224 (+8).

The average Round 3 score was 76.09 (+4.09) with just five players breaking par and three managing a par 72 on another tough day in Sweden.

Round 3 Leaderboard (Graphic: European Golf Association / GolfBox)

ME.

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26th June 2025

Round 2

Sakke SILTALA (FIN) recorded five birdies in his second round 68 (-4) to move into the 36 hole lead with a 139 (-5) total.

Kristian BRESSUM (DEN) and Filip JAKUBČÍK (CZH) share 2nd place on 140 (-4). Bressum delivered the best round of the week so far on Day 2 with a bogey free 65 (-7), a full 10 shots better than his Round 1 score. Jakubcik’s 69 was a bit more up-and-down, including an eagle and four birdies but also three bogeys.

From a GB&I perspective Stuart GREHAN (IRL) -3 is tied 4th, Charlie FORSTER (ENG), Jenson FORRESTER (ENG) & Seb CAVE (ENG) -1 are tied 9th and Eliot BAKER (ENG) & Zach LITTLE (ENG) Ev are tied 18th.

100 players made the 36 hole top 96 and ties first cut which fell at +9. Dion REGAN (WAL) showed good heart in making this cut. After an 84 in Round 1 he bounced back today with a 68 to finish on -8. A total of 27 GB&I players lived to fight another day in Sweden.

The average Round 2 score was 73.43 (+1.43), a full four shots lower than yesterday. 42 players broke par compared with 10 in Round 1 and 21 shot a par 72 compared with 5 yesterday. Whilst Day 1 saw no scores in the 60’s an easier scoring day for Round 2 saw 16.

Round 2 Leaderboard (Graphic: European Golf Association / GolfBox)

ME.

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25th June 2025

Round 1

Jack GILBERT (USA), Gerardo GOMEZ (MEX) and Kayun MUDADANA (AUS) all shot 2-under 70’s on Day 1 at Vasatorp G.C. to share the early lead in the European Amateur.

Seb CAVE (ENG) and Stuart GREHAN (IRL) -1, Zach LITTLE (ENG) & Jenson FORRESTOR (ENG) Ev and Thomas HIGGINS (IRL), Tom OSBORNE (ENG) & Harley SMITH (ENG) +1 are the leading GB&I players.

The average Round 1 score was 77.43 (+5.43). Just 10 of the 144 players broke par with a further 5 shooting par 72.

Round 1 Leaderboard (Graphic: European Golf Association / GolfBox)

ME.

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24th June 2025

The 38th European Amateur Championship will be played at Vasatorp G.C. in Sweden between 25th-28th June 2025.

This prestigious Championship is run by the European Golf Association (EGA), assisted each year by the host nation; this year being the Swedish Golf Fderation.

This will be the fourth occasion that Sweden has hosted the European Amateur. It has previously been staged at Karlstad (1996), Skövde G.C. (2004) and Halmstad G.C. (2011).

Vasatorp Golf Club (Photo: EGA)

Competition Format

The European Amateur is a 72-hole stroke play competition with 18-holes played daily over four days.

There will be two cuts applied to the field during the Championship. After 36 holes only players with the 96 lowest scores and ties will progress and then after 54 holes only the 60 lowest scores and ties will qualify for the final round.

A 3 hole aggregate score play off will decide the winner in the event of a tie. If this doesn’t separate the players then a sudden death play-off will commence over the same holes.

A card count-back (last 36, then 18, then 9, etc,) will be used to resolve a tie for 2nd and 3rd place.

Entries

144 players from 41 countries will contest the 2025 Championship.

All of the players in the field must have handicaps of 0.0 or better with the entry ballot applied based on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Exemptions were available to the defending champion, a single nomination from each EGA member nation, four nominated players from the host nation, Sweden, competitors in the Bonallack Trophy, St. Andrew’s Trophy and Jacques Léglise Trophy matches, the 2025 South American Amateur champion and the 2025 European Mid-Amateur champion.

There are 34 GB&I entries, namely Cameron ADAM (SCO), Eliot BAKER (ENG), Tom BASTOW (WAL), Jack BIGHAM (ENG), Ben BOLTON (ENG), Tomi BOWEN (WAL), Seb CAVE (ENG), Sebastian DESOISA (GIB), Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG), Jenson FORRESTER (ENG), Charlie FORSTER (ENG), Conor GOUGH (ENG), Connor GRAHAM (SCO), Stuart GREHAN (IRL), Daniel HAYES (ENG), Thomas HIGGINS (IRL), Monty HOLCOMBE (ENG), Seán KEELING (IRL) Kris KIM (ENG), Aidan LAWSON (SCO), Oscar LENT (ENG), Zach LITTLE (ENG), Matthew MCCLEAN (IRL), Dominic MCGLINCHEY (SCO), Tom OSBORNE (ENG), Dion REGAN (WAL), Matt ROBERTS (WAL), Charlie RUSBRIDGE (ENG), Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO), Harley SMITH (ENG), Henry STYLES (ENG), Gregor TAIT (SCO), Freddie TURNELL (ENG) and Tyler WEAVER (ENG).

The leading international entries (WAGR Top 100) are Christiaan MAAS (RSA), defending champion Tommy MORRISON (USA), Filip JAKUBCIK (CZH), Connor WILLIAMS (USA), Michael Alexander MJAASETH (NOR), Luke POTTER (USA), Daniel BENNETT (RSA), Daniel SVÅRD (SWE), Hugo LE GOFF (FRA), Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER), Peer WERNICKE (GER), Benjamin REUTER (NED), Luke SAMPLE (USA) and Wolfgang GLAWE (GER).

Vasatorp Golf Club, Sweden

Vasatorp Golf Club, which has hosted numerous national and international tournaments in the past, is located on the eastern side of Helsingborg.

The Tournament Course, an open and undulating heathland layout with some water hazards, was designed by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest in 2008.

The layout stretches up to 6,735m and plays to a par of 72 from the back tees.

Vasatorp Golf Club (Graphic: EGA)

Weather Forecast (as at 24th June)

Conditions are expected to be generally good, albeit with some rain likely and relatively strong winds.

Weds 25th June – Light Rain Showers. Wind 16 mph NW. Min. 10°C / Max. 19°C.
Thurs 26th June – Sunny Intervals. Wind 10 mph SE. Min. 15°C / Max. 20°C.
Fri 27th June – Sunny Intervals. Wind 18 mph NW. Min. 13°C / Max. 21°C.
Sat 28th June – Sunny Intervals. Wind 15 mph W. Min. 13°C / Max. 22°C.

Prizes

Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top 3 finishers.

The silver Championship Trophy, shown below, is held by the winning player’s national golf authority.

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The European Amateur Championship Trophy (Photo: EGA)

The Open Championship

The champion earns an exemption into The Open Championship in a few weeks time, this year being played at Royal Portrush G.C. in Northern Ireland.

The Open Amateur Series Winner – the player who gains the most WAGR points in the St. Andrews Links Trophy, the Amateur Championship and the European Amateur Championship – (as long as they don’t win either the Amateur or European Amateur) will also earn a spot at Royal Portrush.

Players who finish in 2nd to 4th places in this year’s European Amateur will also be offered a place in Final Qualifying which takes place next Tuesday, the 1st July. Any ties for 2nd-4th will be decided in favour of the highest ranked player in WAGR.

Other Championships

The USGA also grants exemptions to the winner into the U.S. Amateur Championship, the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship (if U19) and into Final Qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Open Championship (subject to remaining an amateur).

Further Information

Click here to view the – EGA European Amateur Championship Website

2024 European Amateur Championship

Tommy MORRISON (USA) won the 2024 European Amateur Championship at The Scandinavian G.C. in Denmark becoming the first American to win the title. He finished a three hole aggregate play-off on -2, one better than Ireland’s Max KENNEDY and three better than his compatriot Preston SUMMERHAYS.

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Tommy Morrison (Photo: European Golf Association)

Max Kennedy’s Scorecard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Calum SCOTT (SCO) finished in 4th place on -7 and newly crowned Amateur champion Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN), Santiago de la FUENTE (MEX) & Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) -6 were all tied 5th.

GB&I players Liam NOLAN (IRL) -4 11th and Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO), Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) & Charlie FORSTER (ENG) -1 tied 16th finished in the top 20.

Click here to view the – EGA / Golfbox 2024 European Amateur Championship Leaderboard

History

The competition was first contested in 1986 at Eindhoven G.C. Initially it was held biennially before moving to an annual fixture from 1990.

Former winners who have gone on to enjoy successful professional careers include Stephen GALLACHER (1994), Sergio GARCIA (1995), Gregory HAVRET (1999), Carl PETTERSSON (2000), Rory MCILROY (2006), Victor DUBUISSON (2009), Nicolai HØJGÅRD (2018) and Matthias SCHMID (2019 & 2020).

In addition to Gallacher and McIlroy other GB&I past winners include Jim PAYNE (1991), Paddy GRIBBEN (1998), Stephen BROWNE (2001), Brian MCELHINNEY (2003), Matthew RICHARDSON (2004), Rhys PUGH (2012) and Ashley CHESTERS (2013 and 2014) and Alfie PLANT (2017).

Ashley Chesters and Matthias Schmid are the only two-time winners and the only players to have retained the trophy.

Click here to view the – European Amateur Championship Past Winners and Venues

Rory McIlroy – 2006 Champion (Photo: European Golf Association)

ME.

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

The Amateur Championship – 2025 Preview & Results

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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.

ME.

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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.

ME.

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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)

ME.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

The St. Andrews Links Trophy – 2025 Preview & Results

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8th June 2025

Play-Off

Cameron ADAM (SCO) won the 2025 St. Andrews Links Trophy after a sudden death play-off with John DOYLE (IRL).

Adam won on the first play-off hole – the 1st on the Old Course – with a two putt par 4 after the young Irishman three putt bogeyed the hole.

The man from The Royal Burgess Golfing Society in Edinburgh also won The Ian Forbes Memorial Cup which is awarded for the best aggregate score on the first two days of the tournament. He shot a 68 on the Jubilee Course in Round 1 and a 64 on the Old Course. in Round 2 for a 132 (-12) total.

Cameron Adam (Photo: Adam Family)

Round 4

Cameron ADAM (SCO) and John DOYLE (IRL) both finished the 72 hole tournament on 271 (-17).

17 year old Doyle completed rounds of 66 (-6) and 65 (-7) to come from outside the top 20 on the final day. Doyle teed off 1 hour and 44 minutes ahead of Adam this afternoon. Despite winning both the Irish Boys’ and Munster Men’s Amateur Open Championships this season Doyle was only ranked 1,524th coming into the event.

Having posted the low round this morning Doyle went one better this afternoon with a 65 which included 10 birdies. This was the joint low round this afternoon with France’s Gaspar GLAUDAS matching his effort.

The far more experienced Adam (WAGR #73), who had to play catch up all afternoon, showed great poise to play a bogey free final round of 68 and secure the birdie he needed on the 72nd hole to force the play-off.

Cameron Adam and John Doyle’s Final Scorecards (Graphic: St Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

Mark STOCKDALE (ENG) -14 finished 3rd, Harley SMITH (ENG) -12 4th, Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) -12 5th, Christiaan MAAS (RSA) -11 6th, Ugo MALCOR (FRA) -11 7th and Thomas HIGGINS -11 8th.

Final Results – Top 20 (Graphic: St Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

The average Round 4 score was 71.41 (-0.59). 37 players shot par or better on Sunday afternoon.

Click here to view the – 2025 St. Andrews Links Trophy Results

Round 3

Thomas HIGGINS (IRL) moved into the lead on -14 after a 5-under 67 in this morning’s third round.

Thomas Higgins’ Round 3 Scorecard (Graphic: St Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

Cameron ADAM (SCO) fell into 2nd place with an up and down 71 which included an eagle, three birdies and four bogeys. This was 2 shots better than his playing partner Niall SHIELS DONEGAN who finished the 54 holes tied 6th after a 73.

John DOYLE (IRL) played his way into the tournament and 3rd place with the best morning round; a bogey free 66 with just 31 shots required on the back nine.

John Doyle’s Round 3 Scorecard (Graphic: St Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

Timothy CHAN (HKG) 67, Mark STOCKDALE (ENG) & Harley SMITH (ENG) both 68 and Diego PATROCINIO LOURENCO (FRA) & Kayun MUDANDA (AUS) both 69 all moved up the leaderboard with under par rounds.

The average Round 3 score from the 53 players who made the cut was 71.53 (-0.47). 36 players shot par or better on Sunday morning.

Round 3 Leaderboard (Graphic: St Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

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7th June 2025

Round 2

Cameron ADAM (SCO) will take a 2-shot lead into the final day of the St. Andrews Links Trophy after he shot a superb 8-under 64 on the Old Course in Round 2.

Cameron Adam Round 2 Scorecard (Graphic: St Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

Adam’s 132 (-12) total is 2-shots better than his fellow Scot and current Northwestern University teammate Niall SHIELS DONEGAN who stayed in touch with his own 6-under 66.

Niall Shiels Donegan Round 2 Scorecard (Graphic: St Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

Thomas HIGGINS (IRL) and Kris KIM (ENG) both shot 7-under 65’s on the Old Course to move into the top 5.

Ominously Christiaan MAAS (RSA), ranked 10th in WAGR, moved up into 4th after a 67 today.

Overnight co-leader Ugo MALCOR -7 slipped to tied 5th but remains in the mix. The other co-leader Loran APPEL could only manage a 75 on Day 2, just making the cut on the 142 (-2) number.

Round 2 Leaderboard (Graphic: St Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

The average Round 2 score was 71.98 (-0.02). There were 72 rounds below par on Saturday with a further 14 of par.

53 players made the top 40 and ties cut and can now look forward to a final 36 holes on the Old Course.

Amongst those to miss out were Jack BIGHAM (ENG) -1, Matthew DODD-BERRY (ENG) Ev, Zach LITTLE (+2), Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG) +3, Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) +4, Matt ROBERTS (WAL) +5, Tommy MORRISON (USA) +5 and defending champion Seb CAVE (ENG) +5.

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6th June 2025

Round 1

Ugo MALCOR (FRA) and Loran APPEL (NED) both shot 5-under 67’s around the Jubilee Course to share the early lead at the St. Andrews Links Trophy.

Ugo Malcor and Loran Appel Round 1 Scorecards (Graphic: St Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

Lauri ROSENDAHL (FIN), Louis ANCEAUX (FRA), Cameron ADAM (SCO), Filippo PONZANO (ITA), Niall SHIELS-DONEGAN (SCO) and Josh HILL (ENG) are all 1-shot further back.

The average Round 1 score was 73.15 (+1.15).

48 players recorded under par scores in the opening round. A further 21 players finished the day on Even par. One of the latter group, Paraguay’s Erich FORTIAGE, enjoyed a hole-in-one on 146 yard par 3 5th.

Round 1 Leaderboard (Graphic: St Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

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3rd June 2025

144 golfers will tee off on Friday 6th June in the 36th St. Andrews Links Trophy.

This three day event has become one of the ‘majors’ in men’s amateur golf helped by its venue and timing.

I will be updating this article with daily reports once play gets underway.

Competition Format

The Links Trophy is a 72 hole scratch stroke play competition played annually over the St. Andrews Links in early June.

The Old Course (Photo: St. Andrews Links – The Home of Golf)

The field is primarily determined by reference to the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and finished off with various National Golf Union and St. Andrews Links Trust nominations.

This year Round 1 will be played on the Jubilee Course and Round 2 on the Old Course. The New Course is sometimes used for Round 1 as it was last year.

The Jubilee Course plays 6,735 yards to a par of 72. The front nine is 3,186 yards long whilst the tougher back nine is 3,549 yards, both playing to pars of 36. It has a Course Rating of 74.1 and a Slope of 135.

The Old Course has been set up at 7,171 yards for the event and has a par of 72. Both nines have a par of 36 and have similar yardages – the front is 3,535 yards long whilst the back is longer at 3,636 yards. It has a Course Rating of 75.6 and a Slope of 143.

Following a top 40 and ties cut on Saturday the leading players will play a final 36 holes on the Old Course on Sunday.

The winner will be the player who returns the lowest 72 hole aggregate score.

In the event of a tie a sudden death play-off will be held over holes 1 and 18 on the Old Course.

Ties for all other places will be decided by count back – the lowest score for the last 18 holes or the last 9 or 6 or 3 or 1 hole if necessary.

The Field

As this is the first event that is taking place in Great Britain & Ireland after the U.S. college season has ended the field is stronger than we have seen in recent weeks.

The DRVN.Golf Power Estimator is estimating a WAGR rating of 728.6450 for this year’s event*. This compares favourably with 717.2064 in 2023 and 675.4594 in 2024.

[*The Actual WAGR Power Number was 729.8928]

30 different countries will be represented in Fife in 2025.

The 20 highest ranked players in the field are Tommy MORRISON (USA) #9, Christiaan MAAS (RSA) #10, Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) #45, Luke COLTON (USA) #51, Jack BIGHAM (ENG) #55,  Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) #68, Cameron ADAM (SCO) #73, Luke SAMPLE (USA) #87, Matthew DODD-BERRY (ENG) #102, Segundo OLIVA PINTO (ARG) #108, Lev GRINBERG (UKR) #124, defending champion Seb CAVE (ENG) #127, Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) #154, Rintaro NAKANO (JAP) #161, Gerardo GOMEZ (MEX) #173, Harley SMITH (ENG) #175, Jacob MELIN (SWE) #185, Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG) #186, Eliot BAKER (ENG) #188 and Alexis LERAY (FRA) #193.

GB&I notables Charlie FORSTER (ENG), Connor GRAHAM (SCO), Ross LAIRD (SCO), Luke POULTER (ENG) and Tyler WEAVER (ENG) are all competing in The Arnold Palmer Cup USA v. International team match at Congaree G.C.

Jonathan BALE (WAL), who is US-based, Seb DESOISA (GIB), Calum SCOTT (SCO), who is turning pro shortly, and Freddie TURNELL (ENG) are the only GB&I players in the WAGR Top 500 who are not competing.

Tee Times

Click here to view the – 2025 St. Andrews Links Trophy Tee Times

Weather Forecast (as at Tuesday 3rd June)

The current weather forecast looks poor; cool with some rain and strong breezes expected every day.

Friday 6th June – Sunny AM / Light Rain PM. Wind 18 mph SW. Temp. Min. 8°C / Max. 16°C.
Saturday 7th June – Light Rain. Wind 9 mph S. Temp. Min. 7°C / Max. 14°C.
Sunday 8th June – Sunny AM / Light Rain PM. Wind 16 mph W. Temp. Min. 6°C / Max. 16°C.

Tee times in Rounds 1 and 2 will start at 7.00am and end at 3.10pm so as with any links course the draw could play a part in proceedings.

Prizes

The winner receives The St Andrews Links Trophy and a commemorative medal.

The runner-up and third place finisher also receive medals.

Reducing cash prizes from £700 to £125 are also awarded to the top 10 finishers.

In addition to the main prizes The Ian Forbes Memorial Cup is awarded for the best aggregate score on the first two days of the Championship, together with £150 cash.

The Open Championship

Introduced in 2023 The Open Amateur Series, which offers an exemption into The Open Championship, is again being run by The R&A.

The player who gains the most WAGR points in the 2025 St. Andrews Links Trophy, Amateur Championship and European Amateur Championship will earn a spot at Royal Portrush in July.

Competition Website

For more information click here to view the – 2025 St. Andrews Links Trophy Tournament Website

Click here to view the – 2025 St. Andrews Links Trophy Leaderboard

2024 St. Andrews Links Trophy

Seb CAVE (ENG) completed a wire-to-wire victory in the 35th St. Andrews Links Trophy with a 281 (-6) total. The English Midlander shot 66 (New), 69 (Old), 75 (Old) and 71 (Old) to secure the coveted title.

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Seb Cave (Photo: St. Andrews Links Trust)

Harley SMITH (ENG) came 2nd ahead of Calum SCOTT (SCO) 3rd on count back after they both completed the tournament on 283 (-4).

Simon HOVDAL (SWE) was one shot behind Cave playing the 18th but a double bogey, having surprisingly pulled his tee shot left and out of bounds, relieved the pressure on the winner and saw the Swede tumble down to 4th place on -3.

Paul BEAUVY (FRA) was 5th on count back from Hovdal with Lars VAN DER VIGHT (NED) -2 6th. The Dutchman’s 67 this afternoon was the best final round score.

Josh HILL (ENG), Will HOPKINS (ENG) and Cameron ADAM (SCO) all finished on -1 to make the top 10.

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2025 St. Andrews Links Trophy – Top 20 Results (Graphic: St. Andrews Links Trust / Golf Genius)

Click here to view the – 2024 St. Andrews Trophy Results

Past Winners

Click here to view a full list of the – St Andrews Links Trophy Past Winners

Only Craig WATSON (1992 and 1998), the former GB&I Walker Cup captain, and Barclay HOWARD (1994 and 1996) have won the title twice.

The most famous winner is Justin ROSE who won in 1997.

Interestingly given the normally cosmopolitan nature of the fields the Links Trophy has only been won by players from outside GB&I on four occasions – Australia’s Stuart BOVIER (1990), Daan HUIZING from The Netherlands (2012), Federico ZUCCHETTI from Italy (2015) and Connor MCKINNEY (AUS) from Australia (2022).

Huizing, who had won the 2012 Lytham Trophy by 11 shots just a few weeks earlier, set a scoring record of -23 in 2012 (65 New, 64, 68 and 67 all Old) and won by an astonishing 14 shots.

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2025, Mark Eley. All Rights Reserved.

Scottish Men’s Open Championship – 2025 Preview & Results

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1st June 2025

ROUND 4

Eliot BAKER (ENG) won the Scottish Men’s Open Championship at North Berwick by 7-shots, continuing the recent English dominance in this competition.

Three consecutive bogeys from the 2nd hole by Billy DOWLING (AUS) no doubt helped to settle leader Eliot BAKER (ENG) into the final round. Baker would go on to make four birdies himself on the front nine, going out in 33 shots, and when he eagled the 11th the Championship was effectively over as a contest. To his credit Baker, who also won the Portuguese International Amateur Championship earlier this year, saw out the remaining holes with ease.

Emil RIEGGER (USA) and Marian LUDWIG (GER) both finished with 67’s to secure 4th and 5th place respectively. Daniel HAYES (ENG) finished 6th on -8 after posting a 70 and 69 on the final day.

Tom OSBORNE (ENG), Timothy CHAN (HKG), Dian KRUGER (RSA), Ben BROWN (ENG), Mike GRAY (SCO), Morgan BLYTHE (ENG) and George CANNON (SCO) all finished the 72 holes on -7 to make up the top 13.

Final Results (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

Click here to view the – 2025 Scottish Men’s Open Championship Leaderboard

ROUND 3

Eliot BAKER (ENG) moved into a 1-shot lead at the Scottish Men’s Open Championship with a 7-under 64. He started the final round on -16.

Eliot Baker’s Round 3 Scorecard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

Billy DOWLING (AUS) came home in 31 shots for a 67 to remain firmly in the mix on -15.

Dowling’s compatriot Kayun MUDADANA posted a 68 to start the final circuit on -11.

George CANNON -9 is 4th after a 69 and Emil RIEGGER (USA) -7 5th after a 70.

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31st May 2025

ROUND 2

Billy DOWLING (AUS) backed up his opening 64 with a solid 4-under 67 to take a 2-shot lead into the final round of the Scottish Men’s Open Championship.

Eliot BAKER (ENG) -9 is 2nd and Kayun MUDADANA (AUS) -8 3rd after they impressed on Saturday with a 66 and 64 respectively at North Berwick.

Scottish trio George CANNON -7 4th and Gregor TAIT -6 & Andrew DAVIDSON -6 tied 5th are nicely in the mix heading into the final day.

43 players made the top 40 and ties cut which fell at 143 (+1).

Round 2 Leaderboard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

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30th May 2025

ROUND 1

Billy DOWLING (AUS) took the early lead in the Scottish Men’s Open Championship with a nine birdie 64 (-7) around North Berwick’s West Links.

Billy Dowling’s Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

Morgan BLYTHE (ENG) -6 and George CANNON (SCO) -5 played their way into 2nd and 3rd places respectively. Blythe enjoyed eight birdies in his round whilst Cannon delivered a bogey-free 66.

Eliot BAKER (ENG), Herman HUUS (NOR) and Harry THOMAS (ENG) are all tied 4th on -4.

On a good scoring day 31 players finished their rounds with an under par score with a further 22 shooting even par 71’s.

Round 1 Leaderboard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

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27th May 2025

The 58th Scottish Men’s Open Stroke Play Championship starts on Friday 30th May at North Berwick Golf Club.

North Berwick G.C. (Photo: North Berwick G.C. Website)

Format

This open scratch amateur competition consists of 72 holes of stroke play.

18 holes will be played on both Friday 30th May and Saturday 31st May.

A 36 hole cut will then take place with only the leading 40 competitors and ties qualifying for the final two rounds which will be played on Sunday 1st June.

In the event of a tie for the Championship there will be a sudden death play off. All other ties will be resolved via card count back.

Field

144 competitors will start the 2025 Championship.

The field will be made up of (1) the 55 entrants with the highest WAGRs, (2) the next 55 players with the lowest WHS Handicap Index, (3) up to 12 Scottish Golf nominations and (4) a minimum of 24 players via the Pre-Qualifying event (see below).

Matt MCCLEAN (SCO) #149, Marian LUDWIG (GER) #263, Eliot BAKER (ENG) #289, Daniel HAYES (ENG) #308, Atin WADE ARTHUR (RSA) #320, Andrew DAVIDSON (SCO) #333, Aidan LAWSON (SCO) #384, Scott WOLTERING (NED) #390, Kayun MUDADANA (AUS) #405, Billy DOWLING (AUS) #406, Guus LAFEBER (NED) #442, Declan O’DONOVAN (AUS) #483, Ivan VERSTER (RSA) #518 and Jack BUCHANAN (AUS) #534 are the highest WAGR ranked players in the field.

The busy amateur schedule means that the Championship continues to struggle to attract a top class field despite often hosting it on some of the world’s best courses. The Scottish Open is being played adjacent to the U.S. NCAA Division I National Championship and East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, after the Brabazon Trophy and before the St. Andrews Links Trophy and Amateur Championship.

The drvn.golf WAGR Power Estimator is suggesting a field strength number of c.285.0000* for the 2025 event. By way of comparison the Championship’s Power was 306.7519 in 2024 (Muirfield), 252.0597 in 2023 (Meldrum House) and 601.8878 in 2022 (Cruden Bay).

* Actual WAGR Event Power confirmed as 291.9717

Pre-Qualifying

Scottish Golf, for the fourth time, held an 18 hole Pre-Qualifying event. This year it took place on Tuesday 27th May at Haddington G.C.

Kenneth GLEN (SCO), Mason ROLOFF (USA) and Adam GILES (SCO), who all posted 69’s (-2), were the co-medalists leading 28 players into the main event. The cut fell at +2 with 6 of the 11 players on that number progressing after count back. The players who missed out will now have to make do with places on the reserve list.

Click here to view the – 2025 Scottish Men’s Open Championship Pre-Qualifying Results

Tee Times

Play on Friday and Saturday will commence at 7.00am with the final three-ball setting out at 3.20pm.

Click here to view the – 2025 Scottish Men’s Open Championship Tee Times

North Berwick

The Championship is being played on North Berwick’s West Links course.

The North Berwick Golf Club was formed in 1832 which led to organised golf first being played over this unique piece of land.

The Championship tees can stretch the course to 6,579 yards with a par of 71. The par 4 13th “Pit”, which plays to a green behind a wall, the 14th “Perfection”, the par 3 15th “Redan” and the 16th “Gate” with it’s deep gully in the green are the signature holes.

Between 1935 and 1975 the annual Scottish Boys’ Championship, inaugurated by North Berwick G.C. and later taken over by Scottish Golf, took place over the West Links. Many other major events have been staged here since, including Final Qualifying for The Open Championship on six occasions (last 2013), The Ladies’ British Amatuer Stroke Play Championship (2017), The Seniors’ Amateur StrokePlay Championship (2019) and The Scottish Boys Open Championship (2020).

Prizes

The Winner receives the distinctive silver Championship Trophy and a Crystal Award.

Crystal Awards are also given to the runner-up and third place finisher.

Weather Forecast (as at Tuesday 27th May)

The weather forecast suggests the Championship will be played largely in sunny conditions, albeit with dome rain expected on the all-important final day.

Fri 30th May – Sunny Intervals / Wind 18 mph W / Temp. Min. 10°C / Max. 17°C,
Sat 31st May – Sunny Intervals / Wind 15 mph S / Temp. Min. 10°C / Max. 18°C
Sun 1st June – Rain Showers / Wind 19 mph SW / Temp. Min. 9°C / Max. 16°C

2024 Results

Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) won the 2024 Scottish Men’s Open Championship with a 260 (-24) total.

His final day 65 (-6) and 62 (-9) saw him take the title at Muirfield by an astonishing 17 shots.

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Dominic Clemons (Photo: Scottish Golf)

Jordan BURNAND (RSA) -7 finished 2nd on last round count back, Kai KOMULAINEN (AUS) -7 3rd, Jamie NIELSEN (DEN) -6 4th and Matteo CRISTONI (ITA), who had a final round hole-in-one on the 16th, -4 5th.

Jack MCDONALD -1 8th was the highest finishing Scot with Charlie FORSTER (ENG) Ev also finishing in the top 10.

Just eight of the 44 players who made the cut finished under par after 72 holes.

Screenshot 2024-06-02 at 19.08.36

Final Results (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

Click here to view the – 2024 Scottish Men’s Open Championship Results

Past Winners

The Scottish Men’s Open Amateur was first contested in 1967 and has an impressive list of past winners. Here are some of them: –

2011 – Andy Sullivan (ENG)
2009 – Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
2004 – Richie Ramsay (SCO)
2003 – Gary Wolstenholme (ENG)
1997 – Barclay Howard (SCO)
1996 – Alastair Forsyth (SCO)
1995 – Stephen Gallacher (SCO)
1992 – Dean Robertson (SCO)
1991 – Andrew Coltart (SCO)
1985 – Colin Montgomerie (SCO)
1981 – Philip Walton (IRE)
1980 – Gordon Brand Jr (ENG)
1975 and 1984 – Charlie Green (SCO)
1971, 1974 and 1979 – Ian Hutcheon (SCO)
1970 – Dale Hayes (RSA)
1968 – Ronnie Shade (SCO)
1967 – Bernard Gallacher (SCO)

A full list of the past winners can be viewed here – Scottish Open Amateur Winners

ME.

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

Irish Amateur Open Championship – 2025 Preview & Results

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Sunday 11th May 2025

Round 4

Stuart GREHAN (IRL) beat Lewy HAYWARD (ENG) on the third play-off hole to win the Flogas-sponsored Irish Amateur Open Championship at Seapoint Golf Links.

Both players finished the 72 holes on 273 (-15) after they both impressively produced bogey-free rounds under the pressure of the final day; recently reinstated amateur Grehan, who plays out of neighbouring County Louth, a 66 and Hayward a 69.

Defending champion Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) finished as he started with the low round of the day; his 65, which included eight birdies, lifting him up the leaderboard into 3rd place.

Matt ROBERTS (WAL) backed up his tied 3rd result at last week’s Lytham Trophy with a 4th place finish in Ireland.

Greg HOLMES (ENG) -11 finished in 5th and Gerry DUNNE (IRL) -11 6th on final round count back.

The average Round 4 score was 72.10 with 34 of the remaining 59 players shooting par or better.

Final Results (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

Click here to view the – 2025 Irish Amateur Open Results

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Saturday 10th May 2025

Round 3

Lewy HAYWARD (ENG) and Gerry DUNNE (IRL) both recorded 2-under par 70’s in the third round at Seapoint to give themselves a 2-shot lead heading into tomorrow’s final round. They will both start the day on 204 (-12) after strong finishes; Hayward birdied his closing two holes whilst Dunne eagled the 18th.

Matt ROBERTS (WAL) enjoyed the second best round of the day with his 67, moving into 3rd alone on 206 (-10).

Matt Roberts’ 54 hole Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

Archie DAVIES (WAL) and Stuart GREHAN (IRL) are tied 4th on -9 with Greg HOLMES (ENG) two shots further back in 6th place.

Overnight co-leader and defending champion Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) will start the final round in tied 7th after he shot a disappointing 76 to probably fall out of contention on -6.

The field found scoring slightly harder on Day 3 with the average score being 73.94, although more players, 51, shot par or better.

Shot of the day came from Conor HICKEY (IRL) who recorded a hole in one on the par 3 187 yard 17th.

59 players made the top 50 and ties 54 hole cut which fell at 219 (+3).

Round 3 Leaderboard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

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Friday 9th May 2025

Round 2

Lewy HAYWARD (ENG), Gerry DUNNE (IRL) and Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) share the 36 hole lead on 134 (-10).

Hayward, alongside Lewis GOWDY (IRL), produced the joint best round of the day with a blemish free 7-under 65.

Lewy Hayward’s 36 Hole Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

Stuart GREHAN (IRL) -9 is 4th, Archie DAVIES (WAL) & Greg HOLMES (ENG) -5 tied 5th, Lewis GOWDY (IRL) -7 6th and David HOWARD (IRL) & Colm CAMPBELL (IRL) -6 tied 8th.

The average Round 2 score was 73.71, slightly higher than yesterday, with 49 competitors shooting par or better at Seapoint Golf Links.

Round 2 Leaderboard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

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Thursday 8th May 2025

Round 1

Defending champion Matthew MCCLEAN (IRL) produced a course record 8-under 64 at Seapoint to take the early lead in the Irish Amateur Open.

Matthew McClean’s Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

On a low scoring day Charlie MCDONNELL (IRL) -7 is 2nd, Stuart GREHAN (IRL) & Caelan COLEMAN (IRL) -6 tied 3rd and Colm CAMPBELL (IRL), Gerry DUNNE (IRL) & Greg HOLMES (ENG) -5 tied 5th.

The average Round 1 score was 73.41 with 56 competitors shooting par or better.

Round 1 Leaderboard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

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6th May 2025

The Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship, sponsored by Flogas, starts on Thursday 8th May 2025 at Seapoint Golf Links near Drogheda, County Louth on Ireland’s east coast.

It will be the 86th playing of this prestigious Championship but the first time it has visited Seapoint.

Seapoint’s 2nd Hole (Photo: Seaport G.C.)

Format

Organised by Golf Ireland the Irish Amateur Open is a 72-hole stroke play event played over four days.

18 holes will be played on each of the first three days before a top 50 and ties cut is made. A final 18 holes will then be played by the leading competitors on Sunday.

A tie for the Championship will be resolved by a sudden death play-off. All other ties will be resolved by a last eighteen and then last nine countback.

The Irish Amateur Open Champion Golfer is awarded a superb silver trophy (see photo below). Irish winners are allowed to take the trophy back to their Club for the year whereas overseas winners must return it to the organisers after the prize presentation.

Players

132 golfers will contest the 2025 Championship.

I expect the following players to do well (in alphabetical order): Colm CAMPBELL (IRL), Paul COUGHLAN (IRL), Brian DORAN (IRL), TJ FORD (IRL), Stuart GREHAN (IRL), Dylan HOLMES (IRL), David KITT (IRL), Matt MCCLEAN (IRL), Jack MCDONNELL (IRL), Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL), Matt ROBERTS (WAL) and Gregor TAIT (SCO).

It will also be interesting to see how Seapoint’s Dylan KEATING (IRL) gets on around his home course.

Like all events played before June the field quality isn’t helped by the large number of GB&I and European players now playing on the U.S. college circuit.

Tee Times

Click here to view the – 2025 Irish Amateur Open Tee Times

Players will tee off, from the 1st and 10th tees, between 8.00am and 2.55pm in three-balls on each of the first three days so changes in the weather and wind speeds throughout each day could play a big part in scoring.

Course

Seapoint is a modern championship links course designed by Des Smyth in the early 1990s and opened for play in June 1993.

Located adjacent to Termonfeckin Beach the course is 7,150 yards from the back tees and has a par of 72.

Over the last 30 years it has hosted a number of professional events as well as the Irish Amateur Close Championship in 2014 which was won by JR Galbraith.

Weather Forecast (as at Tuesday 6th May)

The weather forecast for this week looks very good for all four days – mainly sunny with only light winds expected.

Thu 8th May – Sunny Intervals / Wind 11 mph E / Temp. Min. 7°C / Max. 15°C.
Fri  9th May – Sunny / Wind 10 mph SE / Temp. Min. 6°C / Max. 15°C.
Sat  10th May – Sunny / Wind 10 mph SE / Temp. Min. 8°C / Max. 16°C.
Sun 11th May – Sunny / Wind 8 mph E / Temp. Min. 9°C / Max. 16°C.

The 2024 Irish Amateur Open Championship

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) won the 2024 Flogas Irish Amateur Open Championship at County Sligo G.C., his first Irish Championship.

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Matt McClean (Photo: Golf Ireland)

McClean’s 273 (-11) total was 2-shots better than Liam NOLAN (IRL). TJ FORD (IRL) produced a superb final round 65 to finish in 3rd place on -6. Oswestry’s Tom MATTHEWS (WAL) -5 came in 4th and Hugh FOLEY (IRL) -4 5th.

Click here to view the – 2024 Irish Amateur Open Championship Results

History, Past Winners and Records

The Irish Amateur Open Championship was first played in 1892 with early winners including the English amateur greats John Ball and Harold Hilton.

Between 1894 and 1901 (6 years) the competition was played as part of the Irish Championship Meeting alongside a professional tournament.

The Championship was not played during both World Wars.

It was also not played between 1960 and 1994 due to a lack of interest from overseas players amidst concerns over safety.

Prior to 1958 it was a match play event but since returning to the amateur calendar in 1995 it has been 72 holes of stroke play.

To view a list of past winners click here – Irish Amateur Open Past Champions

ME.

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

Men’s European Nations Championship – 2025 Preview & Results

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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

ME.

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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

ME.

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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

ME.

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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

ME.

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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.

U.S. Amateur Championship – 2024 Preview & Results

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18th August 2024

Match Play – Final

Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP), who is celebrating his 21st birthday today, won the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.

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Jose Luis Ballester with the Havemeyer Trophy (Photo: Chris Keane / USGA)

The senior at Arizona State University beat Noah KENT (USA), 19, a sophomore at the University of Iowa, by 2 Holes in the 36 hole Championship match.

Ballester took the lead on the 2nd hole and was 4Up at lunch. Still 4Up after 30 holes it appeared the Spaniard would win comfortably but a few loose shots and a lot of fight from Kent saw the match eventually go down the 18th for the second time. Ballester played this final hole superbly to win the hole and take the title.

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Kent v. Ballester Match Play Final Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Results

Ballester, the 2023 European Amateur champion, who is coached by Victor Garcia, Sergio’s father, became the first Spanish champion.

By reaching the Final both players earned exemptions into next year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club and into the U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Ballester, the champion, also earned an exemption into The 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club.

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Noah Kent and Jose Ballester (Photo: Chris Keane / USGA)

ME.

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Match Play – Semi-Finals

19 year old Noah KENT (USA) ranked 560th in WAGR surprised Jackson BUCHANAN (USA), 22, ranked 17th in the first Semi-Final game, winning the tie by 2 Holes. Buchanan made four bogeys over the first six holes of their game which gave Kent all the encouragement he needed.

The all-Spanish affair between Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP), 20, ranked 10th in WAGR, and Luis MASAVEU (ESP), 21, ranked 23rd went the way of Ballester. The Arizona State man scrambled superbly and over the 16 holes he required for victory recorded four birdies and no bogeys.

All four Semi-Finalists earned exemptions into the next two U.S. Amateur Championships which will be played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco and at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore.

The losing semi-finalists receive bronze medals for their efforts.

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Semi-Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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16th August 2024

Match Play – Round 4 (Quarter Finals)

Noah KENT (USA) made six birdies and an eagle on his way to beating Ethan FANG (USA) in the opening Quarter Final match. Showers during the morning had softened the course up making scoring a little easier.

Jackson BUCHANAN (USA) beat Jacob MODLESKI (USA) by 4&3 not needing to play all 18 holes for the first time in match play.

Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP) eventually got the better of 36 year old Bobby MASSA (USA), a personal trainer from Texas, over the closing holes and was grateful for a 3&1 victory over the 2,969th WAGR ranked player.

Luis MASAVEU (ESP) ensured there would be two Spanish players in the Semi-Finals by overcoming Brendan VALDES (USA) by 3&2 in the final Quarter Final tie. Masaveu fought back well from being 2Down after four holes.

It was the first time that two Spaniards had reached the Quarter Finals in the U.S. Amateur. Sergio Garcia reached the Semi-Finals in 1998.

All eight Quarter Finalists are exempt into the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship which will be played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

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Quarter Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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15th August 2024 – Afternoon

Match Play – Round 3 (Last 16)

This morning’s conquerors of Calum Scott and James Ashfield, Omar MORALES (MEX), seeded 61st, and Phichaksn MAICHON (THA) 46, both lost in the Round of 16.

Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP) and Luis MASAVEU (ESP) both played very well to continue their runs at the Championship.

In a game where neither player ever led by more than one hole Bobby MASSA (USA) birdied the 23rd (5th) from 25 feet to finally beat Ashton MCCULLOCH (CAN).

Here are the Last 16 results: –

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Round of 16 Results (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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15th August 2024 – Morning

Match Play – Round 2 (32)

Here are the Round of 32 results: –

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Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Jackson BUCHANAN (USA), seeded 53rd, ended the hopes of WAGR No. 1 Luke CLANTON (USA) 21 with a narrow 1 Hole victory in the Round of 32.

European Amateur champion Tommy MORRISON (USA) 52 was also a casualty on Thursday morning, losing by 3&2 to Jacob MODLESKI (USA) 20 who led from the 2nd hole.

Whilst GB&I interest ended in this round (see below) Bastian AMAT (FRA) 17, Jose Luis BALLESTER (ESP) 47 and Luis MASAVEU (ESP) 3 kept European fires burning with solid wins.

Despite getting off to an excellent start which saw him 2Up after four holes Calum SCOTT (SCO) 36 succumbed to Omar MORALES (MEX) 61, a rising senior at UCLA 2023, by 3&2. Morales produced four birdies in a row from the 6th hole to completely turn the contest around. Scott immediately bounced back with two birdies of his own to tie the match up after 11 holes. However, two badly timed bogeys by the Nairn man on 12 and 13 handed back the initiative to the Mexican and ultimately proved to be insurmountable for him.

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Morales v. Scott Match Play Round of 32 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA)

Phichaksn MAICHON (THA) 46, a rising senior at Texas A&M and WAGR ranked 25th, beat James ASHFIELD (WAL) by 4&2 in their Round of 32 game. 2-under after six holes Maichon sped into a 4Up lead and never looked back as his consistent play ended GB&I interest in this year’s U.S. Amateur Championship.

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Maichon v. Ashfield Match Play Round of 32 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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14th August 2024

Match Play – Round 1 (64)

Here are the Round of 64 results: –

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Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Conditions were tougher on Day 3 of the Championship with winds gusting up to 20mph and temperatures a little cooler.

13 of today’s 64 games went the full 18 holes with seven of these requiring extra holes.

Medalist Jimmy ELLIS (USA) lost to compatriot Ethan FANG by 2 Holes after the Oklahoma State student had come through the early morning play-off.

WAGR top 15 ranked players David FORD (USA), Ben JAMES (USA), Christiaan MAAS (RSA), Gordon SARGENT (USA), Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA) and Jackson VAN PARIS (USA) were all knocked out in the opening match play round.

Ominously for the rest of the field man-of-the-moment Luke CLANTON (USA), who became the WAGR No. 1 prior to going out, is through to the Round of 32 after a 4&3 win against Dylan MCDERMOTT (USA).

Calum SCOTT (SCO), seeded 36th, required 21 holes to beat Mahanth CHIRRAVURI (USA) 29, who is a rising junior at Pepperdine University and ranked 67th in WAGR. The Nairn man battled back well after a slow start which saw him 2Down after both four and nine holes. A par 5 on the 3rd hole, second time around, finally got the job done with Scott taking the lead for the first time in the game.

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Chirravuri v. Scott Match Play Round of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA)

The other remaining GB&I player, James ASHFIELD (WAL) 51, beat Matthew MANGANELLO (USA) 14, who has recently graduated from Fresno State University and is ranked 211th in WAGR, by 3&2. Like Calum Scott Ashfield got off to a poor start before consecutive birdies on 7, 8 and 9 enabled him to restore parity. Bogeys on 12 and 13 from the American handed the Welshman the advantage which he saw out comfortably.

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Manganello v. Ashfield Match Play Round of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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14th August 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying – Play-Off

The 14-for-11 spots play-off commenced at 7.30am CDT (1.30pm BST) on the 10th and 17th holes at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Luke COLTON (USA), Algot KLEEN (SWE) and Joseph LENANE (USA) were eliminated.

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Stroke Play Qualifying – Play-Off Results (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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13th August 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 2

39 year old Floridian Jimmy ELLIS (USA) was the surprise medalist at the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship. The Florida State Amateur champion shot a 61 (-9) at Chaska Town Course in Round 2 to post an impressive 132 (-10) total.

Ethan EVANS (USA) -9 earned the 2nd seeding, Luis MASAVEU (ESP) -7 the 3rd, David FORD (USA) -7 the 4th and overnight co-leader Paul CHANG (CHN) -7 the 5th.

After posting a 2-under 70 at Hazeltine Luke CLANTON (USA) finished on 139 (-3) to comfortably progress.

With conditions largely unchanged the two qualifying courses played similarly on both days. The average Round 2 score at Hazeltine was 76.2 (Round 1: 76.1) and at Chaska Town it was 71.5 (70.9).

The leading 64 player match play cut fell at 142 (Ev) with 14 competitors required to play-off for the final 11 spots tomorrow morning.

James ASHFIELD (WAL) and Calum SCOTT (SCO) were the only two GB&I players to advance to the Match Play Stage. They both finished on 141 (-1), tied 32nd, but as a blind draw is used to decide ties in the Stroke Play Qualifying were eventually seeded 15 places apart. The R&A use a combined back nine count back approach to ties where two qualifying courses are used in their Championships.

Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) produced one of the best rounds of the Stroke Play Qualifying competition, a 2-under 70 at Hazeltine National which included four birdies. Sadly he had left himself too much to do and missed out by 1-shot on the play-off.

Connor GRAHAM (SCO) got off to a bad start at Hazeltine National in Round 2, dropping 3-shots in his opening four holes, but despite battling back well for a 75 missed out.

Rhode-Island based Bobby LEOPOLD (ENG) shot a 1-under 69 at Chaska Town Course but his +2 aggregate total always looked like being too high.

Ireland’s Matt MCCLEAN and Max KENNEDY, who both started the day tied 24th, will be disappointed to have missed out after making too many mistakes at Hazeltine National in Round 2.

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GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Results

ME.

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12th August 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 1

On a perfect day for golf Paul CHANG (CHN), 23, and Tom FISCHER (USA), 20, both shot 6-under 64’s at Chaska Town Course to take the Round 1 lead in the Stroke Play Qualifying.

Only 19 of the 156 competitors beat the par of 72 at Hazeltine National G.C. in Round 1 whilst 63 of the other 156 did so at Chaska Town Course, which is nearly 700 yards shorter than it’s big brother. The stroke average at Hazeltine was 76.1 on Day 1 whilst at Chaska Town it was 70.9.

Luke CLANTON (USA) who finished 5th at the Wyndham Championship after playing 39 holes in North Carolina on Sunday and flew overnight up to Minnesota showed no ill effects carding a 69 (-1) at Chaska Town.

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Leading Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Scores (Graphic: USGA)

James ASHFIELD (WAL) and Calum SCOTT (SCO), who are tied 11th, were both amongst a small group of three players that recorded a 69 (-3), the best score, on the tougher Hazeltine National course.

Irish pair Matt MCCLEAN (-2 at Chaska) and Max KENNEDY (-2 at Hazeltine), tied 24th, Scotland’s Connor GRAHAM (-1 at Chaska), tied 49th, and England’s Jack BIGHAM (Ev at Hazeltine), tied 83rd, also laid strong foundations for qualification on Day 1.

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GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Scores (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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7th August 2024

Introduction

The 124th U.S. Amateur Championship is being played at Hazeltine National Golf Club and Chaska Town Course in Chaska, Minnesota on 12th-18th August 2024.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious individual competition in the amateur golf calendar.

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2024 Field

4,970 entries were received by the USGA for this year’s Championship.

312 players from 36 different countries will be competing. 143 were exempt with the remaining 169 coming through qualifying.

Exemptions are granted based on past performances in previous amateur championships, selection for the Walker Cup teams and World Amateur Golf Rankings.

In a change to previous years 45 Local Qualifying events, all played over 18 holes, were staged between 4th June and 3rd July before 19 Final Qualifying competitions, again over 18 holes, took place between 25th-31st July.

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Local Qualifying Results

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Final Qualifying Results

The youngest player is Jade Soong (USA) who is 14 years old and the oldest Rusty Strawn (USA) who is 61.

There are ten Great British & Irish (GB&I) players in the 2024 field. They are: –

James ASHFIELD (WAL) 23 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 / WAGR Top 100 May 2024
Jack BIGHAM (ENG) 20 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 / WAGR Top 100 May 2024
Harry CROCKETT (ENG) 22 – Final Qualifying: Lake Forest G.&C.C. Missouri
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) 17 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023
Max KENNEDY (IRL) 23 – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 May 2024
Bobby LEOPOLD (ENG) 39 – Exemption: Rhode Island Amateur champion 2024
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) 31 – Exemption: U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion 2022 / Top 8 WATC 2023 / Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 / WAGR Top 100 May 2024
Calum SCOTT (SCO) 20 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 / WAGR Top 100 May 2024
Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) 19 – Final Qualifying: Bend G.C., Oregon
Tyler WEAVER (ENG) 19 – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 May 2024

Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG), who just missed out in Final Qualifying at Aldeen G.C. in Illinois, was an Alternate but was not called up by the USGA.

There were 8 GB&I players at Cherry Hills last year, 9 at Ridgewood in 2022, 5 at Oakmont in 2021, 11 at Bandon Dunes in 2020, 11 at Pinehurst in 2019, 7 at Pebble Beach in 2018, 9 at Riviera in 2017 and 11 at Oakland Hills in 2016.

Stroke Play Qualifying Tee Times (Round 1 / Round 2)

1 – 1st hole  /  10 – 10th hole /  C – Chaska Town Course  /  H – Hazeltine National G.C
Time Difference – Chaska, Minnesota BST – 6 hours

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) – 10C 7.22am / 1H 12.52pm
James ASHFIELD (WAL) -1H 7.44am / 10C 1.14pm
Calum SCOTT (SCO) – 1H  7.55am / 10C 1.25pm
Jack BIGHAM (ENG) – 10H 8.17am / 1C 1.36pm
Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) – 1C 8.17am / 10H 1.47pm
Max KENNEDY (IRL) – 10C 8.28am / 1H 1.58pm
Harry CROCKETT (ENG) – 10C 12.30pm / 1H 7.00am
Tyler WEAVER (ENG) – 1H 12.52pm / 10C 7.22am
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) – 1C 1.58am / 10H 8.28am
Bobby LEOPOLD (ENG) – 10H 2.09pm / 1C 8.39am

Click here to view the full – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship SP Qualifying Tee Times

Format / Schedule

36-holes of stroke play (SP) will determine the top 64 match play (MP) qualifiers. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

Six 18 hole MP rounds will then be played culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

Monday 12th August – SP Qualifying Round 1 (Hazeltine and Chaska – 18 holes)
Tuesday 13th August – SP Qualifying Round 2 (Hazeltine and Chaska – 18 holes)
Wednesday 14th August – SP Qualifying Play-Off / MP Round of 64 (Hazeltine – 18 holes)
Thursday 15th August – MP Rounds of 32 and 16 (Hazeltine – 18 holes)
Friday 16th August – MP Quarter Finals (Hazeltine – 18 holes)
Saturday 17th August – MP Semi-Finals (Hazeltine – 18 holes)
Sunday 18th August – MP Championship Final (Hazeltine – 36 holes)

Host Courses

Both courses, which are 3 miles apart, are located north of Chaska in the mid-west state of Minnesota.

Hazeltine National Golf Club – stroke play and match play
7,552 yards / Par 72

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Located in Chaska it opened in 1962.
Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. with recent renovations by Rees Jones and Love Design.
It has previously hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 1966 and 1977, the U.S. Open in 1970 (Tony Jacklin) and 1991 (Payne Stewart), the U.S. Senior Open in 1983, the U.S. Mid-Amateur in 1994, the PGA Championship in 2002 and 2009, the U.S. Amateur in 2006 (Richie Ramsay), the Ryder Cup in 2016 and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2019.

Chaska Town Couirse – stroke play co-host
6,804 yards / Par 70

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Located in Chaska it opened in 1997.
Designed by Arthur Hills.
In the Stroke Play Qualifying at the 2006 U.S. Amateur medalist Billy Horschel (USA) shot a USGA 18-hole record 60 (-10) at Chaska.

Weather Forecast (as at 7th August 2024)

The weather forecast looks ideal for the whole Championship week with sunny conditions and no wind to speak of.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 12th August – Sunny / Wind 4mph NE / Temp. Min. 13°C, Max. 25°C.
Tues 13th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 6mph SE / Temp. Min. 15°C, Max. 25°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 14th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 6mph SE / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 26°C.
Thurs 15th August – Showers / Wind 7mph SE  / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 27°C.
Fri 16th August – Cloudy / Wind 7mph SE  / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 26°C.
Sat 17th August – Cloudy / Wind 4mph SE / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 26°C.
Sun 18th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 6mph SE / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 27°C.

Prizes

The 2024 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;
b) An exemption to play in the 2025 U.S. Open which is being staged at Oakmont C.C.;

and assuming they remain amateur,
c) An invitation to play in the 2025 Masters at Augusta National G.C.;
d) An exemption to play in the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush G.C.;
e) An exemption to play in the 2025-2034 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

f) Various invitations to play in PGA Tour and DP World Tour events.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists.

A Silver Medal is also awarded to the stroke play medalist(s).

The original silver Havemeyer Trophy was presented to the U.S.G.A. on March 1895 in honour of the Association’s first President Theodore A. Havemeyer. This was lost in a fire at Bobby Jones’ home club, East Lake, in 1925.

A new gold trophy was produced in 1926. This was retired in 1992 with a copy of the trophy being produced and passed from champion to champion ever since. Sadly the original gold trophy was stolen from the U.S.G.A. Museum in 2012 and has never been seen since.

US Amateur Information

Click here to view the – 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Official Website

Spectators / Television Coverage

Some highlights of the SP Qualifying will be shown on the USGA website and social media channels.

In the USA Peacock and Golf Channel will be covering the MP stage.

In the UK Sky Sports Golf normally takes the U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

2023 U.S. Amateur Championship

Nick DUNLAP (USA), who was 19 at the time, won the 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship in Denver beating Neal SHIPLEY (USA) by 4&3 in the 36-hole Final at Cherry Hills G.C.

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Nick Dunlap with the Havemeyer Trophy (Photo: USGA)

Dunlap became only the second player to win both the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur Championships, following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods. Of course Woods amazingly won each Championship three times in six consecutive years between 1991-96.

Calum SCOTT (SCO) was the most successful GB&I player. He lost on the 20th Hole to the eventual runner-up Neal SHIPLEY (USA).

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) was the only other GB&I player to make the Match Play Stage. He lost by 1 Hole to China’s Andi XU in the Round of 64.

Click here to view the full – 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Results

Scott 139 (-4) finished tied 10th in the Stroke Play Qualifying to secure the 15th match play seeding whilst McClean 143 (Ev) tied for 50th place, taking the 58th seed.

Barclay BROWN (ENG) 147 (+4), Mark POWER (IRL) 148 (+5), Conor GOUGH (ENG) 151 (+8), Jonathan BALE (WAL) 152 (+9), John GOUGH (ENG) 154 (+11) and Hugh FOLEY (IRL) 155 (+12) all missed the cut after their rounds at Cherry Hills G.C. and Colorado Golf Club.

Click here to view the full – 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Leaderboard

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2024 will see its 124th playing.

It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Former U.S. winners include Walter Travis (1900-01-03), Jerome Travers (1907-08-12-13), Bobby Jones (1924-25-27-28-30), Francis Ouimet (1914-31), W. Lawson Little (1934-35) Arnold Palmer (1954), Jack Nicklaus (1959-61), Deane Beman (1960-63), Lanny Wadkins (1970), Craig Stadler (1973), Mark O’Meara (1979), Hal Sutton (1980), Phil Mickelson (1990), Justin Leonard (1992), Tiger Woods (1994-95-96), Matt Kucher (1997), Ryan Moore (2004) and Bryson DeChambeau (2015).

The last five winners, 2023-2019, have been Nick Dunlap (USA), Sam Bennett (USA), James Piot (USA), Tyler Strafaci (USA) and Andy Ogletree (USA).

British players have won the Championship on six occasions but just twice in the last 100 years – H.J. Whigham (1896-97), Findlay Douglas (1898), Harold Hilton (1911), Richie Ramsay (2006) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013).

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) and Norway’s Viktor Hovland (2018) are the only players from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Click here to view the full list of past – U.S. Amateur Champions

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

For reasons I have never understood the USGA continue to allocate their Championship venues far out into the future: –

125th – 11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California
126th – 10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
127th – 09-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York
128th – TBD   August 2028 – Whistling Straits Golf Club, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
129th – 13-19 August 2029 – Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio
130th – 12-18 August 2030 – Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Georgia
131st – 11-17 August 2031 – Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tennessee
132nd – 09-15 August 2032 – Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
133rd – 15-21 August 2033 – Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington
134th – TBD August 2034 – The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts
135th – TBD
136th – TBD August 2036 – Scioto Country Club, Upper Arlington, Ohio
137th – TBD
138th – TBD August 2038 – Pinehurst Resort No. 2, Pinehurst, North Carolina
139th – TBD
140th – TBD
141st – TBD August 2041 – Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
147th – TBD August 2047 – Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
151st – TBD August 2051 – Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

ME.

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

The European Amateur Championship – 2024 Preview & Results

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29th June 2024

Tommy MORRISON (USA) won the 2024 European Amateur Championship at The Scandinavian G.C. after finishing the three hole aggregate play-off on -2, one better than Ireland’s Max KENNEDY and three better than his compatriot Preston SUMMERHAYS.

Morrison is the first American to win the European Amateur in its 37th playing.

Morrison’s victory comes with an exemption into The Open Championship in a few weeks time at Royal Troon G.C. The USGA also grants the winner exemptions into the U.S. Amateur Championship (which he won’t require based on his existing WAGR) and into Final Qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open Championship (subject to him remaining an amateur).

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Tommy Morrison (Photo: European Golf Association)

Calum SCOTT (SCO) will join the Texan at The Open in Scotland after winning The Open Championship Amateur Series. Scott finished 2nd in the St. Andrews Links Trophy, reached the Quarter Finals of the Amateur Championship and came 4th in this week’s European Amateur Championship to earn the most WAGR points.

Screenshot 2024-06-29 at 19.14.04

My Unofficial Open Amateur Series Results

Play-Off

Max KENNEDY (IRL), Tommy MORRISON (USA) and Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA) played the 9th, 10th and 18th holes on the New Course in a three hole aggregate play-off to decide the 2024 European Amateur.

Morrison birdied the 10th and 18th to win the Championship. He critically got up and down from a tough lie beside the par 5 18th green.

Kennedy matched Morrison’s birdie on the 10th but missed an 18 foot birdie on 18.

Summerhays bogeyed the 10th, sandwiched between two pars, to effectively fall out of the battle.

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Play-off Results (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Round 4

Max KENNEDY (IRL), Tommy MORRISON (USA) and Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA) all finished on 279 (-9) at The Scandinavian G.C. in Denmark.

Kennedy shot a bogey free 5-under 67 in the final round whilst Morrison also matched this score in typically a more colourful effort. Summerhays birdied the 15th, 16th and 18th holes in regulation to post a 69 and force his way into the shootout.

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Max Kennedy’s Scorecard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Calum SCOTT (SCO) finished strongly with a 68 to secure 4th place on -7.

Amateur champion Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN) showed no hangover from his exertions last week, finishing tied 5th alongside Santiago de la FUENTE (MEX) and Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) on -6.

After four consecutive birdies Wiedemeyer had stood on the 18th tee in the lead on -10. However, after putting three balls in the water on his final hole his 4-over nine sent him tumbling back down the leaderboard.

From a GB&I perspective Liam NOLAN (IRL) -4 11th and Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO), Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) & Charlie FORSTER (ENG) -1 tied 16th also finished in the top 20.

28 of the 69 players who played the final round completed the Championship on even par or better.

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Round 4 Leaderboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Click here to view the – EGA / Golfbox 2024 European Amateur Championship Leaderboard

ME.

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28th June 2024

Round 3

Preston SUMMERHAYS returned to the top of the European Amateur leaderboard at The Scandinavian G.C after he posted a level par 72 on Day 3.

Summerhays’ 210 (-6) total is one better than Daniel SVÄRD (SWE), Charlie FORSTER (ENG), Alfons BONDESSON (SWE), Santiago De La FUENTE (MEX) and Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER).

Liam NOLAN (IRL) jumped up 47 places on the leaderboard to tied 7th after he recorded a 7-under 67 which included nine birdies; the best round of the week by 2-shots.

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Liam Nolan’s Scorecard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Amateur champion Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN), Phoenix CAMPBELL (AUS), Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO), Jaime MONTOJO (ESP), Jonathan NIELSEN (DEN) and Tyler WEAVER (ENG) all shot 5-under 67’s in Round 3 to move up the standings.

15 players are within three shots of the lead and 34 players are on even par or better with 18 holes to play.

69 players made the 60 lowest scores and ties second cut to progress to Saturday’s final round.

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Round 3 Leaderboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

ME.

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27th June 2024

Round 2

Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) shot a seven birdie 67 to move into the 36 hole lead at the European Amateur.

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Tim Wiedemeyer’s Scorecard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Bastian AMAT (FRA), Gregor GRAHAM (SCO), Tommy MORRISON (USA) and Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA) are all tied for 2nd on -6. Amat rose seven places on the leaderboard with a 4-under 68 today.

Like Wiedemeyer Jerry JI (NED), Marcin BOGUSZ (POL) and Lev GRINBERG (UKR) also shot 67 (-5) in Round 2 to match the low round of the week mark.

Max KENNEDY (IRL) -3 is tied 11th and Calum SCOTT (SCO), Hugh FOLEY (IRL) & Charlie FORSTER (ENG) -2 tied 15th. Scott again finished his round strongly, this time with five consecutive birdies, to record a 68 and move up 39 spots.

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Calum Scott’s Scorecard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

On a tight leaderboard 35 players are now on even par or better after 36 holes.

Exactly 96 players made the 36 hole 96 lowest scores and ties cut which fell at 150 (+6).

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Round 2 Leaderboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

ME.

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26th June 2024

Round 1

2023 USA Walker Cup player Preston SUMMERHAYS leads the European Amateur after a 5-under 67 around The Scandinavian G.C.’s New Course.

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Preston Summerhays’ Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Fellow American Tommy MORRISON is tied for 2nd after a bogey free 68. He was the only player in the field of 144 not to drop a shot on Day 1.

Max KENNEDY (IRL), who played the opening tee shot at 7.00am, Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) and Charlie FORSTER (ENG) also recorded 68’s to join Morrison in the tie for 2nd place.

Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG), who was 4-over after four holes and who had a triple bogey 8 on the par 5 4th, fought back well to finish on -2 and tied 9th.

Reigning Scottish Amateur champion Cameron ADAM, -1 tied 15th, is the only other GB&I player in the top 20.

37 players shot even par or better in the first round.

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Round 1 Leaderboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

ME.

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21st June 2024 (Last Updated 25th June 2024)

The 37th European Amateur Championship will be played on the New Course at The Scandinavian G.C. in Denmark between 26th-29th June 2024.

This prestigious Championship is run by the European Golf Association (EGA), assisted each year by the host nation; this year being the Danish Golf Union.

This will be the fourth occasion that Denmark has hosted the European Amateur. It has previously been staged at Aalborg G.C. (1990), Odense Eventyr Golf (2001) and Esbjerg G.C. (2008).

Competition Format

The European Amateur is a 72-hole stroke play competition with 18-holes played daily over four days.

In a change to previous years there is going be two cuts applied to the field during the Championship. After 36 holes only players with the 96 lowest scores and ties will progress and then after 54 holes only the 60 lowest scores and ties will qualify for the final round.

A 3 hole aggregate score play off will decide the winner in the event of a tie. If this doesn’t separate the players then a sudden death play-off will commence over the same holes.

A card count-back (last 36, then 18, then 9, etc,) is used to resolve ties for 2nd and 3rd place.

Entries

144 players from 40 countries will contest the 2024 Championship.

All of the players in the field must have handicaps of 0.0 or better with the entry ballot applied based on the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Exemptions were available to the defending champion, a single nomination from each EGA member nation, four nominated players from the host nation, Denmark, competitors in the Bonallack Trophy, St. Andrew’s Trophy and Jacques Léglise Trophy matches, the 2024 South American Amateur champion and the 2024 European Mid-Amateur champion.

There are 32 GB&I entries, namely Cameron ADAM (SCO) WAGR #261 (as at 19th June), James ASHFIELD (WAL) #35, Jack BIGHAM (ENG) #69, Tomi BOWEN (WAL) #243, Oscar CRAIG (ENG) #265, Harry CROCKETT (ENG) #503,  Archie DAVIES (WAL) #425, Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG) #647, Hugh FOLEY (IRL) #714, Charlie FORSTER (ENG) #403, Conor GOUGH (ENG) #329, Connor GRAHAM (SCO) #226, Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) #156, Thomas HIGGINS (IRL) #508, Monty HOLCOMBE (ENG) #2,185, Will HOPKINS (ENG) #83, Seán KEELING (IRL) #389, Max KENNEDY (ENG) #68, Kris KIM (ENG) #367, Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) #91, Ollie MUKHERJEE (SCO) #1,029, Jack MURPHY (IRL) #846, Liam NOLAN (IRL) #122, Matt ROBERTS (WAL) #429, Calum SCOTT (SCO) #28, Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) #655, Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) #720, Mark STOCKDALE (ENG) #640, Gregor TAIT (SCO) #449, Harry WATKINS (WAL) #3,978, Tyler WEAVER (ENG) #99 and Matthew WILSON (SCO) #671.

Tom OSBORNE (ENG) #624 is currently the 1st Reserve for the Championship.

The leading international entries are Bastian AMAT (FRA) WAGR #34, Jose BALLESTER (ESP) #7, Albert HANSSON (SWE) #84, Tobias JONSSON (SWE) #41, Algot KLEÉN (FRA) #76, Luis MASAVEU (ESP) #43, Michael MJAASETH (NOR) #67, Tommy MORRISON (USA) #58, the new Amateur champion Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN) #88, Luke SAMPLE (USA) #121, Bård SKOGEN (NOR) #126, Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA) #7, Daniel SVÅRD (SWE) #74, Richard TEDER (EST) #106 and Lars VAN DER VIGHT (NED) #73.

The Scandinavia Golf Club, Denmark

Located 25 minutes north of Copenhagen in Farum, North Zealand the New Course was designed, through a forest separated by streams and natural ponds, by Bruce Charlton of the Robert Trent Jones II Golf Architects.

Opened in 2010 it has a par of 72 and plays to 7,088 yards (6,481m). Like last year’s course at Pärnu Bay in Estonia it has an unusual configuration of five par 3’s, eight par 4’s and five par 5’s.

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Course Routing (Graphic: EGA)

Weather Forecast (as at 7.00am 25th June)

Conditions are expected to be good, albeit with the some fairly strong winds on the final two days.

Weds 26th June – Sunny. Wind 8 mph SE. Min. 12°C / Max. 25°C.
Thurs 27th June – Sunny. Wind 10 mph SE. Min. 15°C / Max. 27°C.
Fri 28th June – Sunny. Thundery Showers PM. Wind 15 mph SE. Min. 17°C / Max. 24°C.
Sat 29th June – Sunny Intervals. Wind 20 mph SW. Min. 14°C / Max. 20°C.

Prizes

Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top 3 finishers.

The silver Championship Trophy, shown below, is held by the winning player’s national golf authority.

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The European Amateur Championship Trophy (Photo: EGA)

The Open Championship

The champion earns an exemption into The Open Championship in a few weeks time, this year being played at Royal Troon G.C. in Scotland.

The Open Championship Amateur Series Winner – the player who gains the most WAGR points in the St. Andrews Links Trophy, the Amateur Championship and the European Amateur Championship – (as long as they don’t win either the Amateur or European Amateur) will also earn a spot at Royal Troon.

The players finishing 2nd to 4th in this year’s European Amateur will be offered a place in Final Qualifying which takes place on Tuesday 2nd July.

Other Championships

The USGA also grants exemptions to the winner into the U.S. Amateur Championship, the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship (if U19) and into Final Qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open Championship (subject to remaining an amateur).

Further Information

Click here to view the – EGA European Amateur Championship Website

2023 European Amateur Championship

Jose BALLESTER (ESP) won the 2023 European Amateur Championship with a 267 (-21) total over 72 holes at Pärnu Bay Golf Links in Estonia.

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Mads Laage, Jose Ballester and James Ashfield (Photo: European Golf Association)

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Jose Ballester’s Scorecard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Mads LAAGE (DEN) finished 2nd and James ASHFIELD (WAL) 3rd on 36 hole count back after they both finished on -19.

The other leading GB&I players were Jack BIGHAM (ENG) and Hugh FOLEY (IRL) -18, who tied 4th, James CLARIDGE (ENG), Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) & Mark POWER (IRL) -15, who tied 13th, and Calum SCOTT (SCO) & Will HOPKINS (ENG) -14, who tied 21st.

Click here to view the – EGA / Golfbox 2023 European Amateur Championship Leaderboard

History

The competition was first contested in 1986 at Eindhoven G.C. Initially it was held biennially before moving to an annual fixture from 1990.

Former winners who have gone on to enjoy successful professional careers include Stephen GALLACHER (1994), Sergio GARCIA (1995), Gregory HAVRET (1999), Carl PETTERSSON (2000), Rory MCILROY (2006), Victor DUBUISSON (2009), Nicolai HØJGÅRD (2018) and Matthias SCHMID (2019 & 2020).

In addition to Gallacher and McIlroy other GB&I past winners include Jim PAYNE (1991), Paddy GRIBBEN (1998), Stephen BROWNE (2001), Brian MCELHINNEY (2003), Matthew RICHARDSON (2004), Rhys PUGH (2012) and Ashley CHESTERS (2013 and 2014) and Alfie PLANT (2017).

Ashley Chesters and Matthias Schmid are the only two-time winners and the only players to have retained the trophy.

Click here to view the – European Amateur Championship Past Winners and Venues

Rory McIlroy – 2006 Champion (Photo: European Golf Association)

ME.

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

The Amateur Championship – 2024 Preview & Results

Posted on by

Saturday 22nd June 2024

Match Play – Final

Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN), 25, WAGR #88, has won the 129th Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin.

Talking to The R&A afterwards Olesen said “It’s an honour, and I’m really proud to be the first Danish winner. I guess that’s something I’ll have forever, which is super cool.”

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Jacob Skov Olesen (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)

He beat Dominic CLEMONS (ENG), 22, WAGR #310, by 4&3 in the 36 hole Final staged on the Glashedy Course in dry but windy conditions.

Oleson, assisted on the bag by fellow Danish international Jamie Tofte Nielsen, played very steadily this morning finishing the morning session 2Up against the more inconsistent Clemons.

The critical period in the Final came early on in the afternoon round when Olesen won four holes in a row, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. 6Up with 13 holes to play was always likely to prove too big a margin to recover for Clemons and this proved to be the case.

The experienced Olesen made few mistakes in the remaining holes and whilst there were moments of brilliance from the Englishman, most notably when he drove the 10th green and holed for eagle, the match came to a close on the 15th green.

“I usually pride myself on playing my best golf when it matters and when the pressure is on, and I didn’t do that today. I didn’t play well enough to win, simple as that.” said a disappointed Clemons.

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Match Play Final – Clemons v. Olesen (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

Click here to view the – 2024 Amateur Championship MP Scores

Oleson, on the basis he remains an amateur, has earned exemptions / invitations into the 2024 Open Championship, 2025 Masters Tournament, 2025 U.S. Open Championship and a 2025 DP World Tour event. Having completed his U.S. college education it will be interesting to see whether he maintains his amateur status long enough to take up his U.S. Open invite next June.

Clemons will receive an invitation to compete in a future Challenge Tour event and will be exempt into Final Qualifying for the 2024 Open Championship.

ME.

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Friday 21st June 2024 – Afternoon

Match Play – Semi-Finals (2 games)

Dominic CLEMONS, who has recently transferred from Stetson to Alabama on the U.S. College circuit, got the better of his English compatriot Jack BIGHAM by 1 Hole in a competitive opening Semi-Final.

After a nervy start in difficult windy conditions both players only really settled over the closing six holes, producing some really impressive golf. They each had chances over these holes but with neither able to get their putts to drop it was Clemons who came out on top after refusing to make any mistakes.

Bigham was a tad unfortunate late on; his approach to the 15th hit the flag stick and spun back to 20 feet away when it had appeared it may have ended up in close proximity (a par save becoming a critical bogey) and then on 18 when his birdie putt lipped out.

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Match Play Semi-Finals – Clemons v. Bigham (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

In the Semi-Final between the two Championship debutants Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN) deservedly beat Luke SAMPLE (USA) to become the first Danish player to reach the Final of The Amateur.

The left handed Dane, who has played for Texas Christian University and in his final year of eligibility for Arkansas in the States, was better able to control his ball in the strong winds playing some great irons down the stretch. Whilst he made a number of putts he also missed a few chances which could have brought the game to an earlier close.

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Match Play Semi-Finals – Olesen v. Sample (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

The two losing Semi-Finalists, Jack Bigham and Luke Sample, assuming they stay amateur, will receive an invitation to compete in a Challenge Tour event next season and will now be exempt into Final Qualifying for the 2024 Open Championship.

ME.

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Friday 21st June 2024 – Morning

Match Play – Quarter Finals (4 games)

All four Quarter Finals proved to be a real battle as they were played in strong winds and occasional squally showers at Ballyliffin G.C. All of the games required the full 18 holes and in the opening one two more.

Dominic CLEMONS (ENG), WAGR #310, got off to a great start with two opening birdies and could have gone 3Up on the 4th save for a poor three putt from 20 feet. However, Laurenz SCHIERGEN (GER), WAGR #2,054, fought back well and eventually took the lead on the 16th as Clemons struggled to get to grips with the conditions. After the 17th was halved Schiergen had a 2 foot putt for a par and a match win on the 18th. He sadly missed and Clemons seized on his good fortune after some good play over the two extra holes.

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Match Play Quarter Final – Schiergen v. Clemons Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

Jack BIGHAM (ENG), WAGR #69, always looked to be one step ahead of his less experienced opponent Marcel FONSECA (ESP), WAGR #682, but found it hard to pull away from him. A clutch birdie putt on 17 brought the Spaniard level but problems on 18 saw him concede the match to the Englishman before he needed to putt.

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Match Play Quarter Final – Bigham v. Fonseca Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

Calum SCOTT (SCO), WAGR #28, will be disappointed to have lost his match against Denmark’s Jacob Skov OLESEN, WAGR #88, having been 2Up with four holes to play. Unfortunately the Nairn man lost is form badly over the last four holes opening the door for the Dane to walk through without having to do too much.

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Match Play Quarter Final – Scott v. Olesen Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

Matty DODD-BERRY (ENG), WAGR #211, came out on the wrong side of a competitive match against Luke SAMPLE (USA), WAGR #121. Dodd-Berry missed a short putt on the 17th which handed the initiative to the American who was then good enough to see the game out down the last.

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Match Play Quarter Final – Schiergen v. Clemons Scorecard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

The four losing Quarter Finalists, on the basis they remain amateur, will have the consolation of earning exemptions into Final Qualifying for The 2024 Open.

ME.

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Thursday 20th June 2024 – Afternoon

Match Play – Round 3 (8 games)

Laurenz SCHIERGEN (GER) parred his way to victory against an up and down Charlie FORSTER (ENG) in a tight opening Last 16 game.

Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) earned a statement 4&3 win against James ASHFIELD (WAL). Three birdies in the opening six holes gave him a platform and with the Welshman clearly a little off his game this afternoon he was never put under any pressure as the bank nine unwound.

20 year old Jack BIGHAM (ENG) built a 4Up lead after nine holes with some of his best golf of the Championship against Lev GRINBERG (UKR) and whilst there were a couple of missteps on the back nine I am sure he will be delighted with an energy conserving 5&4 victory.

Marcel FONSECA (ESP), 19, made hard work of beating Gunnlauger Árni SVEINSSON (ISL); 3Up after 12 holes he stumbled a little before closing with three matched pars for a 1 Hole win.

Calum SCOTT (SCO), with Gregor Graham on the bag, proved too strong for Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) down the stretch. Three consecutive hole wins on 13, 14 and 15, the latter two by way of birdies, saw him take a 3&2 win.

In a topsy-turvy Game 6, where neither player could gain any more than a one hole advantage it was left handed Jacob Skov OLESON (DEN) who overturned a 1Down with two to play margin to overcome Tom OSBORNE (ENG). Oleson birdied the 17th before Osborne conceded the match on the 20th hole.

Matty DODD-BERRY‘s (ENG) consistency enabled him to get the better of giant American Tommy MORRISON (USA), who for the second year running lost in the Last 16. In a match he was never behind in the Cheshire star ultimately required a bogey from his opponent on the last to get over the line. Morrison recorded an eagle, three birdies but most importantly four bogeys in his round compared with Dodd-Berry’s four birdies and just a single bogey.

Luke SAMPLE (USA) played 31 holes on the treacherous Glashedy Course today and had just two bogeys. Harry CROCKETT (ENG) simply couldn’t match this level of play this afternoon and fell to a 4&3 loss. Playing very tidily at the bottom of the draw the 121st WAGR-ranked American could well prove to be the surprise package at this year’s Championship.

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Match Play Last 16 Result (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox) 

ME.

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Thursday 20th June 2024 – Morning

Match Play – Round 2 (16 games)

Nine GB&I players, including six from England, were successful in the Round of 32.

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Match Play Round 2 – Upper Half Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

Laurenz SCHIERGEN (GER) ended the hopes of medalist Connor GRAHAM (SCO) helped by winning birdies on the 4th, 6th, 11th and 12th holes. Laurenz has his Irish Kansas State University teammate Luke O’Neill, who missed the cut, on the bag.

Four birdies from Charlie FORSTER (ENG), who didn’t drop a shot in the round, saw him easily close out the remaining home player Max KENNEDY (IRL) by 5&4.

In Game 3 Scottish Amateur Open champion Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) dropped two early shots to fall 2Down to Kent HSIAO (CTP) after five holes. However, a bogey from Hsiao on the 8th and a birdie from the Cambridgeshire player on the 9th turned the momentum around and set him on the path to a 2&1 win with par golf on the back nine.

After both players made a fast start to this encounter it was the more experienced James ASHFIELD (WAL) who maintained his form to eventually pull away from Josh HILL (ENG).

Oscar LENT (ENG) will be wondering how he managed to lose Game 5 against Lev GRINBERG (UKR). Birdies on 1 and 5 saw the Walton Heath member initially move into a 3Up lead. Some sloppy play from both players around the turn then saw this lead extended to 4Up with six holes to play. At this point Grinberg settled whilst Lent was unable to turn his game around. A bogey on 18 and a concession on the 19th Hole disappointingly handed the game to the Ukrainian.

Jack BIGHAM (ENG) was 3Down after nine holes in his match against South Africa’s Jordan BURNAND, having bogeyed four of them. Given the season he’s had at Florida State few would have blamed him for wanting to go home but he showed real character to bounce back with birdies on 10, 11, 13 and 15 to completely turn his match around and win by 3&1.

Marcel FONSECA (ESP) beat Markus VARJUN (FIN) 2&1 in a high quality encounter which saw the two players share seven birdies and make few mistakes.

In the Upper Half of the draw’s final game Gunnlauger Árni SVEINSSON (ISL), who yesterday signed for the LSU Men’s Golf team, got the better of Tim WIEDEMEYER with a 1 Hole victory after the German bogeyed both the 16th and 18th to throw away a 1Up lead with three holes to play.

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Match Play Round 2 – Lower Half Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

A competitive match between Michael Alexander MJAASETH (DEN) and Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG) finally went the way of the Englishman after he birdied their 2nd extra hole.

After both players bogeyed the opening two holes it was Calum SCOTT (SCO) who pulled away from Seb CAVE (ENG) for a 5&4 win helped by par golf and birdies on the 4th, 6th and 10th holes.

Jacob Skov OLESON (DEN) beat Tomi BOWEN (WAL) by 3&2 in a poor quality match littered with bogeys.

Tom OSBORNE (ENG) and Nevill RUITER (NED) both started Game 12 nervously. Thankfully Osborne, who is enjoying a breakout season, birdied four of the holes on the back nine as play settled down to eventually take a 2&1 win.

England’s Matty DODD-BERRY got off to a dream start with three birdies in his opening four holes to quickly move 3Up against last year’s Quarter-Finalist Richard TEDER (EST). Whilst Teder fought back well on the back nine to get to 1Down with four to play the Royal Liverpool man had enough in the tank to secure a 2&1 win.

Tommy MORRISON (USA) blew Kristian HJORT BRESSUM (DEN) away with eight birdies in the 15 holes they played on the Glashedy Course.

English pair Freddie TURNELL and Harry CROCKETT surprisingly only managed three pars between them in the opening six holes of Game 15. They made up for it afterwards with nine birdies seen in the remaining regulation holes, the most important one coming from Somerset’s Turnell who birdied the 18th to take the contest into extras. Crockett birdied the 3rd to take the win on the 21st Hole.

Luke SAMPLE (USA), a rising senior at Duke who is playing links golf for the first time this week, continues to go from strength to strength. A great performance and a 3&2 win against Conor GOUGH (ENG) means he enters the Last 16 no longer under the radar.

ME.

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Wednesday 19th June 2024

Match Play – Round 1 (32 games)

Play got under way on Ballyliffin’s Glashedy Course at 8.30am. The final game in Round 1 teed off at 1.19pm.

Connor GRAHAM (SCO) fought back on the back nine, holing a 25 foot birdie putt on the home hole, to avoid the ‘curse of the medalist’ and secure a narrow 1 Hole victory over Mark STOCKDALE (ENG).

22 year old Max KENNEDY (IRL) kept the home fires burning with a solid 3&2 win over France’s Oscar COUILLEAU.

England’s Charlie FORSTER and Dominic CLEMONS required extra holes to beat Jose BALLESTER (ESP) and Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) respectively. Clemons holed lengthy putts on 17 and 18 to keep his game alive before seizing the initiative when they returned to the 1st Hole.

James ASHFIELD (WAL) earned an impressive 6&4 win against in form Harley SMITH (ENG) in their Battle of Britain encounter.

Three more Englishmen, Josh HILL, Oscar LENT and Jack BIGHAM, were successful in the Upper Half of the draw. Hill enjoyed a narrow win over Nicklaus MASON (USA), Lent surprised the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur champion Jasper STUBBS (AUS) 6&4 and Bigham took out young Scotsman Sam MUKHERJEE by 3&1.

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Match Play Round 1 – Upper Half Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

In the Lower Half of the draw there were good wins for Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG), Calum SCOTT (SCO), last week’s St. Andrews Links Trophy winner Seb CAVE (ENG), Tomi BOWEN (WAL), Tom OSBORNE (ENG), Matty DODD-BERRY (ENG), Freddie TURNELL (ENG), Harry CROCKETT (ENG) and Conor GOUGH (ENG).

Cave’s 1 Hole win against Albert HANSSON (SWE), who won the 2022 Boys’ Amateur Championship, Dodd-Berry’s 2&1 victory over South African Ben VAN WYK and Turnell’s 3&1 win against Daniel SVARD (SWE) were the most noteworthy, their three opponents all being ranked within the WAGR top 100.

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Match Play Round 1 – Lower Half Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

The template for a 64 player Match Play draw is as follows: –

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ME.

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Tuesday 18th June 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying Sudden Death Play-Off

All of the players were advised on their 1st tees today that should a Stroke Play Qualifying (SPQ) Play-Off be required to finalise the Match Play (MP) field it would be played tonight. The original Championship Schedule had indicated that it would take place on Wednesday morning before MP Round 1 but it now appears this was changed earlier this week, albeit The R&A were optimistically expecting to get any extra holes underway at 8.00pm.

The 19-for-18 spots sudden death play-off eventually commenced at 9.10pm. Three groups of 5 players and one group of 4 were asked to play the 1st on The Old Links and the 9th on the Glashedy Links, in rotation, to bring the SPQ to a conclusion.

Thankfully matters were resolved after just one hole had been completed and before the light had gone.

Bob VAN DER VOORT (NED), who went out in the first five ball, made life a little easier for everyone else by taking a 3-over 7 on The Old Links’ par 4 1st hole. With this news quickly filtering back to the tee the rest of the field were able to manage their play accordingly and the Dutchman was sent packing just after 10.00pm.

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Play-Off Results (Photo: The R&A)

ME.

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Tuesday 18th June 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying

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Connor Graham with The R&A’s John Miller (Photo: Oisin Keniry / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)

Round 2

Connor GRAHAM (SCO) earned medalist honours at the 129th Amateur Championship with a 136 (-7) total score. A 1-under 71 on the Glashedy Course, which included four birdies, was a good follow up to his positive start on The Old Links yesterday.

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Connor Graham’s SPQ Scorecard – Old Links (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

Michael MJAASETH (DEN) -4 earned the 2nd seeding with Ben VAN WYK (RSA), last year’s medalist, taking 3rd place on -3.

Van Wyk produced the low round on the Glashedy Links on Day 2; after bogeying the 1st hole he produced an eagle and four birdies to post a 5-under 67.

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Matteo CRISTONI (ITA) bounced back well from a disappointing opening round to record the lowest score on The Old Links in Round 2. His 5-under 66 included six birdies and helped him comfortably make the match play cut.

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On a cold and windy day in north west Ireland just 10 players out of the 288 starters finished the Stroke Play Qualifying competition with an under par score.

Pleasingly 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.

To the disappointment of the home crowd Max KENNEDY Ev and Seán KEELING +2 were the only Irish players to advance out of their 28 starters.

The average score in Round 2 on the Glashedy Course was 77.45 (+5.45) (Rd 1: 77.17) whilst on The Old Links it was 74.92 (+3.92) (Rd 1: 73.01).

65 players finished on 146 (+3) or better, 19 of these on the +3 score itself. With 64 competitors required for the Match Play Stage a 19-for-18 spots sudden death play-off was required (see above).

One of the 19 players required to stay on for the night shift was Jose BALLESTER (ESP) who started the day in 2nd place. Amazingly he birdied his final three holes to post an 8-over 80 on the Glashedy Course, eventually scrapping in on the +3 mark.

Here are the Stroke Play Qualifying results (leading players only): –

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Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

Notable players to miss out on Match Play were Christiaan MAAS (RSA) +4, Hugh FOLEY (IRL) +5, Kris KIM (ENG) +5, Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) +6, Luis MASAVEU (ESP) +6, Cameron ADAM (SCO) +6, Liam NOLAN (IRL) +6, Altin VAN DER MERWE (RSA) +6, Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) +8, Tyler WEAVER (ENG) +8, Gregor TAIT (SCO) +10 and Matt ROBERTS (WAL) +13.

Click here to view the – 2024 Amateur Championship SPQ Results

ME.

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Monday 17th June 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying

Round 1

Connor GRAHAM (SCO), who teed off at 7.51am, leads the Stroke Play Qualifying Stage of the 2024 Amateur Championship after he produced a 6-under 65 on Ballyliffin’s The Old Links course (OL).

Five birdies in the closing six holes of his front nine set up his round. His great score will have done the 17 year old Scotsman’s confidence the world of good as has missed most of the 2024 season due to a stress fracture in his hand.

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Connor Graham’s Round 1 Scorecard – Old Links (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

Overseas entrants Jose BALLESTER (ESP), -5 OL, is 2nd and Michael MJAASETH (DEN) & Sergio JIMENEZ (ESP), both -4 OL, tied 3rd.

GB&I’s Charlie FORSTER (ENG), Harry CROCKETT (ENG), Harley SMITH (ENG) and James ASHFIELD (WAL), all -3 OL, and Cameron ADAM (SCO), -2 OL, joined Graham in the top 10 after the opening round. Max KENNEDY and Seán KEELING, -1 OL, are the best placed Irish players.

33 players finished the opening day under par with all but three of those rounds taking place on the easier Old Links Course.

Bob VAN DER VOORT (NED), who teed off in one of the opening groups at 6.45am, recorded the lowest score on the Glashedy Course (G). His 2-under 70 included an eagle and two birdies.

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Bob Van Der Voort’s Round 1 Scorecard – Glashedy (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

South African’s Jack BUCHANAN and Jordan BURNAND were the only other players to break par around the Glashedy. They both finished with 1-under 70’s.

Cooper SCHULTZ (USA) didn’t get off to the best of starts on the Glashedy Course (+5) but at least had the consolation of recording a hole-in-one on the 168 yard par 3 7th.

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Cooper Schultz’s Round 1 Scorecard – Glashedy (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

The average score in Round 1 on the Glashedy Course was 77.17 (+5.17) whilst on The Old Links it was 73.01 (+2.01). In other words there is still a lot of golf to be played in this Qualifying Stage, particularly for those players down the leaderboard but now moving over to The Old Links course.

Here are the leading Stroke Play Qualifying scores at the end of Round 1: –

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Round 1 Leaderboard (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox)

Reserves Patrick KEELING (IRL) 1st, Conor BYRNE (IRL) 2nd and Ben BROOKES (ENG) 3rd were called up to the field following the late withdrawals of Jye HALLS (AUS), Attieh KHALED (KSA) and Nels SURTANI (USA) over the weekend. Therefore 41 players who competed in Friday’s 72-man Pre-Qualifying event made the final Championship field.

ME.

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Friday 14th June 2024

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.

It is worth remembering that any further withdrawals before the Championship commences next Monday will see the highest finishing PQ players on a card count back basis rather than by reference to the play-off results called upon. This means that Patrick KEELING (IRL) is now 1st Reserve, Conor BYRNE (IRL) 2nd Reserve, Ben BROOKES (ENG) 3rd Reserve and Max SHIRVELL (ENG) 4th Reserve.

Here are the full Pre-Qualifying Results: –

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Pre-Qualifying Results (Graphic: The R&A / Golfbox Scoring)

(Q) = Qualified

Red Box = Players involved in the 13-for-3 play-off.

Click here to view the – 2024 Amateur Championship Pre-Qualifying Results

PQ Background

The R&A ran a PQ event for the third time to offer some of the players not allocated an original place in the field an opportunity to earn one.

The R&A again limited the PQ field to 72 players with the event played over 18 holes of stroke play on The Old Links course at Ballyliffin.

This field was made up of the 15 highest ranked WAGR players (who sit between 1,500th – 1,796th) not originally accepted into the Championship field followed by a lowest handicap ballot for the remainder.

The number of spots available rose from the guaranteed 10 to 38. This is because 28 players withdrew from the original Championship line-up before the PQ had been played (288-278+28).

Amongst this 28 were (in alphabetical order with entry WAGRs) Paul BEAUVY (FRA) #440, Ben BROWN (ENG) #1044, Luke CLANTON (USA) #8, James CLARIDGE (ENG) #199, Paul CONROY (IRL) #293, Charlie CROCKETT (ENG) #135, Wenyi DING (CHN) #6, Nicola GERHARDSEN (SUI) #236, James NASH (WAL) #940, Joe PAGDIN (ENG) #1201, Luke POULTER (ENG) #394, Luke POTTER (USA) #61, Carl SIEMENS (GER) #502, Hiroshi TAI (SNP) #70 and Keaton VE (USA) #209.

ME.

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8th June 2024 (Updated 13th June 2024)

Championship Preview

The 129th Amateur Championship will be played at Ballyliffin G.C. in County Donegal, Ireland on 17th-22nd June 2024.

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.

Championship Format

Stroke Play Qualifying

Two rounds of stroke play will be completed on Monday 17th June and Tuesday 18th June to determine a match play field.

Each contestant will play 18 holes around Ballyliffin’s Glashedy Links and The Old Links courses with three-ball tee times between 6.45am and 3.37pm on both days.

The 64 lowest scores will advance to the match play stage.

In a decision that I applaud The R&A are going to use a sudden death play-off this year to break ties for the last qualifying place. Previous year’s have generally 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 19th and Saturday 22nd June solely on the Glashedy Links course.

Each match will consist of one round of 18 holes except the Final which will be played over 36 holes. Any tied matches will continue into sudden death extra holes to determine a winner.

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Field

NB. All WAGR’s quoted below were at the close of entries on 23rd May 2024

288 male amateur golfers from 42 countries will contest the Championship.

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 various historic Championship performances and representative team selections and 2) allocated to those highest ranked players 1st-2,000th in the WAGR as at Week 20 2023 (i.e. the Wednesday 17th 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 the remaining 10 spots were originally allocated. This will be played on 14th June 2024 (see above).

There are 5 players from the WAGR top 50, 19 from the top 100, 46 from the top 250, 89 from the top 500 and 184 from the top 1000 competing this year.

The 2023 champion Christo LAMPRECHT (RSA) turned pro in early June, surprisingly foregoing his exemption into the 2024 U.S. Open Championship being played at Pinehurst Golf Resort.

Click here to view the full – 2024 Amateur Championship Terms of Competition

Leading Players

From the home players I expect James ASHFIELD (WAL) #48, Jack BIGHAM (ENG) #78, Seb CAVE (ENG) #974, Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) #469, Charlie CROCKETT (ENG) #135, Matthew DODD-BERRY (ENG) #235, Charlie FORSTER (ENG) #404, Will HOPKINS (ENG) #101, Max KENNEDY (IRL) #77, Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) #76, Liam NOLAN (IRL) #109, Tom OSBORNE (ENG) #700, Matt ROBERTS (WAL) #447, Calum SCOTT (SCO) #39 and Tyler WEAVER (ENG) #126 to do well.

The leading overseas entries include Jose BALLESTER (ESP) #24, Albert HANSSON (SWE), Tobias JONSSON (SWE) #52, Algot KLEEN (SWE) #83, Christiaan MAAS (RSA) #16, Luis MASAVEU (ESP) #51, Tommy MORRISON (USA) #66 and Ben VAN WYK (RSA) #47.

Host Courses

Ballyliffin, located on the Inishowen Peninsula, was established in 1947 and is Ireland’s most northerly golf club.

It is the first time that the club has hosted the Amateur Championship. It becomes the 23rd to do so.

Ballyliffin – Glashedy Links

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7,314 yards (Amateur) / Par 72 / Slope Rating 136 (Black) / Course Rating 77.4 (Black)

The Glashedy Course, named after the nearby Glashedy Rock, was designed by Tom Craddock & Pat Ruddy and opened for play in 1995.

The course sits in magnificent sand dunes. The fairways were flattened out to make them fairer but the deep revetted bunkers and large and undulating greens are challenging.

The course has previously staged the 2016 Boys’ Home Internationals, the 2018 Irish Open Championship, which was won by Scotland’s Russell Knox, and the 2022 R&A Women’s and Men’s Home Internationals.

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Ballyliffin G.C. Course Map (Graphic: The R&A)

Ballyliffin – The Old Links

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6,910 yards (Blue) / Par 71 / Slope Rating 130 / Course Rating 73.7

The Old Links course was originally designed by Eddie Hackett, Charles Lawrie and Frank Pennink and opened for play in 1973. Pat Ruddy made some improvements, including building a new 7th, 8th, 13th and 15th holes, when he was on site with the Glashedy. Nick Faldo Design added new revetted bunkers and back tees to the course in 2004.
Being the original course on this large site means it has the benefit of taking in the picturesque coastal land for four of its closing holes.

Schedule

The R&A have laid out the following provisional schedule for the Championship: –

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2024 Amateur Championship Schedule (Graphic: The R&A)

Weather Forecast

Cool and showery weather is forecast with winds gusting to 25mph at times.

Click here to view the – Latest MET Éireann Weather Forecast for Ballyliffin

Tee times between 7.00am and 3.52pm mean that any changes in the weather during the opening two days can have a material 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 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon G.C., Scotland on 18-21 July 2024;

b) the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National G.C., Georgia on 10-13 April 2025;

c) the 2025 U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont C.C., Pennsylvania on 12-15 June 2025; and

d) a DP World Tour event.

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 2024 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 second year running 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 (won by England’s Seb Cave), Amateur Championship and European Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into the forthcoming Open at Royal Troon G.C.

2024 St. Andrews Trophy

Should a Great Britain & Ireland player win the Amateur Championship they are guaranteed a place on the GB&I St. Andrews Trophy team for the match against Continent of Europe being played on 24th-225th July at Royal Porthcawl G.C.

More Information

Click here to view the – R&A Amateur Championship Official Website

The latter stages of the match play will be live streamed on The R&A You Tube channel.

2023 Amateur Championship

Match Play Stage

Christo LAMPRECHT (RSA), who was 22 at the time, won the 128th Amateur Championship at a sun-drenched Hillside G.C., beating Ronan KLEU (SUI), 23, 3&2 in the 36 hole Final.

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Ronan Kleu and Christo Lamprecht (Photo: Octavio Passos / R&A / R&A via Getty Images) 

Fellow South African player Christiaan Maas achieved a notable double too. Last year he missed the Match Play Stage cut and caddied for the eventual champion Aldrich Potgieter. This year the same thing happened and he picked up Lamprecht’s bag and ended up again helping a teammate to victory.

Lamprecht was the third South African winner in the last 6 years; Jovan Rebula also won at Royal Aberdeen in 2018.

Click here to view the – 2023 Amateur Championship Match Play Results

Stroke Play Qualifying

The 2023 Stroke Play Qualifying competition was played over 36 holes at Hillside G.C. and Southport & Ainsdale G.C. (S&A).

Medalist honours went to Ben VAN WYK (RSA) who recorded a total score of 132 (-11).

Following Jonathan Broomhead’s success in 2022 it is the second year running that a South African has won the Stroke Play Qualifying at The Amateur Championship. Wilco Nienaber in 2018 is the only other South African medalist since this stage was introduced in 1983.

Richard TEDER (EST) -10 secured the 2nd seed, Eliot BAKER (ENG), GB&I’s leading qualifier, finished in 3rd, Ronan KLEU (SUI) -10 4th place and Joshua GREER (AUS) -9 5th.

85 players made the top 64 and ties cut, finishing on -2 or better, to progress to the Match Play Stage. 26 of these were from GB&I, albeit 15 of this number will be starting their journey’s in the Preliminary Round 1.

Click here to view the full – 2023 Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Results

Pre-Qualifying

The 18 hole Amateur Championship Pre-Qualifying event was played at Southport & Ainsdale G.C.

Whilst 10 spots were originally on offer from Pre-Qualifying 23 withdrawals from the Championship field since entries closed on 25th May meant a total of 33 players (46% of the 72 starters) had the opportunity to advance to the main event.

Kristoffer MAX (DEN), George HOLLAND (ENG) and Matthew LEVER (ENG), who all shot 4-under 67’s, were the leading qualifiers.

Click here to view the – 2023 Pre-Qualifying Results

For more information on last year’s Championship please click here – The Amateur Championship – 2023 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) and Peter McEvoy (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.

Save for exceptional cases like Gary Wolstenholme (ENG) all 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 Christo Lamprecht’s win in 2023 the previous 10 winners of The Amateur Championship were: –

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.
2013  Garrick Porteous (ENG) – Royal Cinque Ports 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.

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