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U.S. Amateur Championship – 2026 Preview & Results

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Sunday 16th August 2026

Match Play Stage – Final

Jack WHALEY (ENG), 22, with his father Andy on the bag, beat Jay LENG JR (USA), 20, by 4&3 in the Final of the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship.

Speaking afterwards Whaley said “As we were driving back [to the clubhouse], I was looking with my dad at some of the names that are on [the Havemeyer Trophy], and it’s incredible. I never thought that my name would be amongst such impressive people.”

Jack and Andy Whaley (Photo: Dustin Satloff / USGA)

Whaley joins just five other GB&I players to win the U.S. Amateur Championship – Henry J. Whigham (SCO) in 1896 & 1897, Findlay S. Douglas (SCO) in 1898, Harold Hilton (ENG) in 1911, Richie Ramsay (SCO) in 2006 and fellow Yorkshireman Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG) in 2013.

Coincidentally the last time the Championship was held at Merion in 2005, Italy’s Edoardo Molinari came through a 19-for-17 play-off to eventually take the title with a 4&3 win. Fellow European Whaley also advanced out of a 16-for-11 play-off on Wednesday morning to follow in his footsteps by the same victory margin.

With the win Whaley earned exemptions into the 2027 Masters Invitational at Augusta National, the U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach and the Open Championship at St. Andrews. He also now has a ten year exemption into the U.S. Amateur Championship and more importantly a place on this year’s GB&I Walker Cup team.

Here is the hole-by-hole Final scoreboard: –

Jack Whaley v. Jay Leng Jr – MP Final Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

The 36 hole Final commenced at 9.00am (2.00pm BST) at Merion G.C. and it was Whaley who made the first move, chipping in from just off the green on the 1st hole for a birdie win.

Whaley was 2Up after eight holes before the pre-match favourite Jay Leng Jr., who was looking to become just the 10th player to win the Western Amateur and the U.S. Amateur in the same year, began a concerted fight back. Wins on 9 and 10 with pars and 12 and 13, with birdies, saw the Californian move to 1Up.

Whaley stayed calm and despite going into lunch 2Down after Leng birdied the par 5 16th came out firing in the afternoon, inevitably feeling more comfortable in the increasingly wet and windy conditions the finalists faced. One crucial factor may have been that Whaley had two waterproof gloves in his bag and put them both on from the 7th hole.

The Englishman who now represents Florida State University won four holes in a row, the 20th to 23rd, with two birdies and two pars, to move 2Up.

Leng won the 24th to get back to 1Down but Whaley showed few nerves and a lovely putting touch over the closing holes to win the 26th, 28th, 30th and finally the 33rd with three priceless birdies.

Click here to view the – 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Results (use filter)

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Saturday 15th August 2026

Match Play Stage – Semi-Finals

The Match Play Semi-Finals commenced at 2.00pm (7.00pm BST) at Merion G.C.

Jack WHALEY (ENG) beat Carter LOFIN (USA) by 1 Hole in their Semi-Final match in front of 3,500 spectators.

Whaley again got off to a great start winning the opening two holes before extending his lead to 3Up with a birdie on the 6th hole. Having lost the 7th and 8th holes he turned 1Up but moved back to 3Up with a birdie on 10 and a winning par on 12. Loflin fought back strongly and with Whaley showing nerves with a bogey on 15 and a double on 17 the pair were ultimately tied heading to the difficult par 4 18th. Loflin could only manage a double bogey allowing Whaley to win with a 4 foot bogey putt.

After the match Whaley said “I was a little bit more on the nervous side than I was the last couple of days. But after the second hole, I kind of settled down a little bit and really started playing golf again and thinking more about what I’m going to do with the golf ball instead of just standing there hoping I can hit the ball.

“Then coming down the stretch when I was 3 up and then 2 up and then 1 up and then all square, I was like, ‘All right, now we need to do something special. Again, it goes back to what you work hard for when you’re practicing. You kind of rely on that.”

Carter Loflin v. Jack Whaley – MP Semi-Final Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Jay LENG JR (USA) beat Logan REILLY (USA) by 2&1 in the second semi-final.

Leng won the opening hole but could never quite shake off his determined opponent which made for a tight encounter.

Jay Leng JR v. Logan Reilly – MP Semi-Final Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

The four Semi-Finalists earned two year exemptions into the 2027 and 2028 U.S. Amateur Championships being played at Oak Hill C.C. and Whistling Straits.

ME.

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Friday 14th August 2026

Match Play Stage – Quarter Finals

The Match Play Quarter Finals commenced at 1.15pm (6.15pm BST).

Carter LOFLIN (USA), 22 / #47, Jack WHALEY (ENG), 22 / #90, Jay LENG JR. (USA), 20 / #23, and Logan REILLY (USA), 19 / #56, progressed to the Semi-Finals with all four players enjoying healthy wins.

The Quarter Finals saw just 57 holes played; the fewest by three holes since 2002.

The eight players who reached the Quarter Finals earned exemptions into the 2027 U.S. Amateur Championship which will be played at Oak Hill C.C. in Rochester, New York.

Here are the Quarter Final results: –

MP Quarter Finals Results (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Jack WHALEY (ENG) got off to a dream start against Adam BRESNU (MOR) birdieing the first two holes. Having been handed the 4th a further birdie on the 8th meant the Florida State rising senior turned 4Up. An out of sorts Bresnu simply had no response and Whaley saw out a 5&4 victory without ever losing a hole.

Adam Bresnu v. Jack Whaley – MP Quarter Finals Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

ME.

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Thursday 13th August 2026

Match Play Stage – Round of 16

The Match Play Round of 16 started at 1.15pm (6.15pm BST).

Brandon KNIGHT (USA), 21 / WAGR #534, Carter LOFLIN (USA), 22 / #47, Adam BRESNU (MOR), 22 / #30, Jack WHALEY (ENG), 22 / #90, Jay LENG JR. (USA), 20 / #23, Jack TURNER (USA), 22 / #19, Michael LUGIANO (USA), 20 / #335, and Logan REILLY (USA), 19 / #56, all progressed to the Quarter Finals.

Here is the Round of 32 draw: –

MP Round of 16 Results (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Jack WHALEY (ENG) helped ensure that no mid-amateur would advance beyond the Round of 16 with another impressive performance, this time against Christian CAVALIERE (USA). 5up after eight holes the Yorkshire man saw out a 4&3 victory with little trouble.

Jack Whaley v. Christian Cavaliere – MP Round of 16 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Match Play Stage – Round of 32

The Match Play Round of 32 commenced at 7.15am (12.15 BST).

MP Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Four birdies helped Jack WHALEY (ENG) to a solid 2&1 win against Bowen MAUSS (USA), ranked 203rd on WAGR. He will head into this afternoon’s Round of 16 as the last GB&I player still standing.

Jack Whaley v. Bowen Mauss – MP Round of 32 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Jack TURNER (USA) proved too consistent for Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (USA) in their Round of 32 match. The rising senior at the University of Florida was 1-under for the 16 holes he required to secure a 3&2 win.

Jack Turner v. Niall Sheils Donegan – MP Round of 32 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

ME.

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Wednesday 12th August 2026

Match Play Stage – Round of 64

The Match Play Round of 64 commenced at 9:30 a.m. Ten of the 32 matches went the distance with four requiring extra holes.

17 year old WAGR #4 Miles RUSSELL (USA) was the biggest name casualty in the Round of 64, falling 2&1 to WAGR #8 Ryder COWAN (USA), 21.

Tyler WATTS (USA), 18, who has already been selected for next month’s Walker Cup match, never trailed in his 3&2 victory over compatriot Parker SANDS.

Taishi MOTO (JAP) took out Stroke Play medalist Joshua RYAN (USA) in a 19 hole match.

In form Jay LENG Jr (USA), who recently won the Western Amateur, beat 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Evan BECK (USA) by 5&4 and is clearly now one of the favourites for the title.

Five players who came through the morning Play-Off, Cowan, Moto, William JENNINGS (USA), Jack WHALEY (ENG) and Joshua BAI (NZL) all advanced to the Round of 32.

Two mid-amateurs, Stewart HAGESTAD (USA), 34 and playing in his 17th U.S. Amateur, and Christian CAVALIERE (USA), 28, also came through the opening match play round.

MP Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Two of the four remaining GB&I players advanced to the Last 32. Well done to Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO) and Jack WHALEY (ENG).

Connor GRAHAM (SCO) bogeyed five of the 13 holes he played on his way to a disappointing 6&5 loss to a much more inspired Brandon KNIGHT (USA), ranked 534th in WAGR.

Connor Graham v. Brandon Knight – MP Round of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

The longest match of the round went to Jack WHALEY (ENG) who after losing the opening two holes fought back superbly to take his game against Jackson ORMOND (USA) on the fourth extra hole with a birdie.

Jackson Ormond v. Jack Whaley – MP Round of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO) was 2-under par for the 15 holes he played in a solid 4&3 victory over Wheaton ENNIS (USA), the 55th ranked played in WAGR.

Wheaton Ennis v. Niall Sheils Donegan – MP Round of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Eliot BAKER (ENG) lost 3&1 to the 2026 North & South Amateur champion Joshua BAI (NZL), ranked 106th in WAGR. Tied going into the back nine bogeys on 10,12, 14 and 17 and a double on 16 meant the Tiverton-man effectively handed the game to his opponent.

Eliot Baker v. Joshua Bai – MP Round of 64 Scoreboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Stroke Play Qualifying – Play-Off

The play-off to finalise the 64-man Match Play field commenced at 8.30am on the 119 yard par 3 13th hole at Merion G.C. It took 90 minutes to conclude.

It ended up being a 16 players for 11 spots event after Jason SCHWARZ (USA) bogeyed the difficult 18th at Merion first thing this morning to ‘lose’ his place.

Jack WHALEY (ENG) lipped out for a hole-in-one and after securing his tap-in birdie advanced. Unfortunately WAGR #5 Luke POULTER (ENG) bogeyed the par 14th hole to be eliminated.

Click here to view the – 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship Play-Off Results (use filter)

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Tuesday 11th August 2026

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 2

Joshua RYAN (USA), 23 this coming Friday and the winner of the local 2026 Pennsylvania Amateur at Oakmont, earned medalist honours with a 132 (-8) 36-hole total. He shot 67 (-3) at Philadelphia C.C. on Monday and backed it up with a 65 (-5) at Merion G.C. on Day 2.

Tyler WATTS (USA), 18, earned the 2nd seed with a -6 score, 18 hole leader Drake HARVEY (USA) the 3rd and Finn KOELLE (GER) the 4th after they both finished on 136 (-4).

Stroke Play Qualifying Leaderboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Eliot BAKER (ENG), tied 9th on -2, was the leading GB&I qualifier. He was joined by Connor GRAHAM (SCO), tied 16th on -1 and Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO) tied 33rd on +1.

Play was suspended due to darkness at 8:09 p.m. Every player had finished their second rounds at Philadelphia C.C. but 13 players will need to come back tomorrow morning at 7.00am to complete theirs at Merion.

The cut for match play came at 2-over 142 with 70 players currently inside it. Luke POULTER (ENG) and Jack WHALEY (ENG) are amongst these and will therefore have the opportunity to make it five GB&I Match Play qualifiers via a play-off. This matched the lowest cut mark in U.S. Amateur history alongside Erin Hills (2011) and Oakland Hills C.C. (2016).

The play-off to finalise the 64-man Match Play field currently looks like it will be 17 players for 11 spots but Jason SCHWARZ (USA) still has to play the 18th at Merion to retain his place.

GB&I-Only Stroke Play Qualifying Leaderboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Mason HOWELL (USA) was the first defending champion to miss the cut since Andy Ogletree (USA) in 2020 at Bandon Dunes.

WAGR #1 Preston STOUT (USA), who will play in his second consecutive Walker Cup Match next month, two-time USA Walker Cupper Ethan FANG (USA) and 2026 Amateur champion and two-time GB&I Walker Cupper Stuart GREHAN (IRL) also failed to progress.

During the Stroke Play Qualifying Merion played to an average of 73.97 compared to 73.15 for the 353 yards longer Philadelphia C.C.

Each golfer advancing to the Match Play Stage received a red flag with the championship logo and their seeding number on it.

Click here to view the – 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Leaderboard (use filter)

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Monday 10th August 2026

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 1

William LISLE (HKG), 17, and Finn KOELLE (GER), 21, shared the overnight Round 1 lead after shooting 5-under 65’s at Philadelphia C.C. and Merion G.C. respectively.

Max HERENDEEN (USA) finished strongly to post a 66 at Philadelphia. Drake HARVEY (USA), 4-under with two holes left to play at Merion, has the chance to pass or join him on this mark.

[Harvey birdied the final two holes at Merion on Tuesday morning to match the competitive course record of 64 and secure the Day 1 stroke play lead.]

Nine other players posted 67s, a group including the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur runner-up Miles RUSSELL (USA).

Stroke Play Qualifying Leaderboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

Defending champion Mason HOWELL (USA), 74 at Merion, Ethan FANG (USA), 74 at Philadelphia, WAGR No. 1 Preston STOUT (USA), 75 at Merion, 2025 Walker Cupper Jacob MODLESKI (USA), 75 at Merion, and 2026 Amateur champion Stuart GREHAN (IRL), 77 at Merion, all look unlikely to the make the Match Play Stage after disappointing opening rounds.

Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG), 68 at Philadelphia, Eliot BAKER (ENG) 69 at Merion and Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO), -1 after 17 holes at Merion made the best starts out of the 14 Great Britain & Ireland players who are competing.

Play was suspended for 54 minutes due to an afternoon thunderstorm that 39 players were unable to complete their opening rounds. Play was stopped for the day at 8:02 p.m and will resume at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, alongside the start of Round 2.

The two courses played similarly in terms of stroke average on Day 1; Merion at 73.28 and Philadelphia C.C., which is 353 yards longer but playing to the same par of 70, at 73.26.

GB&I-Only Stroke Play Qualifying Leaderboard (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

ME.

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6th August 2026

Introduction

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.

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 article as more information comes to light and providing daily reports once play starts.

2026 Field

5,111 entries were received by the USGA for this year’s Championship.

312 players from 36 different countries will be competing. 233 are from USA with England the second best represented country with 7.

173 were exempt with the remaining 139 coming through qualifying. 91 of these players competed last year in San Francisco.

Mike MCCOY (USA), aged 63 and playing in his 21st U.S. Amateur, and Landon TUDOR (USA) & Bento ASSIS (BZL), both aged 15, are the oldest and youngest players. The average player age is 22.85.

Exemptions were granted based on past performances in previous amateur championships, selection for the Walker Cup teams and World Amateur Golf Rankings. 47 of the top ranked players in WAGR are in the field.

48 Local Qualifying events, all played over 18 holes, were staged between 1st-30th June and 3rd July before 19 Final Qualifying competitions, again over 18 holes, took place between 13th-22nd July.

Click here to view the – 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship Local & Final Qualifying Results

14 Great British & Irish (GB&I) players are competing in 2026: –

Eliot BAKER (ENG) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2025 / WAGR Top 100 May 2026
Jack BIGHAM (ENG) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023
Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 June 2026
Connor GRAHAM (SCO) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023 & 2025 / WAGR Top 100 May 2026
Stuart GREHAN (IRL) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2025 / Amateur champion 2026 / WAGR Top 100 May 2026
Mike HEARNE (WAL) – Qualifier: Dallas National G.C. (Alt. 1), July 2025
Ieuan JONES (WAL) – Qualifier: Ohio State University GC, July 2025
Zach LITTLE (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 May 2026
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2023
Luke POULTER (ENG) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2025 / WAGR Top 20 March 2026 / WAGR Top 100 May 2026
Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO) – Exemption: US Amateur SF / Walker Cup GB&I Team 2025 / WAGR Top 100 May 2026
Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2025
Freddie TURNELL (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 May 2026
Jack WHALEY (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 100 June 2026

This number matches the historical high of 14 GB&I players who competed last year at Olympic Club. 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 10th August – SP Qualifying Round 1 (Merion and Philadelphia – 18 holes)
Tuesday 11th August – SP Qualifying Round 2 (Merion and Philadelphia – 18 holes)
Wednesday 12th August – SP Qualifying Play-Off / MP Round of 64 (Merion – 18 holes)
Thursday 13th August – MP Rounds of 32 and 16 (Merion – 18 holes)
Friday 14th August – MP Quarter Finals (Merion – 18 holes)
Saturday 15th August – MP Semi-Finals (Merion – 18 holes)
Sunday 16th August – MP Championship Final (Merion – 36 holes)

Stroke Play Qualifying Start Times

GB&I Player: Round 1 / Round 2
1 – 1st hole  /  10 – 10th hole /  M – Merion Golf Club (East) / O – Philadelphia Country Club
Time Difference – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania EDT: BST – 5 hours

Sam EASTERBROOK (ENG): 10-P 7.00am / 1-M 12.30pm
Connor GRAHAM (SCO): 10-M 7.37am / 1-P 12.52pm
Zach LITTLE (ENG): 10-P 7.55am / 1-M 1.25pm
Eliot BAKER (ENG): 1-M 8.06am / 10-P 1.36pm
Gavin TIERNAN (IRL): 1-M 8.06am / 10-P 1.36pm
Jack WHALEY (ENG): 10-P 8.17am / 1-M 1.47pm
Stuart GREHAN (IRL): 10-M 8.54am / 1-P 2.09pm
Freddie TURNELL (ENG): 1-M 9.12am / 10-P 2.42pm
Mike HEARNE (WAL): 1-M 12.30pm / 10-P 7.00am
Ieuan JONES (WAL): 10-P 1.14pm / 1-M 7.44am
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL): 1-M 1.36pm / 10-P 8.06am
Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (SCO): 1-M 2.09pm / 10-P 8.39am
Jack BIGHAM (ENG): 1-M 2.09pm / 10-P 8.39am
Luke POULTER (ENG):  10-P 2.09pm / 1-M 8.39am

Click here to view the – 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship Start Times

Host Courses

The Championship is being played at Merion Golf Club and Philadelphia Country Club.

7th Hole, Merion Golf Club (Photo: USGA / Fred Vuich)

Merion Golf Club (East Course) – stroke play and match play
6,693 yards / Par 70 / Course Rating 75.3 / Slope 153

Opened in 1912.
Originally designed by Hugh Wilson with recent renovations by Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner (2014).
It has previously hosted the U.S. Open in 1934, 1950, 1971, 1981 and 2013, U.S. Amateur in 1916, 1924, 1930, 1966, 1989 and 2005 and Walker Cup in 2009.

Philadelphia Country Club – stroke play co-host
7,201 yards / Par 70 / Course Rating 75.4 / Slope 144

Opened in 1890.
Designed by William Flynn with recent renovations by Jim Nagle of Forse Design (2012).

Weather Forecast (as at 6th August 2026)

The weather forecast looks good for the whole Championship week with generally sunny conditions. Only modest breezes are expected which shouldn’t interfere with play.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 10th August – Sunny / Wind 9mph SW / Temp. Min. 22°C, Max. 33°C.
Tues 11th August – Sunny / Wind 12mph W / Temp. Min. 21°C, Max. 32°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 12th August – Thundery Showers / Wind 7mph W / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 29°C.
Thurs 13th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 7mph W  / Temp. Min. 18°C, Max. 29°C.
Fri 14th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 8mph W  / Temp. Min. 18°C, Max. 28°C.
Sat 15th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 7 mph NW / Temp. Min. 18°C, Max. 28°C.
Sun 16th August – Light Cloud / Wind 7mph NW / Temp. Min. 18°C, Max. 27°C.

Prizes

The 2026 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) The Tiger Woods Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;

b) Automatic selection to the 2026 USA or GB&I Walker Cup squad (if applicable);
c) An exemption to play in the 2027 U.S. Open which is being staged at Pebble Beach Golf Links;
and assuming they remain amateur,
d) An invitation to play in the 2027 Masters at Augusta National G.C.;
e) An exemption to play in the 2027 Open Championship at St. Andrews Old Course;
f) An exemption to play in the 2027-2036 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).

In recent years all of the players advancing to Match Play have received a commemorative coin with their seeding engraved on it. At Merion in 2026 they received a red flag with the championship logo and their seeding number sown onto it.

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 – 2026 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.

2025 U.S. Amateur Championship
Mason HOWELL (USA) beat Jackson HERRINGTON (USA) by 7&6 to win the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

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

Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) was the best of the 14 GB&I players who competed. The US-based Scot 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. During the Match Play Stage he 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.

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

Preston STOUT (USA), 21, earned medalist honours with a 132 (-8) total. He 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.

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

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. They were joined after a 20 players-for-17 spots play-off by Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO), +3 tied 48th, but Jack BIGHAM (ENG), also +3 tied 48th, missed out.

2025 Stroke Play Qualifying Results – GB&I Players (Graphic: USGA / CISCO)

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

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2026 will see its 126th 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, 2025-2019, have been Mason Howell (USA), Jose Ballester (ESP), Nick Dunlap (USA), Sam Bennett (USA) and James Piot (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 at Merion) 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: –

127th – 9-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York
128th – 14-20 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 – 14-20 August 2034 – The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts
135th – 13-19 August 2035 – Erin Hills, Erin, Wisconsin
136th – 11-17 August 2036 – Scioto Country Club, Upper Arlington, Ohio
137th – TBD August 2037 –
138th – TBD August 2038 – Pinehurst Resort No. 2, Pinehurst, North Carolina
139th – TBD August 2039 – Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, New Jersey
140th – TBD August 2040 –
141st – TBD August 2041 – Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon
142nd – TBD August 2042 – Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey
143rd – TBD August 2043 –
144th – TBD August 2044 – Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma
145th – TBD August 2045 –
146th – TBD August 2046 –
147th – TBD August 2047 – Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
148th – TBD August 2048 –
149th – TBD August 2049 –
150th – TBD August 2050 –
151st – TBD August 2051 – Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2026, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

Men’s Home Internationals – 2026 Preview & Results

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Friday 7th August 2026

RESULTS

Despite their disappointing final day performance ENGLAND pipped WALES to the Raymond Trophy on match points won – 20.0 v. 18.0. IRELAND finished 3rd and SCOTLAND 4th after they both recorded a single win over the three days.

England (Photo: England Golf)

DAY 3 STANDINGS

Click here to view the – 2026 Men’s Home Internationals Standings

Caolan BURFORD (WAL) was the star man at this year’s Home Internationals winning all six of his games.

Ben BOLTON (ENG), Dylan KEATING (IRL) and Chris SOMERS (SCO) produced the best performances for the other home nations.

DAY 3

ENGLAND 4.0 – 8.0 IRELAND

SCOTLAND 5.0 – 7.0 WALES 

All Graphics, Tables and Scoring shown are shared courtesy of Golf Ireland and Golf Genius.

Click here to view the – 2026 Day 3 Men’s Home Internationals Match Results

ME.

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Thursday 6th August 2026

DAY 2

ENGLAND, now two from two and clear favourites for the title, and SCOTLAND were victorious on Day 2 beating WALES and IRELAND respectively.

ENGLAND 8.5 – 3.5 WALES

IRELAND 5.0 – 7.0 SCOTLAND 

DAY 2 TEAM STANDINGS

All Graphics, Tables and Scoring shown are shared courtesy of Golf Ireland and Golf Genius.

Click here to view the – 2026 Day 2 Men’s Home Internationals Match Results

ME.

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Wednesday 5th August 2026

DAY 1

Day 1 saw wins for ENGLAND and WALES, both team’s winning 7.5-4.5 against SCOTLAND and IRELAND respectively.

ENGLAND 7.5 – 4.5 SCOTLAND

IRELAND 4.5 – 7.5 WALES

DAY 1 TEAM STANDINGS

All Graphics, Tables and Scoring shown will be shared courtesy of Golf Ireland and Golf Genius.

Click here to view the – 2026 Day 1 Men’s Home Internationals Match Results

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Monday 3rd August 2026

This year’s Men’s Home Internationals will be played at Woodbrook Golf Club in Ireland on 5th-7th August 2026.

ENGLAND will be defending the Raymond Trophy which they won at Woodhall Spa G.C. in Lincolnshire last year.

This article will focus on the Men’s Home Internationals and will be updated with score links and daily reports once the competition starts.

Combined Event

In 2022 The R&A and four Home Golf Unions decided to combine the Women’s and Men’s Home Internationals into one mixed event.

The R&A first introduced this type of change in August 2021 when they took control of and combined both the Boys’ and Girls’ Home Internationals and Senior Men’s and Women’s Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa.

Whilst the mixed R&A Women’s and Men’s Home Internationals are now given primary importance the International Trophy and Raymond Trophy are still presented to the leading country in the women’s and men’s matches.

The R&A stepped back from running all of the Home Internationals in 2024 returning their organisation to each host nation in turn.

I hope the organisers look to remove the mixed element completely in due course and return to the separate men’s and women’s competitions which have a lot of history and should never have been interfered with.

2026 Men’s Players

The four national golf unions have selected the following players to represent their countries this year. I have added their World Amateur Golf Rankings as at 29th July 2026 in brackets.

ENGLAND
Ben BOLTON – Enville (100)
Jenson BULL – Remedy Oak (488)
Ed FEATHERSTONE – Sheringham (231)
Dan HAYES – Bramhall (126)
Greg HOLMES – Royal Birkdale (832)
Lewy HAYWARD – Marlborough (369)
Max HOPKINS – Bishop Stortford (611)
Harley SMITH – The Rayleigh Club (120)
Jamie VAN WYK – Royal Lytham & St. Annes (673, won the English Amateur last week)

Tyler Weaver (2), Luke Poulter (4), Eliot Baker (18), Freddie Turnell (74), Sam Easterbrook (79), Jack Whaley (93), Zach Little (94), Josh Hill (96), Seb Cave (123), Tom Osborne (131), Matthew Dodd-Berry (163), Jack Bigham (174) and Frazer Jones (221) are WAGR top 250 English players who are not competing. 

England (Photo: Golf Ireland / Info)

IRELAND
Fionn DOBBIN – Malone (966)
John DOYLE – Fota Island (192)
Gerard DUNNE – County Louth (1,837)
Keith EGAN – Carton House (986)
Thomas HIGGINS – Roscommon (211)
David HOWARD – Fota Island (900)
Dylan KEATING – Seapoint (1,579)
David KITT – Athenry (1,116)
Gavin O’NEILL – Malahide (875)

Stuart Grehan (22), Caolan Rafferty (183) and Gavin Tiernan (205) are WAGR top 250 Irish players who are not competing.

Ireland (Photo: Golf Ireland / Info)

SCOTLAND
George CANNON – Glenbervie (626)
Andrew DAVIDSON – Crail (355)
Alexander FARMER – Kilmacolm (1,564)
Finlay GALLOWAY – St. Andrews (2,130)
Ross LAIRD – Glenbervie (909)
Oliver MUKHERJEE – Gullane (2,254)
Sam MUKHERJEE – Gullane (1,436)
Ben MURRAY – Portlethan (2,681)
Chris SOMERS – Murcar Links (948)

Niall Sheils Donegan (19) and Connor Graham (23) are WAGR top 250 Scottish players who are not competing.

Scotland (Photo: Golf Ireland / Info)

WALES
Theo BAKER – Celtic Manor (2,603)
Jonathan BALE – Royal Porthcawl (300)
Tomi BOWEN – Welshpool (232)
Caolan BURFORD – Rhuddlan (951, won the Welsh Amateur last week)
Sean DAVID – Pyle & Kenfig (727)
Alex JAMES – Royal Lytham & St. Annes (1,957)
Tom PEET – Pyle & Kenfig (NR)
Ioan ROWE – Royal Porthcawl (1,055)
Bryn THOMAS – Cardigan (NR)

Wales (Photo: Golf Ireland / Inpho)

Venue – Woodbrook G.C.

Woodbrook, a parkland course located next to the sea in Bray to the south of Dublin, is celebrating it’s centenary this year.

Peter McEvoy re-designed the course in 1998 when USGA standard greens were laid in preparation for the Irish Seniors Open being staged there.

It plays to a maximum distance of 7,016 yards and has a par of 72. It has a Course Rating of 74.3 and a Slope Rating of 131 off these back tees.

Match Format

Following the move to a combined Home Internationals event the men’s teams were reduced from 11 to 9 players.

Each country plays every other team over the three competition days.

Men’s matches now consist of 4 foursomes and 8 singles. This is 1 foursomes and 2 singles less than the historic format.

One point is awarded for a win in each foursomes and singles with a half point for a tied match. Each team will be awarded one match point for winning an overall match and a half point for a tie.

The final team positions are determined according to the highest number of match points earned. Ties are broken by reviewing the total number of individual game points.

The winning team receives the Raymond Trophy.  

The Raymond Trophy

The Men’s Home Internationals were first played in 1932 and this year’s staging will be the 84th playing of this prestigious event.

Since 1952 the winning team has received The Raymond Trophy which is named after its donor, the late Raymond Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer was an English administrator, golfer and team captain who was very prominent in the amateur game in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

In the 84 competitions played to date England have won 41, Scotland 21, Ireland 14 and Wales 1. The remaining 7 were tied before it was decided that ties would be resolved by using game points.

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The Raymond Trophy (Photo: Ayrshire Golf Blog)

2026 Weather Forecast (as at 3rd August 2026)

The forecast is currently looking very good for the three competition days: –

Wed. 6th Aug. – Sunny / Wind 9 mph W / Temp. Min 13º, Max 22º
Thurs. 7th Aug. – Sunny Intervals / Wind 14 mph SW / Temp. Min 13º, Max 24º
Fri. 8th Aug. – Sunny / Wind 11 mph W / Temp. Min 12º, Max 24º

2025 R&A Men’s Home Internationals

ENGLAND won the 2025 Men’s Home Internationals completing a clean sweep against the other home nations over the three days.

England Men’s Team (Photo: England Golf)

Individual Performances

Eliot BAKER (ENG), Alexander FARMER (SCO), Caolan BURFORD (WAL) and Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) were the leading performers for each home nation at Woodhall Spa G.C.

Click here to view the – 2025 Men’s and Women’s Home Internationals Scores

Historic Results

Click here to view all of the – Men’s Home Internationals Historic Results

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2026, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

The Amateurs At The 2026 Open Championship

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Sunday 19th July 2026

Round 4

Ryan FOX (NZL) won the 2026 Open with a 270 (-10) title. He finished 1-shot ahead of Cameron YOUNG (USA) and two ahead of Sam BURNS (USA).

No amateur made the cut and therefore the low amateur Silver Medal was not awarded.

Click here to view the – 2026 Open Championship Results

ME

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Friday 17th July 2026

Round 2

Lucas HERBERT (AUS) shot an 8-under 62 to take the 36 hole lead on 132 (-8).

Just 20 minutes later Sam BURNS (USA) posted his own 62 after holing out from a green side bunker on the 18th. Burns will start Day 3 tied 5th on -5.

62 is the joint lowest round ever recorded in The Open and in any men’s major and sets a new course record for the revised lay-out at Royal Birkdale.

None of the ten amateurs made the cut and therefore the low amateur Silver Medal will not be awarded. This is the first time since 2002 and 2003 that there has been no Silver Medal awarded for two consecutive years.

Mason HOWELL (USA) was the best of this year’s group finishing on 142 (+2) and missing the top 70 and ties 36 hole cut by just 1-shot.

Nevill RUITTER (NED) produced the best round by an amateur with his 2-under 68 in Round 2.

Howell, David HOWARD (IRL), Mateo PULCINI (ARG) and Stuart GREHAN (IRL) all shot 1-under par 69’s in Round 2.

The average Round 2 score was 70.348 (+0.348) [Round 1: 71.436 (+1.436)] with the field cumulatively 54-over-par.

Round 2 Amateur Scoreboards (Graphic: The Open / NTT DATA)

ME

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Thursday 16th July 2026 

Round 1

Debutant Jackson SUBER (USA), playing on a links course competitively for the first time, leads The Open after a 66 (-5) in Round 1 which included an eagle and six birdies.

On a generally disappointing day for the ten amateurs in the field Lev GRINBERG (FRA) produced the best amateur score with an opening round of 71 (+1).

The average Round 1 score was 71.436 (+1.436) with the field cumulatively 224-over-par.

Round 1 Amateur Scoreboards (Graphic: The Open / NTT DATA)

ME

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Monday 13th July 2026

Introduction

156 players from 28 countries will contest the 154th Open Championship which will be played at Royal Birkdale G.C. in England on 16-19 July 2026.

10 amateurs are in the field this week. Encouragingly for them the two best performances by amateurs in The Open in the last 65 stagings both came at Royal Birkdale; Justin ROSE (ENG) finished tied 4th in 1998 and Chris WOOD (ENG) finished tied 5th in 2008.

The competition will be decided by stroke play over 72 holes. An aggregate four hole play-off will be used to break any ties for 1st place.

The 70 lowest scores over the first 36 holes, and ties for 70th place, will advance to the final two rounds over the weekend.

The Silver Medal is awarded to the leading amateur in The Open Championship who completes 72 holes.

The course will play to 7,223 yards and a par of 70. This makes it the 15th longest course in Open history but the longest ever played to a par of 70.

Amateurs In The Field

Ten amateurs are competing in 2026, one more than last year at Royal Portrush and five more than played at Royal Birkdale in 2017. These are:-

Jack BUCHANAN (RSA), 21, d.o.b. 20th January 2005, WAGR #88 – 2026 African Amateur Champion
Caddie – Kolton Lapa (Mississippi State Men’s Head Coach)

Alejandro DE CASTRO PIERA (ESP), 21, d.o.b. 9th December 2004, WAGR #52 – FQ Burnham & Berrow (WAGR Leading 8 Entries #78)
Caddie – Bruno Marti Jimenez (Spanish amateur golfer) 

Stuart GREHAN (IRL), 33, d.o.b. 30th December 1992, WAGR #19 – 2026 Amateur Champion
Caddie – Greg Milne (Irish caddie)

Lev GRINBERG (FRA), 18, d.o.b. 17th November 2007, WAGR #40 – 2026 Open Amateur Series* Winner. Born in Ukraine but moved to Belgium when he was 11.
Caddie – Joshua Broadwell (English caddie)

David HOWARD (IRL), 27, d.o.b. 5th May 1999, WAGR #1,441 – The Island RQ Res. 5 after Play-Off / FQ Dundonald Links. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age 7.
Caddie – John Howard (father)

Mason HOWELL (USA), 19, d.o.b. 27th June 2007, WAGR #54 – 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship. Howell is the first winner of the US Amateur to use his exemption for The Open since Gunn Yang in 2015.
Caddie – Jimmy Gillam (professional at Glen Arven C.C., Georgia)

Pongsapak ‘Fifa’ LAOPAKDEE (THA), 21, d.o.b. 2nd March 2005, WAGR #23 – 2025 Asia-Pacific Champion. Nicknamed Fif due to his father’s love of football.
Caddie – Kyle Roadley (Australian caddie)

Mateo PULCINI (ARG), 25, d.o.b. 30th August 2000, WAGR #78 – 2026 Latin America Amateur Champion
Caddie – Clodomiro Carranza (Argentine pro)

Nevill RUITER (NED), 24, d.o.b. 15th March 2002, WAGR #126 – FQ Dundonald Links (European Amateur ’26 Top 4)
Caddie – Reinier  Saxton (Amateur champion 2008)

Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER), 21, d.o.b. 14th January 2005, WAGR #10 – 2026 European Amateur Champion
Caddie – James Vargas (Texas TechMen’s Associate Coach)

*The Open Championship Amateur Series was introduced by The R&A in 2023. It offers an exemption to the player who gains the most WAGR points in the St. Andrews Links Trophy, the Amateur Championship and the European Amateur Championship events (as long as they didn’t win the Amateur or European Amateur Championships which meant they were already exempt).

The 2026 Amateur Competitors (Photo: The Open)

In total seven winners of The Amateur Championship are competing this week. In addition to Ethan Fang (2025) there is Sergio Garcia (1998), Julien Guerrier (2006), Matteo Manassero (2009), Romain Langasque (2015), Aldrich Potgieter (2022) and Jacob Skov Olesen (2024).

Round 1 & 2 Tee Times (BST)

7.41am / 12.47pm Sungjae IM (KOR) / Daniel BROWN (ENG) / Fifa LAOPAKDEE (THI)

8.03am / 1.09pm Francesco MOLINARI (ITA) / Tom MCKIBBIN (N.I.) / Lev GRINBERG (FRA)

8.25am / 1.31pm Angel AYORA (ESP) / Victor PEREZ (FRA) / Mateo PULCINI (ARG)

10.42am / 3.48pm Kazuma KOBORI (NZL) / Tom SLOMAN (ENG) / David HOWARD (IRL)

11.15am / 4.21pm Jeongwoo HAM (KOR) / Ryutaro NAGANO (JAP) / Alejandro DE CASTRO PIERA (ESP)

12.14pm / 7.08am Cameron SMITH (AUS) / Keith MITCHELL (USA) / Stuart GREHAN (IRL)

1.31pm / 8.25am Tom KIM (KOR) / Billy HORSCHEL (USA) / Mason HOWELL (USA)

1.53pm / 8.47am Aldrich POTGIETER (RSA) / Jasper SVENSSON (SWE) / Jack BUCHANAN (RSA)

3.26pm / 10.20am Jacob BRIDGEMAN (USA) / Rasmus NEERGAARD-PETERSEN (DEN) / Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER)

4.21pm / 11.15am Kazuki HIGA (JAP) / Jiho YANG (KOR) / Nevill RUITER (NED)

Click here to view all of the – 2026 Open Round 1 & 2 Tee Times

Low Amateur Silver Medal

Since 1949 the Silver Medal has been awarded to the leading amateur in The Open Championship who completes 72 holes. Bronze Medals are awarded to all other amateurs who complete 72 holes.

The Open has been staged at Royal Birkdale on ten occasisions, the last time being in 2017. Alfie PLANT (ENG) won the Silver Medal nine years ago when he finished tied 62nd on +6.

The Silver Medal has been awarded eight out of the ten times The Open has been staged at Royal Birkdale – in 1976 and 1983 no amateurs made the cut.

Royal Birkdale Silver Medal Winners (Table: The Open)

Calum SCOTT (SCO), 20 at the time, was the last player to win the low amateur prize when he finished tied 43rd at the 2024 Open at Royal Troon.

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Calum Scott – Winner of the 2024 Silver Medal (Photo: Luke Walker / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)

For more information on this prize please take a look at my article – The Open Championship’s Silver Medal.

Additional Information

Click here to view the official – 2026 Open Championship Website

2026 Qualifying

Three players came through both Regional and Final Qualifying this year, namely, Tiger Christensen (GER) Pro [RQ Minchinhampton / FQ West Lancashire], David HOWARD (IRL) Am [RQ  The Island 5th Res. / FQ Dundonald] and Tom Sloman (ENG) Pro [RQ Ferndown / FQ Burnham & Berrow].

Click here to view my article on – The Open Championship – 2026 Regional, Final & Last Chance Qualifying

Click here to view the official – Open Championship Website (Final Qualifying)

Click here to view the official – Open Championship Website (Regional Qualifying)

ME.

Copyright © 2014-2026, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

Irish Amateur Open Championship – 2026 Preview & Results

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Sunday 10th May 2026

Round 4

Patrick KEELING (IRL), 21, birdied his 72nd hole to secure a 1-shot victory in the Flogas-sponsored Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship.

After a fine up and down, which included a winning 12 foot putt, from behind Seaport’s home green the Roganstown golfer finished with a 277 (-11) total.

Photo: Golf Ireland / Inpho / Laszlo Geczo 

The reigning East of Ireland champion David HOWARD (IRL) finished 2nd on -10 with Stuart GREHAN (IRL) 3rd, on final round count-back, and GERARD DUNNE (IRL) 4th after they both finished on -9. Greg HOLMES (ENG) who finished 4th last year had to settle for 5th this.

Final Results (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

Click here to view the – 2026 Irish Amateur Open Results

ME.

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Saturday 9th May 2026

Round 3

Patrick KEELING (IRL) will take a 1-shot lead over Darragh FLYNN (IRL) and Thomas ABOM (IRL) into tomorrow’s final round after he shot a 73 in the third round. In much tougher conditions Flynn moved nicely up into tied 2nd place with a well timed 70 whilst Abom had to settle for a 75.

Gerard DUNNE (IRL), 73, and Stephen COULTER (IRL), 75, are tied 4th on -7.

Nine further players are tied 6th 0n -4 but now appear too far away to challenge for the title.

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

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

ME.

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Friday 8th May 2026

Round 2

Thomas ABOM (IRL) shot a second round 64, which included a hole-in-one on the 17th, to move into the lead at the Irish Amateur Open on -11.

Thomas Abom’s Round 2 Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

However, Patrick KEELING (IRL) took the round of the day with a sensational Seapoint course record 10-under 62. He finished the day tied 2nd with overnight leader Stephen COULTER (IRL) on -10.

Patrick Keeling’s Round 2 Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

Gerard DUNNE (IRL) and Liam ABOM (IRL) are tied 4th on -8 with Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG), Darragh FLYNN (IRL), David REDDAN (IRL), Tom HUGHES (ENG) and defending champion Stuart GREHAN (IRL) all 2-shots further back heading into the weekend.

After 36 holes 33 players are under par with a further 16 on even par.

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

ME.

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Thursday 7th May 2026

Round 1

Stephen COULTER (IRL) took the early lead at Seapoint with a sparkling 8-under 64 in Round 1.

Stephen Coulter’s Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

After an opening back nine of 30 Liam ABOM (IRL) ultimately had to settle for a 65 (-6) and 2nd place.

Liam Abom’s Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

Defending champion Stuart GREHAN (IRL) is 3rd, well placed on -5, with Mark MULDOON (IRL), Gerard DUNNE (IRL), Thomas ABOM (IRL), John DOYLE (IRL) and Tom HUGHES (ENG) all tied 4th on -3 after 18 holes.

29 players finished Day 1 with an under par score.

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

ME.

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Preview

The Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship, sponsored by Flogas, starts on Thursday 7th May 2026 at Seapoint Golf Links near Drogheda, County Louth on Ireland’s east coast.

It will be the 87th playing of this prestigious Championship and the second successive year that it has been staged at Seapoint.

Seapoint’s 2nd Hole (Photo: Seaport Golf Links)

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. 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 2026 Championship with 111 of these being from Ireland.

I expect the following players to do well (in alphabetical order): Mark CADDEN (IRL), Quentin CAREW (IRL), Paul COUGHLAN (IRL), John DOYLE (IRL), Gerard DUNNE (IRL),  Stuart GREHAN (IRL), Tom HUGHES (ENG), Dylan KEATING (IRL), Matt MCCLEAN (IRL), Jack MCDONNELL (IRL) and Dylan SHAW-RADFORD (ENG).

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. This year the inclusion of the Austrian International Amateur Championship, which starts on 8th April, on the newly established European Amateur Order of Merit hasn’t helped either.

Tee Times

Click here to view the – 2026 Irish Amateur Open Tee Times

Players will tee off, from the 1st and 10th tees, between 8.00am and 2.50pm 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 will this week play at 7,041 yards and to a par of 72.

Over the last 30 years it has hosted a number of professional events, the Irish Amateur Close Championship in 2014 (JR Galbraith) as well as last year’s Irish Amateur Open (Stuart Grehan).

Weather Forecast (as at Thursday 7th May)

The weather forecast for the competition looks good – cool but dry with moderate winds expected.

Thu 7th May – Cloudy / Wind 10 mph S / Temp. Min. 8°C / Max. 13°C.
Fri  8th May – Cloudy / Wind 9 mph NE / Temp. Min. 7°C / Max. 12°C.
Sat  9th May – Sunny Intervals / Wind 14 mph N / Temp. Min. 6°C / Max. 13°C.
Sun 10th May – Sunny Intervals / Wind 12 mph N / Temp. Min. 6°C / Max. 12°C.

The 2025 Irish Amateur Open Championship

Stuart Grehan (Photo: Golf Ireland / Infosports)

Stuart GREHAN (IRL) beat Lewy HAYWARD (ENG) on the third play-off hole to win the 2025 Flogas-sponsored Irish Amateur Open Championship at Seapoint Golf Links. Both players finished the 72 holes on 273 (-15) after bogey-free final rounds of 66 and 69 respectively.

Defending champion Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) finished 3rd on -13, Greg HOLMES (ENG) -11 4th, Matt ROBERTS (WAL) -11 5th and Gerry DUNNE (IRL) -11 6th on final round count back.

Final Results (Graphic: Golf Ireland / Golf Genius)

Click here to view the – 2025 Irish Amateur Open 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 © 2014-2026, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

Men’s European Nations Championship – 2026 Preview & Results

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18th April 2026

Round 4

Team (best 3 from 4 scores count)

ENGLAND (-31) completed a wire-to-wire victory in the European Nations Championship Team competition. On three of the four days England recorded the best team score which helped them to a comfortable 14-shot win.

England (Photo: England Golf)

FRANCE (-17) finished 2nd, NETHERLANDS (-7) 3rd, ITALY (-6) 4th and IRELAND (-2) 5th at the challenging RCG Sotogrande course.

WALES (+16) 11th and SCOTLAND (+21) 13th both fell down the Team leaderboard after posting disappointing +9 scores on the final day.


Click here to view the – 2026 ENC Men’s Team Results

Individual

Eliot BAKER (ENG) -15 birdied all five of his closing holes to win the Individual title by 3-shots.

Eliot Baker (Photo: England Golf)

Scott WOLTERING (NED) -12 finished 2nd, Ben BOLTON -11 3rd and Filippo PONZANO (ITA) & Hugo LE GOFF (FRA) -7 tied 4th.

Caolan BURFORD (WAL) -5 was tied 8th, Stuart GREHAN (IRL) & Tom OSBORNE (ENG) -4 tied 10th and Andrew DAVIDSON (SCO) +1 tied 16th.

Click here to view the – 2026 Men’s ENC Individual Results

ME.

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17th April 2026

Round 3

Team (best 3 from 4 scores count)

ENGLAND (-21) will take a 7-shot lead into the final round of the European Nations Championship Team competition after they posted -4 score in Round 3.

On a tougher scoring day FRANCE (-14), now in 2nd place, closed the gap with a best of the day -8 team score. ITALY (-6) dropped to 3rd, NETHERLANDS (-5) stayed 4th and ESTONIA (-2) rose to 5th at RCG Sotogrande.

After 54 holes IRELAND (+1) are tied 7th, WALES (+7) are 11th and SCOTLAND (+12) 12th.

Individual

Scott WOLTERING (NED) -11 continues to lead the Individual competition from English pair Eliot BAKER -10 and Ben BOLTON -9.

Caolan BURFORD (WAL) -8 is 4th,  Andrew DAVIDSON (SCO) -2 tied 12th, Tom OSBORNE (ENG) -1 tied 14th and Stuart GREHAN (IRL) Ev tied 16th.

ME.

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16th April 2026

Round 2

Team (best 3 from 4 scores count)

ENGLAND (-17) again produced the best score of the day (-7) to extend their lead in the European Nations Championship Team competition to 10 shots.

After 36 holes ITALY (-7) are 2nd, FRANCE (-6) 3rd, NETHERLANDS (-5) 4th and CZECH REPUBLIC (-2) 5th at RCG Sotogrande.

WALES (-1) enjoyed a good day to move up to 8th whilst IRELAND & SCOTLAND (+4) dropped down the leaderboard finishing Round 2 tied 11th.

Individual

Scott WOLTERING (NED) followed up his opening 67 with a 68 to remain in the Individual lead on -9.

Ben BOLTON (ENG) -8 2nd and Eliot BAKER (ENG) -7 3rd continue to drive the English score.

Caolan BURFORD (WAL) -5 is tied 5th and Tomi BOWEN (WAL), Andrew DAVIDSON (SCO) & Kris KIM (ENG)  -2 are all tied 11th.

ME.

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15th April 2026

Round 1

Team (best 3 from 4 scores count)

ENGLAND (-10) made a dream start to the 2026 European Nations Championship and after 18 holes enjoy a 7-shot lead.

At the close of Day 1 FRANCE (-3) and GERMANY & ITALY (-2) are the only other countries that are under par at RCG Sotogrande.

SCOTLAND (+1) are tied 5th, IRELAND (+3) tied 8th and WALES (+5) tied 10th.

Individual

Scott WOLTERING‘s (NED) 5-under 67 was the best round of the day.

Eliot BAKER and Ben BOLTON led the English scoring effort with 68’s (-4).

England had the luxury of being able to use either Tom OSBORNE‘s (ENG) or Kris KIM‘s (ENG) 70 (-2) card to make up their team score. Andrew DAVIDSON (SCO) led the Scots with his own 70 too.

John DOYLE (IRL), 71  (-1) was the only other home nation player to shoot under par in Round 1 with Caolan BURFORD (WAL) and Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL) having to settle for even par 72’s.

ME.

_________________________________________

15th April 2026

The Men’s European Nations Championship (ENC), also known as the European Nations Cup, starts on Wednesday 15th April 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 18th playing of the event.

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

Field
15 four-man teams (60 players) will play for the Team prize.

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

Austria, Finland and Switzerland, who all played last year, have not entered teams in 2026.

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 2026: –

England – Ben BOLTON, Eliot BAKER, Kris KIM, Tom OSBORNE

Ireland – John DOYLE, Stuart GREHAN, Matt MCCLEAN, Caolan RAFFERTY

Scotland – Andrew DAVIDSON, Alexander FARMER, Ross LAIRD, Dominic MCGLINCHEY

Wales – Tom BASTOW, Tomi BOWEN, Caolan BURFORD, Iestyn MCAVOY

A Women’s ENC, made up of 13 three player teams, also takes place alongside the Men’s competition. England and Ireland 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 ties 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 Championship / Cup, 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 very good. High winds, often stronger in the afternoon, can cause problems given the numerous water hazards on the course.

Wednesday 15th – Sunny.  Min. 15°C / Max. 22°C; Wind S 9mph
Thursday 16th – Sunny. Min. 15°C / Max. 21 °C; Wind E 12mph
Friday 17th – Sunny. Temp. Min. 15°C / Max. 21°C; Wind E 18mph
Saturday 18th – Sunny. Temp. Min. 15°C / Max. 21°C; Wind E 15mph

Past ENC Winners

The home nations have an excellent record in this event.

Team Competition

2025  England     2025 ENC Men’s Team Results

The England Team (Photo: England Golf)

2024  Ireland     2024 ENC Team Results
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

2025 Kevin Jegers (EST)     2025 ENC Men’s Individual Results
2024 James Ashfield (WAL)     2024 ENC Men’s Individual Results
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 © 2014-2026, Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

World Amateur Team Championship – 2025 Preview & Results

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11th October 2025

Round 4

SOUTH AFRICA secured their first Eisenhower Trophy victory with a 547 (-29) total on the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore.

South Africa (Photo: IGF)

AUSTRALIA (-21) finished 2nd and ENGLAND (-19) 3rd, securing the silver and bronze medals.

SCOTLAND (-11) finished tied 7th, IRELAND (Ev) tied 21st and WALES (+5) tied 27th.

Defending champions USA (-9) were a disappointing tied 10th.

Team Results (Graphic: IGF / Golf Genius)

The outstanding player at this year’s Championship, Christiaan MAAS (RSA), finished with a 69 for a 266 (-22) total, 10 shots ahead of Australia’s Declan O’DONOVAN in 2nd place.

Eliot BAKER (ENG), 67, and Connor GRAHAM (SCO), 66, with the best score in Round 4, both finished on -6 and tied 11th. Stuart GREHAN (IRL), 71, Charlie FORSTER (ENG), 70, and Tyler WEAVER (ENG), -5, were tied 17th.

Individual Results (Graphic: IGF / Golf Genius)

Click here to view the – Men’s 2025 WATC Team and Individual Leaderboards

The 2027 World Amateur Team Championships will be hosted by the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation and will be played at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

ME.

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10th October 2025

Round 3

With just 18 holes to play SOUTH AFRICA (-26), who are surprisingly seeking their first Eisenhower Trophy victory, enjoy an 11-shot lead after they delivered a best of the week 132 (-13) in the third round.

AUSTRALIA and MEXICO are tied 2nd on -15 with ENGLAND (-12) and FRANCE (-11) also well placed in the race for the silver and bronze medals.

SCOTLAND (-5) are tied 10th, IRELAND (-1) tied 19th and WALES (Ev) tied 22nd heading in to tomorrow’s final round.

Defending champions USA (-4) are tied 14th after a second consecutive 139 (-5) score in Round 3.

Round 3 Team Leaderboard (Graphic: IGF / Golf Genius)

Christiaan MAAS (RSA) shot a third round 65 to move on to -19. With a 10-shot lead he now seems assured of the Individual honours in Singapore.

Mexico’s Eduardo DERBEZ, a University of Texas teammate of Maas, shot the best round of the week so far in Round 3. His 64, which included six consecutive birdies on the front nine and a final hole eagle, earned him a share of the course record.

After 54 holes Tyler WEAVER (ENG) -6 is tied 7th, Stuart GREHAN (IRL) -4 tied 12th, Charlie FORSTER (ENG) -3 19th and Eliot BAKER (ENG) & Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) -1 tied 27th.

Round 3 Individual Leaderboard (Graphic: IGF / Golf Genius)

ME.

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9th October 2025

Round 2

SOUTH AFRICA (-14) moved into a commanding 5-shot lead at the Eisenhower Trophy after a 135 (-9) Round 2 score.

On a low scoring day in Singapore, albeit one where play was suspended for 1 hour and 24 minutes in the morning due to dangerous weather, AUSTRALIA, FRANCE and ENGLAND (-9) are all tied 2nd after 138 (-6), 139 (-5) and 137 (-7) team scores respectively.

The other home nations also improved their leaderboard positions. IRELAND and WALES (both -2) rose to tied 14th whilst SCOTLAND (-1) are up to tied 18th.

Defending champions and favourites USA (+1) are tied 22nd after a 139 (-5) Round 2 score.

Round 2 Team Leaderboard (Graphic: IGF / Golf Genius)

Christiaan MAAS (RSA) -12 leads the Individual standings by 4-shots after he posted a second consecutive 66.

Rintaro NAKANO (JAP) also recorded a 66 to move up to tied 3rd place on -7 behind Hiroshi TAI (SNP) -8, after he could only manage a 71, and alongside Oscar COUILLEAU (FRA) who shot one of three 67’s in Round 2.

Charlie FORSTER (ENG) 69, now on -4 in tied 11th, and Stuart GREHAN (IRL) 68, Connor GRAHAM (SCO) 67 & Tyler WEAVER (ENG) 68, -3 in tied 14th are the leading GB&I players after 36 holes.

Round 2 Individual Leaderboard (Graphic: IGF / Golf Genius)

ME.

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8th October 2025

Round 1

Carlos Astiazaran (-4) and Eduardo Derbez (-3) helped MEXICO (-7) to a surprise Round 1 lead in the Eisenhower Trophy competition.

SOUTH AFRICA (-5) and FRANCE (-4) are their nearest challengers after a typically warm day in Singapore where temperatures peaked at 91°F in the afternoon.

ENGLAND (-2) finished the opening day tied 8th, WALES (+2) tied 20th, SCOTLAND (+3) tied 25th and IRELAND (+4) tied 28th.

Defending champions USA (+6), tied 32nd, got off to a disappointing start which may prove to be unsurmountable even with their elite team. All three of their players posted scores of 75 (+3).

Round 1 Team Leaderboard (Graphic: IGF / Golf Genius)

Home favourite Hiroshi TAI (SNP) -7 leads Christiaan MAAS (RSA) -6 and Carlos ASTIAZARAN (MEX) (-4) in the Individual standings. Tai had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot this morning and finished the day 1-shot shy of David Puig’s course record.

From a GB&I perspective Eliot BAKER (ENG) & Charlie FORSTER (ENG) -1 are tied 15th and Tyler WEAVER (ENG), Caolan BURFORD (WAL), Jonathan BALE (WAL), Stuart GREHAN (IRL) & Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO) +1 are all tied 35th.

Round 1 Individual Leaderboard (Graphic: IGF / Golf Genius)

ME.

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7th October 2025

The 34th Men’s World Amateur Team Championship (WATC), played for the Eisenhower Trophy, starts on Wednesday 8th October in Singapore.

The Championship will be hosted by the Singapore Golf Association and played at Tanah Merah Country Club.

USA, who won the competition for the 16th time in 2023, will be looking to defend the title for the first time since they last did so in 2014. They also have the opportunity to become the first country since 1994 to win both the men’s and women’s competitions in the same year following their victory in the Espirito Santo Trophy last week.

The WATC is a biennial international amateur golf competition run by the International Golf Federation (IGF).

The IGF comprises 153 national governing bodies of golf in 150 countries as well as tours and organizations that conduct championships. It is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the body responsible for golf and as such, in addition to the Men’s and Women’s WATC’s it also organises the golf competitions in both the Olympics and Youth Olympics.

The WATC are hosted by rotation taking in Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe, Africa and for the first time in 2023 the Middle East.

The first WATC took place in 1958 and was played over the Old Course at St. Andrews. Bobby Jones captained the United States of America famously receiving the Freedom of the Town during the trip, although his team ended up losing a play-off to Australia for the title.

Competition Format

36 teams are competing in the 2025 WATC.

The three players from each team play 72 holes of stroke play over four days. The two lowest rounds recorded on each day count towards the team’s total score.

Ties for the golf medal are resolved by reference to the third non-counting score in the fourth round, then, if necessary, the third, second and first rounds. All other ties are left unresolved.

The winning team receive the Eisenhower Trophy. The Trophy was provided in 1958 by the American Friends of Golf through the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland. It is named in honour of the then United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The inscription on the trophy reads: “To foster friendship and sportsmanship among the Peoples of the World.”

Players in the leading three teams receive gold, silver and bronze medals.

Whilst individual results are reported and the player with the lowest score is recognised at the closing ceremony there has historically been no prize awarded for this achievement.

Competitors

The home nations will be represented by the following players (with their ages and WAGR as at 1st October noted after their name): –

ENGLAND – Eliot Baker 22 (#93), Charlie Forster 22 (#47), Tyler Weaver 20 (#12)

England (Photo: IGF)

IRELAND – John Doyle 18 (#414), Stuart Grehan 32 (#124), Caolan Rafferty 32 (#133)

Ireland (Photo: IGF)

SCOTLAND – Cameron Adam 22 (#18), Connor Graham 18 (#37), Niall Shiels Donegan 20 (#59)

Scotland (Photo: IGF)

WALES – Jonathan Bale 37 (#177), Tomi Bowen 22 (#285) Caolan Burford 21 (#1,488)

Wales (Photo: IGF)

The other competing nations are as follows with those highlighted expected to be the most competitive.

ARGENTINA – Juan Martín Loureiro 22 (#185), Segundo Oliva Pinto 26 (#115), Mateo Pulcini 25 (#171)

AUSTRALIA – Billy Dowling 20 (#262), Declan O’Donovan 22 (#315), Harry Takis 19 (#117)

BRAZIL – Andrey Borges Xavier 24 (#31), Eduardo Ferreira 19 (#148), Herik Oliveira Machado 24 (#46)

CANADA – Isaiah Ibit 19 (#379), Justin Matthews 21 (#237), Ashton McCulloch 23 (#70)

CHINA – Haoyi Wang 16 (#213), Qiyou Wu 16 (#222), Ziqin Zhou 19 (#125)

COLOMBIA – Carlos Ardila Conde 29 (#49), Tomás Restrepo 17 (#183), Emilio Vélez 15 (#143)

CZECHIA – Timotej Formánek 20 (#542), Filip Jakubčík 21 (#7), Štěpán Plášek 16 (#335)

DENMARK – Claes T. Borregaard 25 (#77), Oscar H. Bredkjær 21 (#383), Kristian H. Bressum 25 (#65)

ESTONIA – Kevin Jegers 24 (#107), Richard Teder 20 (#101), Mattias Varjun 25 (#356)

FRANCE – Louis Anceaux 20 (#308), Oscar Couilleau 17 (#120), Hugo Le Goff 17 (#54)

GERMANY – Wolfgang Glawe 23 (#69), Emil Riegger 20 (#116), Tim Wiedemeyer 20 (#22)

GUAM – Redge Camacho 30 (#3,084), Markus Nanpei 20 (#NR), Ivan Sablan 21 (#1,811)

GUATEMALA – Sebastian Barnoya 31 (#76), Gabriel Palacios 20 (#34), Alejandro Villavicencio 45 (#72)

INDIA – Arin Ahuja 24 (#2,018), Rakshit Dahiya 18 (#349), Deepak Yadav 23 (#3,389)

INDONESIA – Randy Bintang 21 (#268), Asa Najib 24 (#277), Amadeus C. Susanto 22 (#362)

ITALY – Riccardo Fantinelli 21 (#163), Michele Ferrero 20 (#270), Filippo Ponzano 21 (#138)

JAPAN – Taishi Moto 20 (#104), Taisei Nagasaki 16 (#159), Rintaro Nakano 21 (#158)

MEXICO – Carlos Astiazaran 20 (#114), Gerardo Gomez 20 (#167), Eduardo Derbez 20 (#637)

MOROCCO – Adam Bresnu 21 (#86), Alexandre El Khomri 15 (#788), Hugo Mazen Trommetter 21 (#553)

NETHERLANDS – Guus Lafeber 17 (#289), Benjamin Reuter 22 (#90), Nevill Ruiter 23 (#265)

NEW ZEALAND – Cooper Moore 17 (#168), Zackary Swanwick 19 (#75), Robby Turnbull 18 (#306)

NORWAY – Emil Herstad 18 (#969), Michael Mjaaseth 22 (#21), Joachim Larsen 21 (#726),

PANAMA – Raul Carbonell 26 (#208), Miguel Ordoñez 41 (#410), Omar Tejeira 35 (#89)

PARAGUAY – Benjamin Fernandez 20 (#211), Franco Fernandez 18 (#629), Erich Fortlage 19 (#173)

SINGAPORE – Brayden Lee 18 (#305), Troy Storm 16 (#385), Hiroshi Tai 23 (#61)

SOUTH AFRICA – Charl Barnard 19 (#684), Daniel Bennett 20 (#24), Christiaan Maas 22 (#6)

SPAIN – Alejandro De C. Piera 20 (#112), Álvaro P. Roman 20 (#293), Sergio J. Romero 20 (#63)

SWEDEN – Alfons Bondesson 22 (#88), Simon Hovdal 20 (#197), Filip Fahlberg Johnsson 19 (#108)

THAILAND – Arsit Areephun 22 (#1,566), Pongsapak Laopakdee 20 (#56), Parin Sarasmut 17 (#212)

USA – Mason Howell 18 (#127), Preston Stout 21 (#4), Ethan Fang 20 (#3)

VIETNAM – Ho Anh Huy 15 (#334), Nguyen Anh Minh 18 (#42), Nguyen Duc Son 18 (#530)

ZIMBABWE – Darlington Chikanyambidze 19 (#715), Munesu Chimhini 14 (#611), Elton Zulu 26 (#816)

20 of the above listed players competed in the 2023 WATC at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in U.A.E.

Venue

The 2025 WATC is being played at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore.

Tanah Merah opened in 1984 and has two championship courses, the Garden Course and Tampines Course. The Tampines is being used this week.

The Club has staged many international events, including the Johnnie Walker Classic, Lexus Cup, HSBC Women’s Champions, the Asian Tour’s International Series Singapore (ISS) and the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open.

This week it will be set up to play to 7,394 yards and will have a par of 72.

Hole                1           2          3           4          5          6           7          8          9         Total
Par                  4           4          4           3          5           3          4          5          4           36
Yards            385       475      444      214       636      173      433       569      334       3663

Hole               10         11         12         13        14        15        16        17        18        Total
Par                 5            4            4          4          3          4           3          4         5           36
Yards            598       420      435       397      195       507       156      434      589      3,731

2023 WATC

USA (-36) won the 33rd Men’s World Amateur Team Championship by 11-shots at Abu Dhabi G.C. in U.A.E.

The team finished the event off in style compiling the low round of the Championship; a 132 (-12), helped in no small part by a 64 from David FORD, the second lowest round in the tournament’s history.

img_7011-1

Team USA – Nick Dunlap, David Ford & Gordon Sargent (Photo: IGF)

NORWAY and AUSTRALIA (-25) tied for 2nd place with FRANCE (-24) 4th and NEW ZEALAND and ITALY (-23) tied 5th. It was Norway’s best ever finish in their 26 appearances to date.

IRELAND (-20) finished strongly to rise 11 places on the final day and secure a tied 8th finish.

ENGLAND (-14) finished tied 15th, WALES (-13) tied 17th and SCOTLAND (-10) tied 21st.

32 of the 36 teams finished the 72 holes with an under par score.

img_7007

Team Results (Photo: IGF / Golf Genius)

Western Amateur champion Kazuma KOBORI (NZL) took the low Individual title with a 272 (-16) total. He rose eight places to secure the honour with a fine 65 (-7) in the final round.

Reigning U.S. Amateur champion Nick DUNLAP (USA) finished 2nd on -15 with France’s Bastien AMAT and Norway’s Herman WIBE SEKNE -14 one shot further back.

img_7009

Leading Individual Results (Photo: IGF / Golf Genius)

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) -11 produced the best performance by a GB&I player finishing tied 8th.

Connor GRAHAM (SCO) -10 again impressed at the highest level with a very consistent performance to finish tied 14th.

Five other GB&I players finished under par for the Championship. Tyler WEAVER (ENG) -8 was tied 17th, Tomi BOWEN (WAL) -6 tied 30th, Alex MAGUIRE (IRL), who came through the standings with a final day 65, -5 tied 36th, Jack BIGHAM (ENG) -3 tied 43rd and Liam NOLAN (IRL) -2 tied 50th.

img_7010

GB&I Individual Results (Photo: IGF / Golf Genius)

Historic Results

GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND (GB&I) have won the Eisenhower Trophy four times but only SCOTLAND have won it in their own right since each of the home nations started to compete separately.

The competion holds a special place in the story of English amateur Peter MCEVOY. He participated in the winning GB&I team in 1988, he also ‘won’ the Individual (284) that year and he went on to captain the GB&I team that won it again in 1998. A hat trick of Eisenhower Trophy achievements that may prove difficult for anyone else to match.

Here are the historic Men’s WATC results: –

Future WATC Events

The International Golf Federation has confirmed the following future venues for the WATC: –

35th – 2027 – Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Morocco

36th – 2029 – Fontana G.C., Austria

ME.

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

Men’s Home Internationals – 2025 Preview & Results

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All Graphics, Tables and Scoring shown below are shared courtesy of England Golf and Golf Genius.

Friday 8th August 2025

ENGLAND won the 2025 Men’s Home Internationals completing a clean sweep against Wales on the final day.

England Men’s Team (Photo: England Golf)

Individual Performances

Eliot BAKER (ENG), Alexander FARMER (SCO), Caolan BURFORD (WAL) and Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) were the leading performers for each home nation at Woodhall Spa G.C.

Day 3

IRELAND 6.5 – 5.5 SCOTLAND

IRELAND narrowly beat SCOTLAND thanks to a slightly better performance in the morning Foursomes. David HOWARD picked up two wins for the Irish on Day 3 whilst Alexander FARMER and Ross LAIRD completed an excellent competition for the Scots with strong contributions.

ENGLAND 6.5 – 5.5 WALES

ENGLAND were made to work hard for their final win by WALES who were rewarded for their efforts by securing 3rd position in the final standings. Eliot BAKER, Tom OSBORNE and Jamie VAN WYK were the key men for the hosts in their final game whilst Caolan BURFORD and Tomi BOWEN finished off a strong week with another good points haul for the Welsh.

Click here to view the – Men’s and Women’s Home Internationals Scores

ME.

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Thursday 7th August 2025

Day 2 

ENGLAND now have one hand on the Men’s Raymond Trophy after securing their second win of the competition. WALES will need to beat them on Day 3 by four or more points to cause an upset. IRELAND will hope to avoid defeat to SCOTLAND tomorrow to avoid a whitewash.

WALES 4.5 – 7.5 SCOTLAND

Unbeaten trio Alexander FARMER (SCO), Andrew DAVIDSON (SCO) and Jack MCDONALD (SCO) led Scotland to a comfortable win against Ireland. Ioan ROWE (WAL) ended Ross LAIRD‘s (SCO) three match unbeaten run but four other tight games ultimately went against the Welsh.  

ENGLAND 8.0 – 4.0 IRELAND

After the morning Foursomes were halved England secured victory over Ireland with a dominant Singles series. Seb CAVE, Eliot BAKER and Jake SOWDEN all picked up to wins for the English on Day 2. There was a surprisingly big win for Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) against his potential Walker Cup teammate Dominic CLEMONS (ENG). Tiernan is now four wins from four at Woodhall Spa.

ME.

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Wednesday 6th August 2025

Day 1

ENGLAND and WALES got off to winning starts in this year’s Men’s Home Internationals with narrow victories over SCOTLAND and IRELAND respectively.

IRELAND 5.5 – 6.5 WALES 

Tomi BOWEN (WAL) and Caolan BURFORD (WAL) led Wales to a welcome victory over Ireland for whom Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) was unbeaten.

ENGLAND 7.0 – 5.0 SCOTLAND

Jamie VAN WYK (ENG) picked up two wins and SEB CAVE (ENG) a win and a half for England as they overcame Scotland where an unbeaten Ross LAIRD (SCO) put up the most resistance.

ME.

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1st August 2025

This year’s Men’s Home Internationals will be played at Woodhall Spa G.C. in Lincolnshire, England on 6th-8th August 2025.

IRELAND will be defending the Raymond Trophy which they won at Murcar Links in Scotland last year.

This article will focus on the Men’s Home Internationals and will be updated with score links and daily reports once the competition starts.

Combined Event

In 2022 The R&A and four Home Golf Unions decided to combine the Women’s and Men’s Home Internationals into one mixed event.

The R&A first introduced this type of change in August 2021 when they took control of and combined both the Boys’ and Girls’ Home Internationals and Senior Men’s and Women’s Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa.

Whilst the mixed R&A Women’s and Men’s Home Internationals are now given primary importance the International Trophy and Raymond Trophy are still presented to the leading country in the women’s and men’s matches.

The R&A stepped back from running all of the Home Internationals in 2024 returning their organisation to each host nation. 

Hopefully this means that we can now look to remove the mixed element completely and return to the separate men’s and women’s competitions which have a lot of history and tradition and in my opinion should not have been interfered with.

2025 Men’s Players

The four national golf unions have selected the following players to represent their countries this year. I have added their World Amateur Golf Rankings as at 30th July 2024 in brackets.

ENGLAND  
Eliot BAKER – Tiverton, 22 (108)
Ben BOLTON – Enville, 18 (355)
Seb CAVE – Coxmoor, 21 (133)
Dominic CLEMONS – Gog Magog, 23 (39)
Lewy HAYWARD – Marlborough,19 (705)
Tom OSBORNE – Lindrick, 23 (162)
Jake SOWDEN – The Oaks, 21 (1,199)
Freddie TURNELL – Burnham & Berrow, 20 (129)
Jamie VAN WYK – Royal Lytham & St. Annes, 24 (996)

Tyler Weaver (11), Luke Poulter (32), Charlie Forster (52), Jack Bigham (54), Matthew Dodd-Berry (ENG) (113), Harley Smith (127), Sam Easterbrook (158), Zach Little (217) and Daniel Hayes (244) are WAGR top 250 English players not competing. 

IRELAND 
Colm CAMPBELL – Warrenpoint (980)
John DOYLE – Fota Island (554)
Keith EGAN – Carton House (1,165)
Stuart GREHAN – County Louth (495)
Thomas HIGGINS – Roscommon (414)
David HOWARD – Fota Island (1,778)
Jonathan KEANE – Lahinch (4,506)
Seán KEELING – Roganstown (330)
Gavin TIERNAN – County Louth (530)

Caolan Rafferty (151) and Matthew McClean (211) are are WAGR top 250 Irish players not competing.

SCOTLAND 
Andrew DAVIDSON – Crail (337)
Alexander FARMER – Kilmacolm (1,184)
Ross LAIRD – Glenbervie (725)
Jack MCDONALD – Roxburghe (1,131)
Dominic MCGLINCHEY – Renaissance (1,273)
Sam MUKHERJEE – Gullane (1,718)
Gregor TAIT – Aldeburgh (763)
Chris ROBB – Meldrum House (N/R – Re-instated Amateur)
James WOOD – Bathgate (1,138)

Cameron Adam (25), Connor Graham (45) and U.S.-based Niall Shiels Donegan (94) are WAGR top 250 Scottish players not competing.

WALES
Tom BASTOW – Isle of Purbeck (871)
Tomi BOWEN – Welshpool (250)
Caolan BURFORD – Rhuddlan (1,437)
Sean DAVID – Pyle & Kenfig (2,381)
Jamie DEAN – Carmarthen (2,076)
Alex JAMES – Royal Lytham & St. Annes (2,611)
Tom MATTHEWS – Aldersley Green (1,064)
Iestyn MCAVOY – Glynhir (916)
Ioan ROWE – Royal Porthcawl (4,723)

U.S.-based Jonathan Bale (126) and Matt Roberts (386), who has recently stepped back from the amateur game, are highly WAGR-ranked players missing for Wales.

Since the team selections were announced the English, Scottish and Welsh Closed Amateur Championships have been completed. As is becoming the norm none of the three 2025 champions were selected by their countries – in the last 3 years just one of the nine champions has played in the Home Internationals.

Venue – Woodhall Spa Golf Club

The Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa is one of the world’s leading heathland courses, having recently benefitted from a major renovation be leading architect Tom Doak.

The course, which was originally designed by Harry Vardon, is located on an undulating piece of land and is memorable for it’s superb par 3’s, deep bunkers and patches of gorse and heather.

It plays to 7,024 yards off the Blue Tees and a par of 73. It has a Course Rating of 75.3 and a Slope Rating of 152.

Match Format

Following the move to a combined Home Internationals event the men’s teams were reduced from 11 to 9 players.

Each country plays every other team over the three competition days.

Men’s matches now consist of 4 foursomes and 8 singles. This is 1 foursomes and 2 singles less than the historic format.

One point is awarded for a win in each foursomes and singles with a half point for a tied match. Each team will be awarded one match point for winning an overall match and a half point for a tie.

The final team positions are determined according to the highest number of match points earned. Ties are broken by reviewing the total number of individual game points.

The winning team receives the Raymond Trophy.  

The Raymond Trophy

The Men’s Home Internationals were first played in 1932 and this year’s staging will be the 84th playing of this prestigious event.

Since 1952 the winning team has received The Raymond Trophy which is named after its donor, the late Raymond Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer was an English administrator, golfer and team captain who was very prominent in the amateur game in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

In the 83 competitions played to date England have won 40, Scotland 21, Ireland 14 and Wales 1. The remaining 7 were tied before it was decided that ties would be resolved by using game points.

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The Raymond Trophy (Photo: Ayrshire Golf Blog)

2025 Weather Forecast (as at 1st August 2025)

The forecast is currently looking very good for the three competition days: –

Wed. 6th Aug. – Sunny / Wind 9 mph W / Temp. Min 13º, Max 22º
Thurs. 7th Aug. – Sunny Intervals / Wind 14 mph SW / Temp. Min 13º, Max 24º
Fri. 8th Aug. – Sunny / Wind 11 mph W / Temp. Min 12º, Max 24º

2024 R&A Men’s Home Internationals

Ireland won the Raymond Trophy at the 2024 Men’s Home Internationals winning all three of their games and accumulating 25.5 points at Murcar Links. 

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Ireland Women and Men’s Mixed Team (Photo: Chris Young / Scottish Golf)

Each match consisted of four morning Foursomes and eight afternoon Singles.

Screenshot 2024-08-09 at 20.58.03

Click here to view the detailed – Men’s Home Internationals Results 

Historic Results

Click here to view all of the – Men’s Home Internationals Historic Results

ME.

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

The St. Andrews Trophy – 2025 Preview & Results

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Friday 25th July 2025

Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) won The 35th St. Andrews Trophy match against Continent of Europe by 16.5-8.5 points at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro in Madrid, Spain.

GB&I now have 27 wins in the 35 matches played with Europe having seven and there being one tie in 2016.

Only requiring 1.5 points from the nine Singles played in the final session Tyler WEAVER (ENG) and Luke POULTER (ENG) wasted no time in securing victory for GB&I with wins in the opening two games.

Commenting afterwards an elated GB&I captain Dean Robertson said “The team produced phenomenal golf. To win all four series was more than my expectations. The teamwork was magical, preparation great and I couldn’t be more proud of them all. We’ll enjoy this, reflect, and then we’ll build on this for our trip across the Atlantic.”

The GB&I Team (Photo: Aitor Alcalde / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)

Cameron ADAM (SCO) was the star man for GB&I winning all four of his games. Luke POULTER (ENG), Eliot BAKER (ENG) and Tyler WEAVER (ENG) also strongly contributed to GB&I’s victory.

Claes THRANE BORREGAARD (DEN), Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) and Hugo LE GOFF (FRA) all won both of their singles, putting up the most resistance for a well beaten Continent of Europe team.

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

Day 2 PM Singles

GB&I ensured they would win all four sessions by taking the Day 2 afternoon Singles series 5.0-4.0.

Play commenced at 1.30pm CEST (12.30am BST) with all nine players on both sides competing.

Day 2 Singles Results (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Tyler WEAVER (ENG) maintained his unbeaten record in this year’s match with a comprehensive 6&5 victory over Filip JAKUBČÍK (CZH) who handed the initiative to Weaver early on and was simply not in the form to ever recover it.

Weaver v. Jakubčík Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

A victorious Luke POULTER (ENG) and Gunnlauger Arni SVEINSSON (ISL) halved both par 5’s on the back nine with eagles. On the 18th Poulter holed a long bunker shot to follow Sveinsson in after he had holed a mammoth put before him.

Poulter v. SveinssonScoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER), who is one of the few European players who can leave Spain with his head held high, beat the previously unbeaten Connor GRAHAM (SCO) in some style in Game 3 with another solid performance.

Graham v. Wiedemeyer Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Hugo LE GOFF (FRA), who had trailed for most of the round, chose the optimum time to take the lead – the 18th green – as he robbed Charlie FORSTER (ENG) of a first singles win.

Forster v. Le Goff Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Norway’s Claes Thrane BORREGAARD took advantage of a poor start by Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) and despite a valiant fight back by the Gog Magog member was able to hold on for a 1 Hole victory. Borregaard’s three consecutive birdies on 13, 14 and 15 proved crucial in the end.

Clemons v. Borregaard Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Eliot BAKER (ENG) battled impressively to secure his win against home player Sergio JIMENEZ ROMERO. Birdies on the 16th and 18th holes enabled the Devonian to complete an unbeaten record and notably deliver two singles wins.

Baker v. Jimenez Romero Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) ensured every member of the GB&I team won a game in this year’s St. Andrews Trophy match with a solid 3&2 win against Alfons BONDESSON (SWE). Tiernan led from the first hole and never looked like relinquishing his point throughout.

Tiernan v. Bondesson Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

A more consistent Richard TEDER (EST), determined to secure his first win over the match, got the better of Stuart GREHAN (IRL) by 2&1 in Game 8.

Grehan v. Teder Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Cameron ADAM (SCO) completed a four-out-of-four win record for GB&I with an error free performance against Kristian HJORT BRESSUM (DEN) who will be rueing his play around the turn where he essentially handed the win to the in-form Scotsman.

Adam v. Hjort Bressum Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Day 2 AM Foursomes

GB&I matched their Foursomes performance of yesterday winning the Day 2 series 3.5-0.5.

Trailing 11.5-4.5 after this session any hope Continent of Europe had of retaining the trophy they won with ease last year at Royal Porthcawl was effectively ended.

Play on Friday started at 8.30am CEST (7.30am BST) at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro on the outskirts of Madrid.

GB&I captain Dean Robertson understandably made no changes to his successful Day 1 pairings with Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) again left out.

Sergio JIMENEZ ROMERO (ESP) was dropped by captain Carlos de Corral from the Continent of Europe’s Foursomes line up. De Corral also chose to tweak his pairings with Gunnlauger Arni SVEINSSON (ISL) joining Filip JAKUBČÍK (CZH) and new-boy Alfons BONDESSON (SWE) paired with Hugo LE GOFF (FRA).

Day 2 Foursomes Results (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Tyler WEAVER (ENG) & Connor GRAHAM (SCO) finally overcame Gunnlauger Arni SVEINSSON (ISL) & Filip JAKUBČÍK (CZH) on the 18th hole in what was generally a high class match with plenty of birdies.

Weaver & Graham v. Jakubčík & Sveinsson Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

A strong finish from Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) & Richard TEDER (EST) nearly helped them successfully turnaround their game against Luke POULTER & Charlie FORSTER but the English pair were able to salvage a good half with a crucial birdie on the par 5 18th.

Poulter & Forster v. Wiedemeyer & Teder Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Six birdies from Eliot BAKER (ENG) & Stuart GREHAN (IRL) ensured they won Game 3 against Hugo LE GOFF (FRA) & Alfons BONDESSON (SWE) by 2 Holes albeit the final one on the 18th was much needed to close this one out.

Baker & Grehan v. Le Goff & Bondesson Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Cameron ADAM (SCO) & Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) beat the out of sorts Danish pairing of Kristian HJORT BRESSUM & Claes THRANE BORREGAARD in the final morning game. Whilst Adam & Clemons were unable to match the closing birdie that the three GB&I pairings all achieved ahead of them they had already done enough to earn the final Foursomes point.

Adam & Clemons v. Hjort Bressum & Borregaard Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

ME.

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Thursday 24th July 2025

Day 1 PM Singles

GB&I extended their lead to four points after winning the Day 1 afternoon Singles series 4.5-3.5.

Play started at 1.30pm CEST (12.30am BST) with Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) and Kristian HJORT BRESSUM (DEN) left out of the GB&I and Continent of Europe Singles line-ups by the two captains, Dean Robertson and Carlos de Corral.

Day 1 Singles Results (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Tyler WEAVER (ENG), who was 4Up with eight holes to play, will be disappointed not to have brought home a full point for GB&I in his game against debutant Alfons BONDESSON (SWE). To his credit Bondesson fought back well and was able to to take advantage of some poor play on the back nine from the Englishman.

Weaver v. Bondesson Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

After a slow start Luke POULTER (ENG) produced six birdies to overcome European Amateur champion Filip JAKUBČÍK (CZH) who had an up-and-down day in Madrid. This was Poulter’s second point of the day and the Florida Gator is certainly making a positive impression.

Poulter v. Jakubčík Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Connor GRAHAM (SCO) proved to be too good for Spain’s Sergio JIMENEZ ROMERO in Game 3. The Texas Tech rising sophomore strung five birdies together on the front nine to take control of this encounter and despite a few hiccups coming home secured a solid 3&1 win.

Graham v. Jimenez Romero Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

France’s Hugo LE GOFF, winner of the 2025 Lytham Trophy, is a quality player and far from the ideal opponent for Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) to be drawn against on his GB&I debut. Le Goff was four under par with no bogeys recorded for the 17 holes he required to complete a 2&1 win for the Continent’s first win of the afternoon.

Tiernan v. Le Goff Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Three birdies in a row from the 12th helped Eliot BAKER (ENG) run out a 4&3 winner against Gunnlaugur Arni SVEINSSON (ISL) who was far to inconsistent in his play to gain any momentum in this particular game.

Baker v. Sveinsson Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Claes THRANE BORREGAARD (DEN) edged a close match against Charlie FORSTER (ENG) with a clutch birdie on the par 5 18th.

Foster v. Borregaard Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Cameron ADAM (SCO) enjoyed a fast start to his match against Richard TEDER (EST) with four birdies in their opening six holes. Playing with confidence after his great summer the Northwestern man secured a comfortable 4&3 win.

Adam v. Teder Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) posted an eagle and three birdies in an error free performance that saw him overcome re-instated amateur Stuart GREHAN (IRL) by 3&2 in the final game of the day.

Grehan v. Wiedemeyer Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Day 1 AM Foursomes

GB&I made a good start to The 35th St. Andrews Trophy match winning the morning Foursomes series 3.5-0.5 in Madrid, Spain.

Play started at 8.30am CEST (7.30am BST) at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro with Gavin TIERNAN (IRL) and Alfons BONDESSON (ESP) left out of the Foursomes line-ups by the two captains, Dean Robertson and Carlos de Corral.

Day 1 Foursomes Results (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

The strong pairing of Tyler WEAVER (ENG) & Connor GRAHAM (SCO) delivered a 2&1 win for GB&I against Sergio JIMENEZ ROMERO (ESP) & Filip JACUBČÍK (CZH) in Game 1. Having taken a 3Up lead after seven holes the Anglo-Scottish pair saw the match out with relative ease.

Weaver & Graham v. Jimenez Romero & Jakubčík Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Luke POULTER (ENG) & Charlie FORSTER (ENG) delivered six birdies on route to a 2&1 victory against Gunnlaugur Arni SVEINSSON (ISL) & Hugo LE GOFF (FRA) who did little wrong in a competitive encounter.

Poulter & Forster v. Sveinsson & Le Goff Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

A poor finish from Stuart GREHAN (IRL) & Eliot BAKER (ENG), where they dropped two shots in the closing three holes and most importantly a critical one on the par 5 18th, handed a half to the Danish pair Claes THRANE BORREGAARD & Kristian HJORT BRESSUM in Game 3.

Grehan & Baker & Borregaard & BressumScoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

Cameron ADAM (SCO) & Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) made up for GB&I’s disappointment in the preceeding game by producing a superb birdie on the 18th hole to secure a 1 Hole win against Tim WIEDEMEYER (GER) and Richard TEDER (EST) who fought back well from a sloppy front nine.

Adam & Clemons v. Wiedemeyer & Teder Scoreboard (Graphic: EGA / Golfbox)

ME.

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22nd July 2025

The 35th St. Andrews Trophy match will be contested on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th July at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro in Madrid, Spain.

This amateur men’s team match has been played biennially between Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) and the Continent of Europe since 1956.

It was originally established by The R&A to give more European players the chance to play at the highest level and GB&I players more team match play experience for the Walker Cup which is held in alternate years with this competition.

Due to changes being made to the international golf calendar the 2025 match unusually takes place only a year after the last one and in the same year as the Walker Cup.

The St. Andrews Trophy was put forward for the match by the Royal and Ancient G.C. of St. Andrews in 1963.

2025 Teams

Each team has nine players.

The golfing calendar is extremely busy at this time of year and therefore player availability can be impacted by other opportunities. Recent history shows that this is a particular issue on the Continent of Europe’s side albeit this year they appear to have a strong side out.

Great Britain & Ireland Team

The R&A Selection Committee, including Captain Dean Robertson (Scotland), 55, announced their nine man team on 4th July.

With the Walker Cup match coming up in September Robertson, who is Head of Golf at the University of Stirling, will be looking for a victory to instil some confidence in his team as well as increasing the chances of him remaining in post beyond the match in Cypress Point.

GB&I’s 2025 team will consist of six new and three returning players.

Each player’s nationality, current WAGR, selection route and event history is shown below.

Cameron ADAM (21) – Scotland, #29, WAGR Top 5 (Debut, 2025)

Eliot BAKER (22) – England, #121, Captain’s Pick (Debut, 2025)

Dominic CLEMONS (23) – England, #44, WAGR Top 5 (2nd Appearance, 2024, ’25)

Charlie FORSTER (22) – England, #57, Captain’s Pick (2nd Appearance, 2024, ’25)

Connor GRAHAM (18) – Scotland, #40, WAGR Top 5 (2nd Appearance, 2024, ’25)

Stuart GREHAN (32) – Ireland, #627, Captain’s Pick (2nd Appearance, 2016, ’25)

Luke POULTER (21) – England, #41, Captain’s Pick* (Debut, 2025)

Gavin TIERNAN (19) – Ireland, #583, Captain’s Pick (Debut, 2025)

Tyler WEAVER (20) – England, #14, WAGR Top 5 (Debut, 2025)

* Luke Poulter was the 5th highest ranked GB&I player on WAGR on 2nd July 2025 but did not meet the minimum divisor of 18 proviso so this selection spot was transferred over to an additional Captain’s pick.

Three GB&I players in the WAGR Top 100 were not selected, namely, Jack BIGHAM (England) #54. Matthew DODD-BERRY (England) #96 and Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (Scotland) #97.

Great Britain & Ireland Team (Graphic: RFEG)

Continent of Europe

Carlos de Corral (Spain), 45, took over the captaincy of the Continent of Europe team in 2024, winning his first game in charge at Royal Porthcawl.

De Corral is a very experienced team captain leading Spanish teams on numerous occasions. He is the Sports Director at the Madrid Golf Federation and will be very well versed on the host course.

His team was announced by the European Golf Association (EGA) on 24th June (six players in First Wave) and 17th July (three players after the European Amateur Championship).

Like GB&I, Europe’s team will consist of six new and three returning players this year.

Each player’s nationality, current WAGR, selection route and event history is shown below.

Alfons BONDESSON – Sweden, #90, First Wave (Debut, 2025)

Kristian HJORT BRESSUM – Denmark, #71, Second Wave (Debut, 2025)

Filip JACUBČÍK– Czech Republic, #6, Second Wave (2nd Appearance, 2024, ’25)

Sergio JIMENEZ ROMERO – Spain, #74, First Wave (Debut, 2025)

Hugo LE GOFF – France, #55, First Wave (Debut, 2025)

Gunnlaugur Arni SVEINSSON – Iceland, #15, First Wave (Debut, 2025)

Richard TEDER – Estonia, #80, Second Wave (2nd Appearance, 2024, ’25)

Claes Thrane BORREGAARD – Denmark, #95, First Wave (Debut, 2025)

Tim WIEDEMEYER – Germany, #35, First Wave (2nd Appearance, 2024, ’25)

The leading European players, according to WAGR Top 100, who are not playing this year are Michael MJAASETH (Denmark) #23, Daniel SVARD (Sweden) #52, Peer WERNICKE (Germany) #63, Benjamin REUTER (Netherlands) #65, Wolfgang GLAWE (GER) #67 and Lev GRINBERG (Ukraine) #91.

It is perhaps a little surprising that no Italians have been selected given that their 6-man team won the European Men’s Amateur Team Championship two weeks ago in Killarney, beating Denmark in the Final.

Continent of Europe Team (Photo: RFEG)

Match Format 

The St. Andrews Trophy is played over two days and consists of a number of match play foursomes and singles games.

Thursday 25th July AM – Foursomes x 4
Thursday 25th July PM – Singles x 8
Friday 26th July AM – Foursomes x 4
Friday 26th July PM – Singles x 9

The additional Singles game on Day 2 was introduced in 2016.

With a maximum total of 25 points available and one point awarded for each match a team will be required to accumulate 13 points to secure an outright victory.

As the holders Continent of Europe can retain the Trophy by reaching 12.5 points.

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The St. Andrews Trophy (Photo: Suomen Golfliitto / Finnish Golf Union)

Venue – Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro

Founded in 1895 Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro is one of Spain’s most prestigious clubs and has hosted many national and international amateur and professional tournaments over the years.

It has hosted the Spanish Open 15 times and the Madrid Open 26 times.

The Club has also hosted the Eisenhower Trophy, the Bonallack Trophy, the European Amateur Championship and the European Mid-Amateur Championship. The latter event in 2017 was won by the Continent of Europe’s team captain Carlos de Corral.

The Club enjoys two 18 holes, The Arriba (Upper) and The Abajo (Lower), both laid out on rolling tree lined terrain. The Arriba, which is being used this week, is generally considered the weaker of the two course. It plays to around 7,042 yards and a par of 72.

This will be the first time that the St. Andrews Trophy match has been played in Spain since 1990 when GB&I won at El Saler.

Weather Forecast – as at 3.00pm on Tuesday 22nd July 2025

The weather forecast for Madrid looks excellent this week: –

Thur 24th July – Sunny. Wind 13mph NE. Temp. Max. 15°C / Min. 30°C.
Fri 25th July – Sunny. Wind 11mph NE. Temp. Max. 16°C / Min. 30°C.

2024 Match – Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Wales

Continent of Europe won the 34th St. Andrews Trophy match against Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) at Royal Porthcawl G.C. by 16.0-9.0.

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Continent of Europe (Photo: Cameron Smith / R&A / R&A via Getty Images)

It was Europe’s sixth win in total, only their second away victory and their biggest ever surpassing their 15.5-9.5 triumph in Finland in 2018.

Luis MASAVEU (ESP) from the Continent of Europe was the only player to complete a 100% 4-from-4 record over the two days. His compatriot Pablo EREÑO PÉREZ was also undefeated, winning all three of the games he was selected for.

GB&I’s Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) and Connor GRAHAM (SCO) won both of their Singles and finished the match with three wins in total.

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

Past Results

In the 34 encounters to date GB&I have won the St. Andrews Trophy 26 times.

Europe have seven wins to their name albeit four of them have come recently in 2010, 2012, 2018 and 2024.

The match in 2016 was tied for the first time  with GB&I, who were the trophy holders, retaining the trophy.

Click here to view a summary of the – Historic St. Andrews Trophy Results

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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

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