U.S. Amateur Championship – 2026 Preview & Results

Posted on 06/08/2026 by Golf Bible

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.

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

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U.S. Amateur Championship – 2025 Preview & Results

Posted on 05/08/2025 by Golf Bible

Sunday 17th August 2025

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

Mason Howell (Photo: Chris Keane / USGA)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Saturday 16th August 2025

Match Play Semi-Finals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Friday 15th August 2025

Match Play Quarter Finals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Thursday 14th August 2025

Match Play Round of 16

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

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

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

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

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

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

Match Play Round of 32

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the full Round of 32 results: –

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

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Wednesday 13th August 2025

Match Play Round of 64

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the full Round of 64 results: –

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

Stroke Play Qualifying Play-Off

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

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

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

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

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Tuesday 12th August 2025

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Monday 11th August 2025

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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9th August 2025

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

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

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

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

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7th August 2025

Stroke Play Qualifying Tee Times

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

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

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

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5th August 2025

Introduction

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

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

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

2025 Field

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Format / Schedule

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

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

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

Host Courses

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

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

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

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

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

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

Weather Forecast (as at 10th August 2024)

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

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

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

Prizes

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

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

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

and unofficially

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

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

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

US Amateur Information

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

Spectators / Television Coverage

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

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

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

2024 U.S. Amateur Championship

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

U.S. Amateur Championship History

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

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

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

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

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: USGA)

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

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

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

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

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

ME.

U.S. Amateur Championship – 2024 Preview & Results

Posted on 07/08/2024 by Golf Bible

18th August 2024

Match Play – Final

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ME.

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Match Play – Semi-Finals

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

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

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

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

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Semi-Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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16th August 2024

Match Play – Round 4 (Quarter Finals)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Quarter Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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15th August 2024 – Afternoon

Match Play – Round 3 (Last 16)

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

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

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

Here are the Last 16 results: –

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Round of 16 Results (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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15th August 2024 – Morning

Match Play – Round 2 (32)

Here are the Round of 32 results: –

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Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ME.

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14th August 2024

Match Play – Round 1 (64)

Here are the Round of 64 results: –

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Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ME.

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14th August 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying – Play-Off

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

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

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

ME.

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13th August 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ME.

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12th August 2024

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ME.

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7th August 2024

Introduction

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

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

2024 Field

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Format / Schedule

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

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

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

Host Courses

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

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

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

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

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

Weather Forecast (as at 7th August 2024)

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

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

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

Prizes

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

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

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

and unofficially

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

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

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

US Amateur Information

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

Spectators / Television Coverage

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

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

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

2023 U.S. Amateur Championship

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

Nick Dunlap with the Havemeyer Trophy (Photo: USGA)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

U.S. Amateur Championship History

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

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

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

ME.

U.S. Amateur Championship – 2023 Preview & Results

Posted on 09/08/2023 by Golf Bible

Sunday 20th August 2023

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

Nick Dunlap with the Haveymeyer Trophy (Photo: USGA)

The match was All-Square at lunch after both players shot 5-under 65’s neither showing any signs of Championship nerves.

Dunlap pulled away on the front nine in the afternoon shooting a 5-under 30. Biridies on the 21st, 22nd and a winning par on the 25th proved to be the pivotal holes. He comfortably saw the game out over the final nine holes.

It was some turnaround for Dunlap who made a near disastrous start to the stroke play qualifying last Monday at Colorado C.C. where he found himself 5-over after seven holes. Eventually he sorted himself out and qualified for the match play in 41st place.

Dunlap, who had already been selected by the USGA for the USA Walker Cup team, extended his outstanding match play record since Spring 2021 to Played 32, Won 30, Lost 2.

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

Dunlap said “This is why I practice. This is why I get up early, just for moments like this. The first tee when they announce your name to the last green whether you win or lose, it’s special just to be a part of the United States Amateur and what it stands for.”

Shipley was gracious in defeat “Nick played great, and he just made a lot of putts on me this afternoon. That’s what it takes to win these things. He has what it takes, obviously, and I just didn’t play my best. I got out-dueled today.”

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MP Final Hole-By-Hole Results (Graphic: USGA)

Dunlap is a rising sophomore at the University of Alabama whilst Shipley is a graduate student at Ohio State University having transferred to Ohio from James Madison University last year.

Both finalists earned spots in the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National and 2024 U.S. Open Championship which will be played at Pinehurst Resort. In addition Dunlap will also receive an exemption into The Open Championship at Royal Troon, subject to remaining an amateur.

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

ME.

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Saturday 19th August 2023

Nick DUNLAP, 19, beat Parker BELL, 19, by 3&2 whilst Neal SHIPLEY, 22, overcame John MARSHALL BUTLER, 21, by 2 &1 in the Semi-Finals of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Cherry Hills C.C.

Shipley was 3Down after 10 holes to Butler before fighting back superbly to win with a conceded birdie on the 17th after his approach finished inches away from the island green hole.

Bell and Butler earn exemptions into the the next two U.S. Amateur Championships.

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MP Semi-Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

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

ME.

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Friday 18th August 2023

USA foursome Nick DUNLAP, 19 and WAGR ranked #9, Parker BELL, 19 and ranked #534, Neal SHIPLEY, 22 and ranked #132 and John MARSHALL BUTLER, 21 and ranked #51, all came through tightly contested Quarter Finals in Denver.

Nick Dunlap has already been selected for the 2023 USA Walker Cup Team but the other three, who were not in the picture before this week, have that carrot now well and truly in front of them.

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MP Quarter Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

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

ME.

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Thursday 17th August 2023

Match Play – Round of 16

The Round of 16 games in the 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship started at 2.00pm MDT (9.00pm BST) at Cherry Hills C.C. Due to darkness the final game in the series had to be completed on Friday morning.

Ten of the 16 players to make it this far were qualifiers with the remainder picking up exemptions from the USGA.

Ben JAMES’ (USA) victory over David FORD (USA) was the most noteworthy and has greatly increased his chances of making this year’s USA Walker Cup team.

Neal SHIPLEY (USA) and Andi XU (CHN) conquerors of Calum Scott and Matt McClean in previous rounds, also overcame another hurdle in the afternoon.

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MP Round of 16 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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

Match Play – Round of 32

Calum SCOTT (SCO) lost on the 20th Hole to Neal SHIPLEY (USA) thus ending GB&I interest in this year’s Championship. This game again demonstrated the narrow margins involved in top class match play golf.

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Calum Scott v. Neal Shipley MP Round of 32 Hole-by-Hole Scores (Graphic: USGA)

The three co-medalists Blades BROWN (USA),16, Sampson ZHENG (CHN), 22, and Jackson BUCHANAN (USA), 21, all lost in the Round of 32.

Andi XU (CHN) and Jose ISLAS (MEX) are now the only non-American players left in the Championship.

Here are the complete Round of 32 results from Cherry Hills C.C.: –

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MP Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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

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Wednesday 16th August 2023

Match Play – Round of 64

Calum SCOTT (SCO) birdied the final two holes to get the better of Bastien AMAT (FRA) by 2 Holes in what was clearly a high quality and very competitive match.

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Calum Scott v. Bastien Amat MP Round of 64 Hole-by-Hole Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Scott is now the last GB&I man standing as Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) fell by 1 Hole to China’s Andi XU in his Round of 64 game.

Calum will be one of just six overseas players left in the Championship heading into the Round of 32.

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Andi Xu v. Matt McClean MP Round of 64 Hole-by-Hole Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Co-medalists Blades BROWN (USA),16, Sampson ZHENG (CHN), 22, and Jackson BUCHANAN (USA), 21, all safely negotiated their first round matches.

In the ‘game of the round’ between two 2023 USA Walker Cup players from Alabama Nick DUNLAP (USA), 19, beat big hitting World No. 1 Gordon SARGENT (USA), 20, by 2&1.

Luke CLANTON (USA), Jackson VAN PARIS (USA), Karl VILIPS (AUS), who was ‘celebrating’ his 22nd birthday, Maxwell MOLDOVAN (USA), Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA) and Dylan MENANTE (USA) joined Sargent amongst the higher profile casualties on Day 1 of the Match Play Stage.

Grant SMITH (USA), 28, is now the only mid-amateur remaining in the Championship after he beat Piercen HUNT (CAN) by 1 Hole.

14 of the 32 matches went to the 18th hole with three of them requiring extra holes too.

Here are the complete Round of 64 results from Cherry Hills C.C.: –

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MP Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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

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Tuesday 15th August 2023

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 2

Calum SCOTT (SCO), 19, was GB&I’s leading qualifier after he produced a round of 68 (-4) at Colorado G.C. which included three consecutive birdies on his back nine. His 139 (-4) total was good enough for a tied 10th finish and the 15th seed.

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL), 30, joined Calum in the MP Stage. His 143 (Ev) total saw the Northern Irishman finish in tied 50th place, taking the 58th seed.

The other GB&I competitors missed the cut by some distance. Barclay BROWN (ENG) bounced back well with a 70 (-2) at Colorado but still finished Qualifying outside the top 100.

GB&I SP Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

16 year old Blades BROWN (USA) became the youngest co-medalist in Championship history after a course record sharing 64 (-8) at Colorado G.C. helped him to secure the Number 1 seeding.

Sampson ZHENG (CHN), 22, and Jackson BUCHANAN (USA), 21, shared medalist honours on 136 (-7) with all three receiving silver medals in recognition of their achievements.

Piercen HUNT (USA), Maxwell FORD (USA), Caleb SURRATT (USA) and Andi XU (CHN) finished one stroke further back on 137 (-6).

As expected the cut fell at 143 (Ev) with the USGA no doubt pleased to see a clean 64 achieve this mark. The Even par match play cut was the joint lowest ever and it was the first time since 2000 that no play-off has been required to finalise the match play field.

The average Round 2 scores were 75.25, +4.25 (Rd 1 75.55, +4.55) at Cherry Hills C.C. and 73.75, +1.75 (Rd 1 75.26, +3.26) at Colorado G.C.

GB&I SP Qualifying Top 10 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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

ME.

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Monday 14th August 2023

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 1

Despite finishing bogey-double bogey on the 8th and 9th holes at Cherry Hills Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) still posted a 71 (-2) in his opening Stroke Play Qualifying round to finish the day in tied 15th place.

Calum SCOTT (SCO) recorded a 71 (Ev) at Cherry Hills to sit tied 45th; a solid foundation to work from tomorrow.

The remaining six GB&I players will require something special to feature in the Match Play Stage after disappointing rounds.

Sampson ZHENG (CHN) leads Qualifying after a 66 (-6) at Colorado G.C. Ben JAMES (USA) and Riggs JOHNSTON (-5) were both one shot shy of him at the same course on Day 1.

After 18 holes 44 players are on -1 or better and 74 players are on Ev par or better which suggests tomorrow’s top 64 cut will fall on par (143) if playing conditions remain broadly the same.

The average Round 1 scores, taking into account the play of all 312 competitors, were 75.55, +4.55 at Cherry Hills C.C. and 75.26, +3.26 at Colorado G.C.

GB&I SP Qualifying Round 1 Scores / Round 2 Tee Times (Graphic: USGA)

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

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11th August 2023

Here are the Stroke Play Qualifying tee times (MDT) for the eight GB&I players who are competing: –

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) – 7.55am (10-CH) / 1.25pm (1-CGC)
Barclay BROWN (ENG) – 1.03pm (10-CH) / 7.33am (1-CGC)
John GOUGH (ENG) – 1.03pm (10-CH) / 7.33am (1-CGC)
Hugh FOLEY (IRL) – 1.25pm (1-CH) / 7.55am (10-CGC)
Jonathan BALE (WAL) – 1.58pm (10-CH) / 8.28am (1-CGC)
Conor GOUGH (ENG) – 1.58pm (10-CGC) / 8.28am (1-CH)
Mark POWER (IRL) – 1.58pm (10-CGC) / 8.28am (1-CH)
Calum SCOTT (SCO) – 2.20pm (10-CH) / 8.50am (1-CGC)

CH – Cherry Hills G.C. / CGC – Colorado Golf Club

Denver is seven hours behind Great Britain & Ireland.

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Tee Times

ME.

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9th August 2023 (Updated 11th August 2023)

Introduction

The 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship is being played at Cherry Hills Country Club and Colorado Golf Club, near Denver in Colorado.

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 with more information as it becomes available and daily reports once play gets underway.

2023 Field

8,253 entries, a record, were received by the USGA for this year’s Championship.

312 players, who were either exempt or who came through pre-qualifying, from 23 different countries will be competing.

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

91 qualifying events, all played over 36 holes, were staged between 26th June and 25th July to make up the rest of the field. Click here to view all of the – 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifying Results.

The youngest player is Sohan Patel (USA) who is 14 years old and the oldest Gene Elliott (USA) who is 61.

The USGA has already selected Nick DUNLAP 19, David FORD 20, Gordon SARGENT 20, Caleb SURRATT 19 and Michael THORBJORNSEN* 21 to it’s 2023 USA Walker Cup team and all of them are playing in the Championship. The remainder of the USA team will be announced after the Final is completed on Sunday.

*On 9th August 2023 Thorbjornsen withdrew from the U.S. Amateur and the forthcoming Walker Cup match with a stress fracture in his back.

Christo LAMPRECHT (RSA), the Amateur champion, is not competing this week. He has recently undergone eye surgery and is recuperating at home in South Africa.

There are eight Great British & Irish (GB&I) players in the 2023 field. They are: –

Jonathan BALE (WAL) 35 – Qualifier: Rose Creek G.C., Oklahoma on 17th July 2023
Barclay BROWN (ENG) 22 – Exemption: U.S. Open 2023 / Walker Cup GB&I Team 2021 / WAGR Top 50 on 14th June 2023
Conor GOUGH (ENG) 20 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2019
John GOUGH (ENG) 24 – Exemption: WAGR Top 50 on 14th June 2023
Hugh FOLEY (IRL) 26 – Exemption: U.S. Mid-Amateur Runner-Up 2022
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) 30 – Exemption: U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion 2022
Mark POWER (IRL) 23 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2021
Calum SCOTT (SCO) 19 – Exemption: WAGR Top 50 on 14th June 2023

There were 9 GB&I players at Ridgewood last year, 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 14th August – SP Qualifying Round 1 (Cherry Hills and Colorado – 18 holes)
Tuesday 15th August – SP Qualifying Round 2 (Cherry Hills and Colorado – 18 holes)
Wednesday 16th August – SP Qualifying Play-Off / MP Round of 64 (Cherry Hills – 18 holes)
Thursday 17th August – MP Rounds of 32 and 16 (Cherry Hills – 18 holes)
Friday 18th August – MP Quarter Finals (Cherry Hills – 18 holes )
Saturday 19th August – MP Semi-Finals (Cherry Hills – 18 holes)
Sunday 20th August – MP Championship Final (Cherry Hills – 36 holes)

Host Courses

Both courses, which are 23 miles apart, are located South of Denver, the state capital of Colorado.

Cherry Hills Country Club – stroke play and match play
7,405 yards (Red) / Par 71 / Course Rating 75.5 / Slope Rating 145.
Located in Cherry Hills Village it opened in 1923.
Originally deisgned by William Flynn it was restored by Tom Oak and his Renaissance Golf Design team over 10 years from 2008.
It has previously hosted the U.S. Open Championship in 1938 (Ralph Guildhall), 1960 (Arnold Palmer) and 1978 (Andy North), the PGA Championship in 1941 (Vic Ghezzi) and 1985 (Hubert Green), the U.S. Women’s Open Championship in 2005 (Birdie Kim), the U.S. Senior Open Championship in 1993 (Jack Nicklaus). the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1990 (Phil Mickelson) and 2012 (Steven Fox) and the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 1983 (Jay Sigel).

Colorado Golf Club – stroke play co-host
7,560 yards (Black) / Par 72 / Course Rating 76.5 / Slope Rating 152.
Located in Parker it opened in 2007.
Designed by Bill Moore and Ben Crenshaw.
It has already hosted the Senior PGA Championship in 2010 (Tom Lehman), the Solheim Cup in 2013 (Europe) and the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 2019 (Lukas Michel).

Weather Forecast (as at 14th August 2023)

The weather forecast looks ideal for the whole Championship week with sunny conditions and light breezes expected.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 14th August – Sunny / Wind 8mph NE / Temp. Min. 14°C, Max. 26°C.
Tues 15th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 8mph NE / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 32°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 16th August – Sunny / Wind 9mph W / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 34°C.
Thurs 17th August – Sunny / Wind 9mph SE / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 34°C.
Fri 18th August – Sunny / Wind 11mph W / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 34°C.
Sat 19th August – Sunny, PM Showers / Wind 7mph NE / Temp. Min. 18°C, Max. 32°C.
Sun 20th August – Sunny / Wind 11mph E / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 32°C.

Prizes

The 2023 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;
b) An exemption to play in the 2024 U.S. Open which is being staged at Pinehurst Resort No. 2 in North Carolina;

and assuming they remain amateur,
c) An invitation to play in the 2024 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;
d) An exemption to play in the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club;
e) An exemption to play in the 2024 – 2033 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

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

If the champion is American they are also guaranteed a place on the 2023 USA Walker Cup Team that will travel to St. Andrews for the match against Great Britain & Ireland in September.

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).

US Amateur Information

Click here to view the – USGA’S 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.

2022 U.S. Amateur Championship

Sam BENNETT (USA), 22, beat Ben CARR (USA), also 22, by 1-Hole in the 36-hole Final of the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship at The Ridgewood Country Club.

Bennett, who returned to Texas A&M University for a 5th Year in 2022/23 before turning pro in May, said: “It’s a dream come true. It means a lot to hold that trophy. I’m sure I’ll take a peek at all the names, but I know Tiger Woods’ name is on it three times, and to put my name beside him, I know it’s something special.” said the new champion afterwards.

Sam Bennett With The Havemeyer Trophy (Photo: USGA / Grant Halverson)

Sam BENNETT (USA) beat Dylan MENANTE (USA) by 1 Hole in the opening Semi-Final whilst Ben CARR (USA) overcame Derek HITCHNER (USA) by 3&2 in the other.

Three GB&I players, Sam BAIRSTOW (ENG) #44, Josh HILL (ENG) #35 and Mark POWER (IRL) #11, qualified for the MP Stage but sadly all fell at the first hurdle, the Round of 64. Bairstow lost 3&1 to Stewart HAGESTAD (USA) #21, Hill lost 2&1 Campbell KREMER (USA) #30 and Power lost 3&2 to Walker ISLEY (USA) #54.

The SP Qualifying concluded with 68 of the 312 competitors still involved in the Championship. 53 players on +4 and better secured their spots directly in the Round of 64 MP draw. The remaining 15, who all finished with +5 totals, needed to participate in a play-off to determine who would take the final 11 places. Walker Isley was one of the successful players.

Fred BIONDI (BRA), Luke GUTSCHEWSKI (USA), Hugo TOWNSEND (SWE) and Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA), who double bogeyed his final hole, shared medalist honours after recording 36-hole scores of 138 (-3). 2022 is the first time the Championship has produced four co-medalists.

Hugo Townsend, who was born in Ireland and now resides in and represents Sweden, is the son of the 1965 GB&I Walker Cup player Peter Townsend.

Michael Thorbjornsen, Hugo Townsend, Fred Biondi and Luke Gutschewski (Photo: USGA)

Gordon SARGENT (USA) produced the best round of the SP Qualifying competition in Round 2, a bogey free 65 (-5) at Arcola Country Club, to take the 5th seed.

Mark POWER (IRL), who was the leading GB&I player, finished his second round 68 with an eagle to secure an impressive top 10 result.

Power was joined by Englishmen Josh HILL (+3) and Sam BAIRSTOW (+4) in the MP Stage after both produced good second rounds to comfortably make the mark.

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

Click here to view the – 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying and Match Play Results

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2023 will see its 123rd 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.

The last five winners, 2022-2018, have been Sam Bennett (USA), James Piot (USA), Tyler Strafaci (USA), Andy Ogletree (USA) and Viktor Hovland (NOR).

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

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

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

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

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

124th – 12-18 August 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota
125th – 11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California
126th – 10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
127th – 09-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York
128th – TBD
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 – TBD August 2032 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon
133rd – TBD August 2033 – Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington
141st – TBD August 2041 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon
147th – TBD August 2047 – Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
151st – TBD August 2051 – Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

ME.

U.S. Amateur Championship – 2022 Preview & Results

Posted on 12/08/2022 by Golf Bible

21st August 2022

Match Play – Final

Sam BENNETT (USA), 22, beat Ben CARR (USA), also 22, by 1-Hole in the 36-hole Final of the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship at The Ridgewood Country Club.

He publically said earlier this week that he was the best player in the Championship and to be fair he proved it.

Sam Bennett With The Havemeyer Trophy (Photo: USGA / Grant Halverson)

Bennett, who is returning for a 5th year at Texas A&M University, had his college coach Brian Korton on the bag. Carr had former PGA Tour pro Willy Wilcox caddying for him.

“It’s a dream come true. It means a lot to hold that trophy. I’m sure I’ll take a peek at all the names, but I know Tiger Woods’ name is on it three times, and to put my name beside him, I know it’s something special.” said the new champion afterwards.

The two finalists couldn’t have had more contrasting routes to the Final. Bennett was tasked with taking down highly ranked players in each round whilst Carr, who is also returning to Georgia Southern University for a 5th year, had mainly faced relative unknowns before coming up against Derek Hitchner in the Semi-Finals.

Neither player gave up much ground in the opening exchanges but birdies on 14 and 18 saw Bennett take a healthy 3 Up lead into lunch. Allowing for the normal match play concessions he shot a 3-under 68 compared to Carr’s 72.

Match Play – Final Round 1 – Bennett v. Carr Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Early birdies on the 2nd and 3rd holes in the afternoon saw Bennett move into an even more commanding 5 Up lead.

Any thoughts of a victory procession were dispelled by Carr who quickly responded with two 60 foot winning birdies of his own, a putt followed by a chip-in on the 5th and 6th holes.

Nevertheless Bennett still turned into the final 9 holes 3 Up and well placed to take the title. However, a combination of nerves, poor decision making and good play from Carr saw the match taken to the home hole. Thankfully for the Texan he played it perfectly to hold on for a narrow 1 Hole win.

Match Play – Final Round 2 – Bennett v. Carr Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2022 U.S. Amateur Match Play Scores

The champion, Sam Bennett, earned an exemption / invitation to the 2023 Masters Tournament (must still be an amateur), the 2023 U.S. Open Championship and the 2023 Open Championship (must still be an amateur).

The silver medalist, Ben Carr, secured an exemption / invitation to the 2023 Masters Tournament and the 2023 U.S. Open Championship so long as he remains an amateur.

ME.

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20th August 2022

Match Play – Semi-Finals

The start of play (2.00pm EDT) was delayed by 1 hour and 20 minutes on Saturday afternoon due to inclement weather.

Sam BENNETT (USA) beat Dylan MENANTE (USA) by 1 Hole in the opening Semi-Final. Bennett, who was 2up after 13 holes but was pegged back, birdied the par 5 17th to take a narrow win.

Match Play – Semi-Finals – Menante v. Bennett Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Ben CARR (USA) overcame Derek HITCHNER (USA) by 3&2, pulling away on the back nine after two birdies on the 13th and 14th holes.

Match Play – Semi-Finals – Carr v. Hitchner Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Here is a quick profile of each of the Quarter Finalists: –

Dylan MENANTE (USA) / Carlsbad, California / 21 years old / SPWAR #12, WAGR #8

Sam BENNETT (USA) / Madisonville, Texas / 22 years old / SPWAR #16, WAGR #3

Ben CARR (USA) / Columbus, Georgia / 22 years old / SPWAR #48, WAGR #70

Derek HITCHENER (USA) Minneapolis, Minnesota / 22 years old / SPWAR #37, WAGR #51

Hitchener, seeded #59, came through Wednesday morning’s 15-for-11 play-off to take his place in the Match Play stage.

ME.

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19th August 2022

Match Play – Quarter Finals

There were no surprises in the Quarter Finals with the higher ranked players all prevailing.

Sam Bennett’s post round interview raised a few eyebrows. He said “They’re great players, but I’m a better player. Number 3 in the rankings and I feel like I’m the best player. I’m the dog in this race. I’ve been playing the best golf leading up to here.” It will be interesting too see if he can ‘walk the talk’ over the next two days.

Match Play – Quarter Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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18th August 2022

Match Play – Round of 16

International interest in the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship ended at this stage with David PUIG (ESP), Hayden HOPEWELL (AUS) and Hugo TOWNSEND (SWE) all losing their matches in the afternoon series.

Here are the results from the Round of 16: –

Match Play – Round of 16 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Match Play – Round of 32

Here are the results from the Round of 32: –

Match Play – Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA)

ME.

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17th August 2022

Match Play – Round of 64

The three remaining GB&I players, Sam BAIRSTOW (ENG) #44, Josh HILL (ENG) #35 and Mark POWER (IRL) #11, all fell at the first match play hurdle.

Bairstow handed the initiative to the experienced three time USA Walker Cup player Stewart HAGESTAD #21 by playing the opening five holes in 4-over in their Round of 64 encounter. However the Yorkshireman fought back to a Tied position after 10 holes with some solid par golf. Unfortunately parity couldn’t be retained and a bogey on the 11th followed by two birdies by the American on 16 and 17 saw the match end in a 3&1 defeat.

Round of 64 – Stewart Hagestad v. Sam Bairstow Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Josh Hill was 1-over for the 17 holes he played around the challenging Ridgewood course and therefore didn’t do too much wrong but unfortunately came up against an in-form Campbell KREMER (USA) #30 who was 2-under when the match ended.

Round of 64 – Campbell Kremer v. Josh Hill Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Mark Power couldn’t re-produce the play in his Round of 64 match that had seen him qualify strongly for the match play stage over the first two days of the Championship. 4-over for the 16 holes played was unlikely to get the job done against Walker ISLEY (USA) #54 who appears to have made few mistakes.

Round of 64 – Mark Power v. Walker Isley Scores (Graphic: USGA)

A very competitive Round of 64 saw a number of games require extra holes and numerous ‘upsets’.

Andrew VON LOSSOW‘s (USA) #63 3&2 win against co-medalist Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA) #2 was arguably the biggest surprise.

The ‘curse of the medalist’ also struck again with #64 seed Peyton SNOEBERGER (USA) taking out the #1 qualifier Luke GUTSCHEWSKI (USA) over 20 Holes.

The two other co-medalists Hugo TOWNSEND (SWE) #3 and Fred BIONDI (BRA) #4 both progressed after wins against JonErik ALFORD (USA) #62 and Frankie CAPAN (USA) #61 respectively.

Here are the full Round of 64 results: –

Match Play – Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2022 U.S. Amateur Match Play Scores

Stroke Play Qualifying – Play-Off

The 15-for-11 play-off started at 7.30am local time (12.30pm BST) on the 148 yard par 3 15th hole at The Ridgewood Country Club.

14 Americans and one Australian, Karl VILIPS, were participating in the early morning shoot out.

Walker ISLEY (USA) birdied the hole to claim the #54 seeding and a match against Ireland’s Mark POWER.

Conveniently for the USGA ten of the remaining players parred the hole (taking the #55th to #64th seedings) and four, including Vilips, bogeyed it meaning the play-off was resolved in 52 minutes with just one extra hole being necessary.

ME.

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16th August 2022

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 2

The Stroke Play Qualifying concluded with 68 of the 312 competitors still involved in the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship.

53 players on +4 and better have secured their spots in the Round of 64 Match Play draw. The remaining 15, who all finished with +5 totals, will play-off tomorrow morning for the final 11 places.

Michael Thorbjornsen, Hugo Townsend, Fred Biondi and Luke Gutschewski (Photo: USGA)

Hugo Townsend, who was born in Ireland and now resides in and represents Sweden, is the son of the 1965 GB&I Walker Cup player Peter Townsend.

Gordon SARGENT (USA) produced the best round of the Stroke Play Qualifying competition in Round 2, a bogey free 65 (-5) at Arcola Country Club, to take the 5th seed.

Mark POWER (IRL), who was the leading GB&I player, finished his second round 68 with an eagle to secure an impressive top 10 result.

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

Power was joined by Englishmen Josh HILL (+3) and Sam BAIRSTOW (+4) in the Match Play Stage after both produced good second rounds to comfortably make the mark.

Sandy SCOTT (SCO) bounced back well with a 70 at Arcola but like the other GB&I entries had simply left himself too much to do after poor opening rounds.

In Round 2 the average score at The Ridgewood (par 71) was 77.03 (Round 1: 76.52) and Arcola (par 70) 74.87 (Round 1: 75.62). Whilst a little simplistic this suggests a Ridgewood first, Arcola second draw was beneficial during the Qualifying.

19 players, one more than yesterday, broke par, although the split was very different. Five players broke par at The Ridgewood Country Club (Round 1: 11) whilst 14 achieved the feat at Arcola Country Club (Round 1: 7).

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

Click here to view the – 2022 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Results

ME.

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15th August 2022

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 1

Just 18 players from a starting field of 312 broke par around the challenging host venues. Eleven came at The Ridgewood Country Club and seven at Arcola Country Club.

The five Round 1 leaders, all American, opened their accounts at The Ridgewood with 3-under 68’s. Michael THORBJORNSEN, the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur and a rising junior at Stanford University, is the standout name amongst this group.

South Africa’s Christo LAMPRECHT, a rising junior at Georgia Tech University, recorded the best round at Arcola on Day 1 with a 2-under 68.

Both courses played on average 5.5 shots over par; The Ridgewood (par 71) at 76.52 and Arcola (par 70) 75.62.

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Leaderboard & Round 2 Tee Times (Graphic: USGA)

It was sadly not a particularly good day for the GB&I contingent. Josh HILL and Mark POWER (tied 52nd) led the way for us with 2-over scores and positions within the all important top 64.

Hill, who started his Championship at Arcola, looked on course for a better score but a double bogey on his 16th hole and a bogey on his 17th, the 6th and 7th on the course after he had teed off on the 10th, saw him not get fully rewarded for a good day’s work.

Power dropped two early shots on the 2nd and 5th at The Ridgewood but battled well to be even par for the remainder of his round, a bogey on long par 4 10th offset by a birdie on the short 12th.

For the remainder of our players it is going to take an exceptional round on Day 2 to make the match play cut, although Sam BAIRSTOW (+5 / T132) and John GOUGH (+6 / T166) are certainly not out of the running yet.

Based on the Round 1 scores it is anticipated that a maximum 145 total (+4) will be required to progress.

GB&I Round 1 Scores (Graphic: USGA)

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12th August 2022

Introduction

This year’s Championship is being played at The Ridgewood Country Club and Arcola Country Club, both of which are located in Paramus, New Jersey.

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

2022 Field

7,749 entries were received for the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship.

312 players, who were either exempt or who came through pre-qualifying, from 29 different countries will be competing.

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

94 qualifying events, all played over 36 holes, were staged between 27th June and 27th July to make up the rest of the field. Click here to view all of the – 2022 Qualifying Results.

The average age of the field this year is 22.79 with the youngest player being Thailand’s Ratchanon Chantananuwat (15, born 4th March 2007) and the oldest USA’s Jerry Gunthorpe (59, born 25th May 1963).

Chantananuwat and Spain’s David Puig have both competed as amateurs on the LIV Golf Invitational Series in recent months. Puig has earned $267,000 (2 events) and Chantananuwat $136,000 (1 event) to date both clearly via Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) contracts as the maximum allowable prize money is $1,000 per event.

There are nine Great British & Irish (GB&I) players in the 2022 field. They are: –

Sam BAIRSTOW (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 50 as at 22nd June 2022
Ryan DIXON (ENG) – Qualifier: Riverhill C.C., Kerrville, Texas on 11th July 2022
Alfie FOX (ENG) – Qualifier: Burningtree C.C., Decatur, Alabama on 5th July 2022
John GOUGH (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 50 as at 22nd June 2022
Josh HILL (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 50 as at 22nd June 2022
Bobby LEOPOLD (ENG) – Qualifier: Connecticut National G.C., Putnam, Connecticut on 29th June 2022
Mark POWER (IRL) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team Member 2021
Sandy SCOTT (SCO) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team Member 2019
Sam STOREY (ENG) – Exemption: Decotah Ridge G.C., Morton, Minnesota on 28th June 2022

To put this into context there were 5 GB&I players at Oakmont last year, 11 at Bandon Dunes in 2021, 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 will determine the top 64 match play qualifiers. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

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

Monday 15th August – Stroke Play Round 1 (Ridgewood and Arcola – 18 holes)
Tuesday 16th August – Stroke Play Round 2 (Ridgewood and Arcola – 18 holes)
Wednesday 17th August – Match Play Round of 64 (Ridgewood – 18 holes)
Thursday 18th August – Match Play Rounds of 32 and 16 (Ridgewood – 18 holes)
Friday 19th August – Match Play Quarter Finals (Ridgewood – 18 holes )
Saturday 20th August – Match Play Semi-Finals (Ridgewood – 18 holes)
Sunday 21st August – Match Play Championship Final (Ridgewood – 36 holes)

Host Courses

The Ridgewood Country Club – stroke play and match play
7,487 yards (maximum), Par 71
Opened in 1929
Designed by A.W. Tillinghast with renovations completed by Gil Hanse in 2000

The Ridgewood C.C. has previously staged the Ryder Cup (1935), U.S. Amateur (1974), PGA Tour Barclays (2008 and 2010) and the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur (2016).

Arcola Country Club – stroke play co-host
7,256 yards (maximum), Par 70
Opened in 1909
Deisgned by Herbert H. Barker & William G. Wilkinson with subsequent renovations by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Steve Smyers.

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast (as at 12th August) is mixed with a fair amount of rain showers forecast for the week.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 15th August – Light Rain Showers PM / Wind 9 mph SE / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 25°C.
Tues 16th August – Light Rain Showers / Wind 12 mph NE / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 24°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 17th August – Light Rain Showers / Wind 10 mph N / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 24°C.
Thurs 18th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 9 mph NW / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 27°C.
Fri 19th August – Sunny / Wind 9 mph SW / Temp. Min. 18°C, Max. 28°C.
Sat 20th August – Light Rain Showers PM / Wind 9 mph S / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 29°C.
Sun 21st August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 6 mph S / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 29°C.

Prizes

The 2022 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;
b) An exemption to play in the 2023 U.S. Open which is being staged at The Los Angeles Country Club;

and assuming they remain amateur,
c) An exemption to play in the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool G.C.;
d) An invitation to play in the 2023 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;
e) An exemption to play in the 2023 – 2032 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

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

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists. A Bronze Medal is also awarded to the stroke play medalist(s).

Spectators / Television Coverage

Some highlights of the stroke play will be shown on the USGA website and social media channels.

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

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

2021 U.S. Amateur Championship

James PIOT (USA), 22, won the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship beating Austin GREASER (USA), 20, by 2&1 in the 36-hole Final at Oakmont C.C.

Greaser entered the final back nine with a 3Up lead but by the time he got to the 14th tee he was 1Down, Piot having won four consecutive holes with two birdies and two pars.

Earlier this year Piot turned professional and joined the LIV Golf series.

James Piot (Photo: USGA / Chris Keane)

Medalist honours in the Stroke Play Qualifying went to Mark GOETZ (USA), 23, after rounds of 64 and 68 at Longue View and Oakmont respectively gave him a 132 -8 total, the joint second lowest in the history of the Championship.

Mark Goetz (Photo: USGA / Chris Keane)

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) was the only GB&I player to qualify for the Match Play Stage. He won one game before losing in the Round of 32 to Davis CHATFIELD (USA) by 1 Hole.

Not helped by the ongoing COVID-19 related travel restrictions there were only five GB&I competitors in the 2021 U.S. Amateur Championship.

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

*Conor GOUGH (ENG) shot a 74 +4 around Longue View in his opening round and was lying tied 140th before withdrawing overnight.

Click here to view the – 2021 US Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying and Match Play Results

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2022 will see its 122nd 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.

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

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

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

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

14-20 August 2023 – Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
12-18 August 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota
11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California
10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
09-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York
13-19 August 2029 – Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio
12-18 August 2030 – Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Georgia
11-17 August 2031 – Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tennessee
TBD August 2032 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon
TBD August 2041 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon
TBD August 2047 – Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

ME.

U.S. Amateur Championship – 2021 Preview & Results

Posted on 08/08/2021 by Golf Bible

Sunday 15th August 2021

Match Play – Final

James PIOT (USA) won the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship after a thrilling comeback against Austin GREASER (USA) over the final nine holes of the 36-hole Final.

22 year old Piot is a 5th Year Senior at Michigan State University and with his victory became the first player to come from that state to win the Havemeyer Trophy.

James Piot (Photo: USGA / Chris Keane)

Greaser, 20 and a Junior at the University of North Carolina, went into the final back nine with a 3UP lead and with one hand on the famous gold trophy. However, by the time he got to the 14th tee he was 1Down, Piot having won four consecutive holes with two birdies and two pars. As he said in his post match interview “I just made some mistakes there on 11, 12, 13, just bogey, bogey, bogey. That’s never going to look good on the scorecard. I just didn’t execute coming down the stretch.”

When Piot extended his lead to 2Up with a par on the 502 yard par 4 15th the writing was on the wall. After two halves with pars on 16 and 17 the win had been secured.

Piot was jubilant. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world. I mean, as an amateur it’s the best thing you can do. After making that putt on 17, I was just like, oh, my God. I might’ve done it. It feels phenomenal, shows the hard work I’ve done is paying off.”

Both finalists had already earned exemptions into the 2022 U.S. Open Championship and Masters Tournament. Piot can now also look forward to a trip to the home of golf for the 2022 Open Championship.

Match Play Final Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2021 US Amateur MP Scores

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Saturday 14th August 2021

Match Play – Semi-Finals

Austin GREASER (USA), 20, beat Travis VICK (USA), 21, by 2&1 in the opening Semi-Final. Greaser, who reached the Semi-Finals of the Western Amateur earlier his month, won fours consecutive holes from the 11th to move 3Up and set up victory over the highest seeded qualifier left in the field.

James PIOT (USA), 22, beat Nick GABRELCIK (USA), 19, by 4&3. Similar to the other Semi-Final Piot’s win was founded on three straight hole wins between the 9th and 11th. Gabrelcik was the highest ranked WAGR player left in the filed whilst Piot held that honour in the SPWAR.

Match Play Semi-Final Results (Graphic: USGA)

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Friday 13th August 2021

Match Play – Quarter Finals

The Quarter Finals started in the afternoon and were completed in the early evening bringing the Championship back on schedule.

Here are the current SPWAR and WAGR amateur rankings of the four semi-finalists: –
Austin GREASER (USA) – #60 / #82
Travis VICK (USA) – #35 / #45
James PIOT (USA) – #7 / #86
Nick GABRELCIK (USA) – #21 / #28

All four have earned exemptions into the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship at Ridgewood C.C. in Paramus, New Jersey by getting this far.

Match Play Quarter Final Results (Graphic: USGA)

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Match Play – Round of 16

Ricky CASTILLO (USA), who was unbeaten in this year’s Walker Cup, was a surprise casualty in this round.

Here are the full Round of 16 results: –

Match Play Round of 16 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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Match Play – Round of 32

The remaining Round of 32 matches were quickly completed on Friday morning.

Sadly Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) lost his match to Davis CHATFIELD (USA) by 1 Hole thus ending GB&I’s interest in this year’s Championship.

Here are the full Round of 32 results: –

Match Play Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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Thursday 12th August 2021

Match Play – Round of 32

The fourth weather delay over the last three days saw play ended on Thursday evening at 6.35pm (11.35pm BST). Again it was rain and thunderstorms in the Oakmont area that saw the time lost move past the 10 hours mark. The previous delays saw the USGA, for the first time during the Match Play Stage, implement a two tee start for the Round of 32.

Just four of the 16 Round of 32 matches were completed before this latest suspension with Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) 1Down against 22nd seed Davis CHATFIELD (USA) after 13 holes.

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Match Play – Round of 64

The ‘curse of the medalist’ struck Mark GOETZ (USA) as he lost by 1 Hole to David NYFJALL (SWE), who having come through the 12-for-1 play-off is gaining confidence. Nyfjall was 3Down with four holes to play before winning them all with three pars and a closing birdie.

From a home perspective it was good to see Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) come through his match against 54th seed Chase SIENKIEWICZ (USA). Alex, who was 2Down after six holes, was 5-under par for the 16 holes he ultimately required to secure a 3&2 victory.

Here are the full Round of 64 results: –

Match Play Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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Wednesday 11th August 2021

Match Play – Round of 64

The start of the Match Play Stage, being played exclusively at Oakmont C.C., was delayed due to further afternoon thunderstorms and another four hour suspension.

By the close of play just one match had been completed, 17 others were on the course and 14 had been deferred until tomorrow morning.

Ricky CASTILLO (USA) beat Donald KAY (USA) by 5&4 in the only match to be completed.

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Stroke Play Qualifying

The second round of the Stroke Play Qualifying recommenced at 7.30am (12.30pm BST) this morning.

Medalist honours were eventually secured by Mark GOETZ (USA) who turned 23 yesterday and grew up about 30 miles away from Oakmont. His rounds of 64 and 68 at Longue View and Oakmont respectively gave him a 132 -8 total, the joint second lowest in the history of the Championship.

Mark Goetz (Photo: USGA)

A 12-for-1 play-off at Oakmont C.C. saw David NYFJALL (SWE) become the 64th and final player to progress to the Match Play Stage. The 12 players involved in the shoot out all finished on 143 (+3) with Nyfjall’s 8 foot birdie putt on the third extra hole, the 18th, proving decisive.

The average Round 2 score at Oakmont was 74.97, just over two shots easier than Round 1’s 77.16 after yesterday’s rain had softened up the course and greens. Surprisingly nearby Longue View played slightly harder at 71.97 v. Round 1’s 71.69.

Here are the leading scores in the Stroke Play Qualifying: –

Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) was the only GB&I player to qualify for the Match Play Stage again confirming his status as our No. 1 amateur. He enters the Match Play as the 11th seed.

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

Click here to view the – 2021 US Amateur SP Qualifying Results

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Tuesday 10th August 2021

Stroke Play Qualifying

Round 2 of the Stroke Play Qualifying started at Oakmont Country Club and Longue Vue Club in Pennsylvania at 7.30am (12.30 pm BST) on Tuesday. However, a four hour delay during the afternoon meant that 156 players were unable to complete their second rounds.

With the top 64 cut expected to fall at +3 or +4 Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) still looks very well placed to qualify with 7 holes to play at Oakmont. Sadly it now seems inevitable that he will be GB&I’s only representative in the second stage.

Here is the GB&I scoreboard on Tuesday evening when play was suspended at 8.00pm (1.00am BST).

GB&I Round 1 and 2 Scores (Graphic: USGA)

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Monday 9th August 2021

Stroke Play Qualifying

As expected there proved to be a material divergence between the scoring at Oakmont Country Club and Longue Vue Club, the two courses hosting the Stroke Play Qualifying. The average score at Oakmont in Round 1 was 77.16 compared with 71.69 at Longue View; the former playing 5.47 shots harder than its co-host 6 miles away.

Of the 82 players who finished Round 1 in the top 64 or tied for 64th just seven played Oakmont. Cole SHERWOOD (USA) 69 -1 and Parker COODY (USA) 70 Ev were the only two players to shoot par or better at Oakmont out of the 156 to take it on.

It should be noted conditions were also near perfect; temperatures in the high 80’s with very little wind.

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) -6 made a great start to proceedings with a 64 at Longue View. The leader, Jacob BRIDGEMAN (USA) is just one shot better than him after he opened with a course record equalling 63 -7. Whilst nothing can be taken for granted around Oakmont Alex looks well set to progress to the Match Play stage after tomorrow’s round.

Conor GOUGH (ENG) shot a 74 +4 around Longue View and was lying tied 140th. However, he withdrew after his round. I assume this was injury related but may as well have been because there was never going to be away back from that with Oakmont still to come.

Dev MORLEY (IRL) +5, tied 168th, and Joe PAGDIN (ENG) +6, tied 188th, battled hard for their scores at Oakmont in Round 1. Whilst they will need to produce an under par round tomorrow at Longue View they still have a chance to make the top 64 cut.

Enrique DIMAYUGA (ENG) +8 also plays Longue View tomorrow but looks as if he has left himself too much to do after his 78 today.

GB&I Round 1 Scores and Round 2 Tee Times (Graphic: USGA)

Joe HIGHSMITH (USA) and Mark GOETZ (USA) are tied with Fitzpatrick on -6 with Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA), recent winner of the Western Amateur, well placed on -5 alongside Caleb SURRATT (USA), Brian MA (USA) and Brad REEVES (USA).

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8th August 2021

Introduction

This year’s Championship is being played at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont and Longue Vue Club in Verona, both of which are located in western Pennsylvania.

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

2021 Field

The U.S. Amateur Championship is open to amateur golfers with a Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4.

7,811 entries, all paying the $175 entry fee, were received by the USGA this year.

The final field is made up of 312 players who were either exempt or who qualified. The average age is 23.41 with the youngest player being Reed Greyserman (16) and the oldest Bob Royok (59).

57 players were exempt based on their performances in previous amateur championships, selection for the Walker Cup or top 50 ranking in the WAGR.

The remainder of the field qualified by playing in one of 94 36 hole events staged by the USGA at venues across the USA (91), Canada (1), Mexico (1) and Puerto Rico (1). Click here to view all of the – Qualifier Results.

The early scheduling of the Walker Cup, which saw a number of our leading players turn pro earlier in the summer, and the COVID-19 travel restrictions mean that only five GB&I players are in the 2021 field. They are: –

Enrique DIMAYUGA (ENG) – Qualifier: Lago Mar CC, Florida (Medalist)
Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2019 & 2021 / WAGR #4 on 23rd June 2021
Conor GOUGH (ENG) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2019
Dev MORLEY (IRL) – Qualifier: Clustered Spires GC, Maryland (Medalist)
Joe PAGDIN (ENG) – Exemption: Special USGA; GB&I Walker Cup Team 2021 Reserve

To put this into context there were 11 GB&I players at Bandon Dunes last year, 11 at Pinehurst in 2019, 7 at Pebble Beach in 2018, 9 at Riviera in 2017 and 11 at Oakland Hills in 2016.

The following GB&I players chose not to or were unable to take up their exemptions: –

Barclay BROWN (ENG) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2021 / WAGR #41 on 23rd June 2021
Jack COPE (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR #20 on 23rd June 2021
Jack DYER (ENG) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2021
Mark POWER (IRL) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2021 / WAGR #32 on 23rd June 2021
Sandy SCOTT (SCO) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2019 / WAGR #7 on 23rd June 2021
Laird SHEPHERD (ENG) – Exemption: Amateur Champion 2021 / WAGR #49 on 4th August 2021

The English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy is being played at Ganton G.C. on 19-22 August 2021 which may prove to be an easier option.

The in form, highly ranked players, who I would expect to feature strongly at Oakmont are Ludvig ABERG (SWE), Ricky CASTILLO (USA), Pierceson COODY (USA), Louis DOBBELAAR (AUS), Nick GABRELCIK (USA), Ryan HALL (USA), Cole HAMMER (USA), Joe HIGHSMITH (USA), Bo JIN (CHN), Dylan MENANTE (USA), Maxwell MOLDOVAN (USA), Trent PHILLIPS (USA), James PIOT (USA), Luke POTTER (USA), David PUIG (ESP), Gordon SARGENT (USA) and Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA).

Format / Schedule

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

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

Monday 9th August – Stroke Play Round 1 (Oakmont and Longue Vue – 18 holes)
Tuesday 10th August – Stroke Play Round 2 (Oakmont and Longue Vue – 18 holes)
Wednesday 11th August – Match Play Round of 64 (Oakmont – 18 holes)
Thursday 12th August – Match Play Rounds of 32 and 16 (Oakmont- 18 holes)
Friday 13th August – Match Play Quarter Finals (Oakmont – 18 holes )
Saturday 14th August – Match Play Semi-Finals (Oakmont – 18 holes)
Sunday 15th August – Match Play Championship Final (Oakmont – 36 holes)

Tee Times

Click here to view the – 2021 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Tee Times

With Pennsylvania being 5 hours behind the UK play will start in our early afternoon and proceed through the evening.

Host Courses

Oakmont Country Club – stroke play and match play
7,254 yards (maximum), Par 70, Course Rating 76.7, Slope Rating 142
Opened in 1903
Designed by Henry Fownes and renovated by Tom Fazio in 2015.

The course was originally built on farmland adjacent to the Allegheny River Valley. Unusually for such a prestigious venue a major road, the Pennsylvania Turnpike which was constructed in the late 1940s, passes through the middle of the site. Two bridges link holes 1 and 8-18 and the clubhouse with holes 2-7.

Oakmont has the reputation of being one of the toughest courses in the United States. Over 175 bunkers and hard and fast greens which often slope away from the player provide a stern test.

Oakmont Country Club has hosted more major Championships than any other course in USA – 20. This will be its 17th USGA Championship – nine United States Opens (1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994, 2007, 2016), five U.S. Amateurs (1919, 1925, 1938, 1969, 2003, 2021) and two U.S. Women’s Open (1992, 2010). It has also staged three U.S. PGA Championships (1922, 1951, 1978). Only Merion G.C. with 18 (19 after next year’s Curtis Cup), also in Pennsylvania, has hosted more USGA Championships.

Screenshot 2021-08-08 at 11.03.53

Longue Vue Club – stroke play co-host
6,647 yards (maximum), Par 70, Course Rating 73.3, Slope Rating 141
Opened in 1922
Deisgned by Robert White (SCO) and renovated by A.W. Tillinghast in 1935.

Longue Vue is perched on a hill above the Allegheny River and enjoys some spectacular views. Scottish architect Robert White was the first president of the PGA of America and also installed the first putting green on the White House Lawn.

Screenshot 2021-08-08 at 11.04.12

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast (as at 8th August) is predominantly a dry one although there is the risk of scattered thunderstorms throughout which may disrupt play.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 9th August – Cloudy / Wind 7 mph S / Temp. Min. 22°C, Max. 34°C.
Tues 10th August – Cloudy / Wind 10 mph SSW / Temp. Min. 22°C, Max. 32°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 11th August – Cloudy / Wind 9 mph SW / Temp. Min. 22°C, Max. 32°C.
Thurs 12th August – Cloudy / Wind 9 mph SW / Temp. Min. 21°C, Max. 32°C.
Fri 13th August – Cloudy / Wind 8 mph SW / Temp. Min. 18°C, Max. 30°C.
Sat 14th August – Sunny / Wind 8 mph NW / Temp. Min. 15°C, Max. 28°C.
Sun 15th August – Sunny / Wind 6 mph SW / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 29°C.

Prizes

The 2021 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;
b) An exemption to play in the 2022 U.S. Open which is being staged at The Country Club, Brookline;

and assuming they remain amateur,
c) An exemption to play in the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews;
d) An invitation to play in the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;
e) An exemption to play in the 2022 – 2031 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

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

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists. A Bronze Medal is also awarded to the stroke play medalist(s).

Spectators / Television Coverage

No public tickets have been sold for the stroke play stage of the Championship with spectators only being allowed onto the grounds of Oakmont on Wednesday – Sunday’s match play games.

Some highlights of the stroke play will be shown on the USGA website and social media channels.

In the USA Peacock, Golf Channel and NBC will be covering the match play stage.

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

2020 U.S. Amateur Championship

Tyler STRAFACI (USA) won the 120th U.S. Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. He beat Charles ‘Ollie’ OSBORNE (USA) in the Final by 1 Hole.

2020 U.S. Amateur

Tyler Strafaci With The Havemayer Trophy (Photo: Steve Gibbons / USGA)

Sandy SCOTT (SCO) was the most successful GB&I entrant. He lost to Davis CHATFIELD (USA) by 2&1 in the Round of 32.

Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) and John GOUGH (ENG) both lost in the Round of 64 coming out on the wrong side of tight matches against McClure MEISSNER (USA) 2&1 and Segundo OLIVA PINTO (ARG) 19th hole respectively.

Wilson FURR (USA) 132 -11 secured medalist honours in the stroke play qualifying after posting a course record 62 (-9) on the Bandon Trails course on Day 2. His 62 was the joint second lowest score in U.S. Amateur history.

Wilson Furr (Photo: Steve Gibbons / USGA)

Just three of the eleven GB&I players made it through to the match play stage of the Championship. John GOUGH (ENG) -2 finished tied 23rd, Sandy SCOTT (SCO) Ev tied 36th and Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) +1 tied 48th.

The match play cut came at 145 (+2) with 18 players finishing on this score in tied 62nd place. An 18-for-3 spots play-off was therefore required to finalise the match play field.

Here is a summary of all of the GB&I stroke play qualifying results in 2020: –

GB&I Stroke Play 36 Hole Qualifying Scores (Photo: USGA)

Click here to view the full – 2020 U.S. Amateur Championship Results

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U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2021 see its 121st 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.

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

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

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

15-21 August 2022 – Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey
14-20 August 2023 – Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
12-18 August 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota
11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California
10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
09-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York
11-17 August 2031 – Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tennessee
TBD August 2031 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon
TBD August 2041 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon

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U.S. Amateur Championship – Preview, Reports & Results

Posted on 24/06/2020 by Golf Bible

16th August 2020 – Match Play Final

Tyler STRAFACI (USA) is the 120th U.S. Amateur champion. He beat Charles ‘Ollie’ OSBORNE (USA) in a high quality Final by 1 Hole.

Allowing for the usual match play concessions there were 23 birdies and 1 eagle in the 36 holes played. Strafaci shot rounds of 69 and 67 and Osborne rounds of 66 and 68.

2020 U.S. Amateur

Tyler Strafaci With The Havemayer Trophy (Photo: Steve Gibbons / USGA)

Tyler STRAFACI (USA), 22, started the Final as favourite based on his WAGR of 56th compared with Osborne’s 460th. Strafaci had also won the North & South Amateur at Pinehurst earlier this summer too.

There were two facts that made Tyler’s participation in the Final interesting. His late grandfather Frank Sr was a USGA champion, winning the U.S. Public Links Championship in 1935 and like the 2019 U.A. Amateur champion, Andy Ogletree (USA), he is a product of the Georgia Tech University golf program.

However, golf is no respecter of rankings or history. Charles ‘Ollie’ OSBORNE (USA), 20, a rising junior at Southern Methodist University (SMU), made a dream start birdieing the opening three holes and building a 5Up lead after 12 holes having played just 41 shots (6-under par).

Perhaps the key part of the Final were the next 5 holes where Strafaci found his form and reduced the deficit to just 1Up after the opening 18 holes.

Strafaci v. Osborne Match Play Final Scorecard, 1-18 Holes (Photo: USGA)

Strafaci achieved parity on the second hole of the afternoon round with a birdie on the 2nd and moved into the lead for the first time on the 25th with another.

Whilst pegged back on the 31st birdies on the 32nd and 33rd appeared to have earned Strafaci the title. He was after all now 2Up with 3 holes to play.

However, the realisation of what he was about to achieve perhaps overcame him and bogeys on the 34th and 35th set up a nervy final hole decider. Strafaci recovered his composure and a 245 yard 4-iron to 25 feet set up a tap-in birdie which proved good enough to win the Championship.

The Final was the fourth consecutive match which Strafaci had won on Bandon Dunes’ 18th hole.

Strafaci v. Osborne Match Play Final Scorecard, 19-36 Holes (Photo: USGA)

Conditions were again near perfect in Oregon with sunshine and a gentle breeze seen for almost all of the match. A sea mist drifted in as the players completed the final holes.

Here are the USGA’s video highlights of the Final: –

Over a 36-hole, seesaw match in sun, wind and fog that saw a combined 26 birdies and eagles, there are plenty of highlights.

We've got 'em all right here! Presented by @Lexus pic.twitter.com/6VDbPlLZeK

— USGA (@USGA) August 17, 2020

The two finalists earned an exemption into the 2021 U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines and the 2021 U.S. Masters Tournament.

By taking the title Strafaci also secured a place in the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s (if he remains an amateur) and a place on the USA’s 2021 Walker Cup team. Hailing from Davie, near Fort Lauderdale, in Florida Strafaci’s family home is a short distance from Seminole, the venue of the next May’s match.

Click here to view the full – 2020 U.S. Amateur Championship Results

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15th August 2020 – Match Play Semi-Finals

Playing conditions were perfect on Saturday with temperatures in the 70’s and very light winds.

Tyler STRAFACI (USA) was taken to the final hole for the third match running before overcoming Aman GUPTA (USA) 1Up. Strafaci had led 4Up after 12 holes but needed to win the 18th to take his place in the final.

‘Ollie’ OSBORNE (USA) took control of his match with Matthew SHARPSTENE (USA) with a birdie on the 9th, a winning par on the difficult par 4 11th and consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th.

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14th August 2020 – Match Play Quarter Finals

Match Play Quarter Finals Results (Photo: USGA)

Tyler STRAFACI (USA), 22, beat mid-amateur Stewart HAGESTAD (USA), 29, by 1 Hole.

No mid-amateur has won the U.S. Amateur since John Harris in 1993. Hagestad has probably now done enough to secure a spot in the 2021 U.S.A. Walker Cup team, which will be his third consecutive appearance.

Philip BARBAREE (USA), 22 and Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA), 18, both lost thus losing the opportunity to join Tiger Woods as the only winner to date of both the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur Championships. Barbaree won the Junior in 2015 and Thorbjornsen in 2018.

Aman GUPTA (USA), 21, is the highest stroke play seed remaining. He only earned a spot in the Championship when Ricky CASTILLO (USA) withdrew last friday.

Matt SHARPSTENE (USA), 21, won the opening hole of his match against Barbaree and was never caught.

Charles ‘Ollie’ OSBORNE (USA), 20, beat Cameron SISK (USA), 20, who had come through the stroke play play-off to earn the 62nd seed, by 2&1. Osborne led 4Up after 10 holes, lost the next four holes before recovering to take his place in the semi-finals.

For the first time since 2004 all of the quarter finalists were from America.

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13th August 2020 – Match Play Round of 32 and Round of 16

The winds picked up to gusts of over 30mph in the afternoon making conditions tough.

Of particular note in the Round of 16 was Tyler STRAFACI‘s (USA), 22, 1Hole win over Segundo OLIVA PINTO (ARG). With the match tied Oliva Pinto’s approach to the final green finished in a green side bunker and inexplicably when he reached the bunker his caddie jumped in and started rubbing the sand with his hand to test the depth. A loss of hole penalty was assessed and as a result Strafaci progressed.

Here are the afternoon Round of 16 results: –

Match Play Rd of 16 Results (Photo: USGA)

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Sandy SCOTT (SCO) lost his morning Round of 32 match to Davis CHATFIELD (USA) by 2&1 thus ending GB&I interest in this year’s Championship.

Scott again got off to a bad start before recovering. However, Chatfield maintained his composure and two late mistakes from the Scotsman enabled him to regain the upper hand,

Chatfield v. Scott Match Play Rd of 32 Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

Medalist Wilson FURR (USA) bogeyed the 18th and double bogeyed the 19th to hand his Round of 32 match to Harrison OTT (USA). No medalist has won the U.S. Amateur since 2003.

Conqueror of John Gough Segundo OLIVA PINTO (ARG) had a good win taking out McClure MEISSNER (USA) who had beaten Angus Flanagan in the previous round.

Here are the complete Round of 32 results: –

Match Play Rd of 32 Results (Photo: USGA)

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12th August 2020 – Play-Off and Match Play Round of 64

Cameron SISK (USA), Evan KATZ (USA) and Aaron DU (CHN) came through the 18-for-3 play-off early on Wednesday morning. Sisk and Katz birdied Bandon Dunes’ 375 yard 10th whilst Du birdied the 435 yard 11th to finish affairs off relatively quickly.

From a GB&I perspective only Sandy SCOTT seeded 42 (SCO) was able to negotiate his Round of 64 match coming back from 3Down after 6 holes to beat Brayden GARRISON (USA) 23 by 3&2.

Garrison v. Scott Match Play Rd of 64 Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

Scott should now be looking confidently towards the latter stages of this Championship. He won both of his singles in last year’s Walker Cup at Royal Liverpool, has a nice comeback win under his belt here at Bandon and he is the highest WAGR ranked player left in the field (6th).

Unfortunately Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) and John GOUGH (ENG) both came out on the wrong side of tight matches.

The Southern Amateur champion McClure MEISSNER (USA) 8 beat Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) 57 by 2&1. The American won the 16th and 17th holes with birdies to secure the win.

John GOUGH (ENG) 25 lost on the 19th hole to Segundo OLIVA PINTO (ARG) 40. Oliva Pinto birdied the 17th to regain parity before another birdie on the 19th hole saw him through to the Round of 32.

Medalist Wilson FURR (USA) continued his good form by beating Aaron DU (CHN) by 6&4. However, there were notable losses for highly fancied Davis THOMPSON (USA) and John AUGENSTEIN (USA) in Round 1.

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11th August 2020 – Stroke Play Qualifying Round 2

22 year old University of Alabama student Wilson FURR (USA) 132 -11 secured medalist honours after posting a course record 62 (-9) on the Bandon Trails course on Day 2. His 62 was the joint second lowest score in U.S. Amateur history.

Wilson Furr (Photo: Steve Gibbons / USGA)

Wilson Furr’s Stroke Play Qualifying Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

James PIOT (USA) -9 and Ben SHIPP (USA) -7 finished second and third respectively after completing their qualifying with a 65 and 67 on Bandon Dunes.

Day 1 leaders McClure MEISSNER (USA) and Aman GUPTA (USA) were both over par in Round 2 but with their firm foundations in place still finished in the top 10.

John Gough’s Stroke Play Qualifying Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

Sandy Scott’s Stroke Play Qualifying Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

Angus Flanagan’s Stroke Play Qualifying Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

The match play cut came at 145 (+2) with 18 players finishing on this score in tied 62nd place. An 18-for-3 spots play-off will therefore now be held tomorrow morning to finalise the match play field.

Connor MCKINNEY (SCO) and Joe PAGDIN (ENG) both sadly bogeyed 3 of their last five holes to miss out on qualification and even a shot at the play-off.

Austin ECKROAT (USA) +3, Cole HAMMER (USA) +3, defending champion Andy OGLETREE (USA) +3, Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA) +4, John PAK (USA) +5 and Pierceson COODY (USA) +8 were amongst the leading home players to miss the cut.

Round 2 Average Scores: Dunes 72.931 (+0.931) and Trails 73.689 (+2.689). As with Round 1 the wind speeds picked up but not as significantly as on Day 1. As a result the score differential between the morning and afternoon starters was less material.

GB&I Stroke Play 36 Hole Qualifying Scores (Photo: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2020 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Results

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10th August 2020 – Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1

McClure MEISSNER (USA) -8 and Aman GUPTA (USA) -7 recorded the lowest rounds on Day 1 of the 120^th U.S. Amateur Championship. Meissner was playing on the Dunes course whilst Gupta started his Championship on the Trails.

The wind picked up significantly in the afternoon and scores were around 3.5 shots higher on both courses from the second wave players.

Round 1 Average Scores: Dunes 75.583 (+3.583) and Trails 75.598 (+4.598).

At the end of Round 1 John GOUGH (ENG) -2 Dunes, Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) -1 Dunes and Joe PAGDIN (ENG) Ev Trails are all positioned in the all-important top 64.

These three and certainly the other 8 GB&I players still have work to do on Day 2 if they are to make the Match Play stage.

GB&I Stroke Play 18 Hole Qualifying Scores (Photo: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2020 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Results

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5th August 2020

Introduction

This year’s Championship is being played on Bandon’s Dunes and Trails courses.

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

2020 Field

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic all Sectional Qualifying events were cancelled. In 2019 there were 96 36 hole events staged by the USGA with the qualifiers making up a large proportion of the final field.

The 2020 field is entirely made up of exempt players and has been reduced to 264 players – 312 normally compete. The entry fee for the U.S. Amateur Championship is $175.

Exemption categories, largely based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), were established by the USGA with the aim of creating a field that most closely resembles those of a typical Championship.

Based on the main exemption categories originally announced 28 GB&I players earned a spot in the field – see Appendix below for more details. However, due to international travel restrictions many of these players have not been able to take up this opportunity. This in turn opened the door to six other GB&I players who were ranked lower in the WAGR but were based in USA.

On 30th July 14 GB&I players were confirmed by the USGA as being in the field. Barclay Brown, Tom McKibbin and John Murphy subsequently withdrew on travel grounds leaving us with 11 starters. They are: –

Dan BRADBURY (ENG)
Archie DAVIES (WAL)
Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG)
Angus FLANAGAN (ENG)
John GOUGH (ENG)
Jamie LI (ENG)
Connor MCKINNEY (SCO)
Rhys NEVIN (ENG)
Daniel O’LOUGHLIN (ENG)
Joe PAGDIN (ENG)
Sandy SCOTT (SCO)

There were 11 GB&I players at Pinehurst last year, 7 in 2018 at Pebble Beach, 9 in 2017 at Riviera and 11 in 2016 at Oakland Hills.

Sadly it will not be possible for any of the above GB&I entrants to play in the Brabazon Trophy (18-21 August) or the Amateur Championship (25-30 August) this year due to the current quarantining rules.

Most of the leading USA players will be competing at Bandon Dunes and I expect the following to feature strongly: –

John AUGENSTEIN (USA) – 2019 runner-up
Pierceson COODY (USA)
Quade CUMMINS (USA)
Austin ECKROAT (USA)
Cole HAMMER (USA)
Meissner MCCLURE (USA)
Maxwell MOLOVAN (USA)
Andy OGLETREE (USA) – 2019 champion
John PAK (USA)
Tyler STRAFACI (USA)
Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA)
Davis THOMPSON (USA)

Click here to view the – USGA’s 2020 U.S. Amateur Information PDF

Click here to view the – USGA’s 2020 U.S. Amateur Exemptions List

Click here to view the – 2020 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Draw Sheets

With Oregon being 8 hours behind the UK play will start in our late afternoon and proceed through the night.

Competition Format

On Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th August all of the competitors will play 36-holes of stroke play, one round on the Dunes Course and the other on the Trails Course.

The Top 64 qualifiers will then progress to the match play stage of the competition. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

18 hole match play rounds will then be played on the Dunes Course between Wednesday 12th and Saturday 15th, culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final on Sunday 16th August. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

Host Courses

Bandon Dunes Course
7,218 yards (maximum), Par 72
Opened in 1999.
Designed by David McLay Kidd.

Bandon Dunes Course Video (Photo: bandondunesgolf.com)

Bandon Dunes Course Scorecard (Photo: bandondunesgolf.com)

Bandon Trails Course
6,883 yards (maximum), Par 71
Opened in 2005.
Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

Bandon Trails Course Video (Photo: bandondunesgolf.com)

Bandon Trails Course Scorecard (Photo: bandondunesgolf.com)

The Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is the realisation of a dream by golf-mad owner Mike Keiser, a greetings card millionaire. It now incorporates six courses, including a spectacular 13 hole par 3 set up, all built on sand dunes 100 feet above the Pacific Ocean.

The Resort has previously hosted the 2006 Curtis Cup Match, 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast (as at 9th August) is positive for Championship week. Bandon Dunes in Oregon is on the north west pacific coast so temperatures will be cool and winds will be a factor.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 10th August – Sunny / Wind 21 mph N / Temp. Min. 21°C, Max. 9°C.
Tues 11th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 17 mph N / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 8°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 12th August – Sunny / Wind 19 mph N / Temp. Min. 20°C, Max. 9°C.
Thurs 13th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 19 mph N / Temp. Min. 21°C, Max. 10°C.
Fri 14th August – Sunny / Wind 21 mph N / Temp. Min. 22°C, Max. 10°C.
Sat 15th August – Sunny / Wind 15 mph N / Temp. Min. 23°C, Max. 13°C.
Sun 16th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 11 mph NW / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 12°C.

UK Television Coverage

In recent years the Sky Sports Golf channel has taken the U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

Prizes

The 2020 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;

b) An exemption to play in the 2021 U.S. Open to be staged at [Winged Foot Golf Club or Torrey Pines];

and assuming they remain amateur,

c) An exemption to play in the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s Golf Club;

d) An invitation to play in the 2021 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;

e) An exemption to play in the 2021 – 2030 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

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

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

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

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.

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2019 U.S. Amateur Championship

Andy OGLETREE (USA) won the Final of the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship beating John AUGENSTEIN (USA) 2&1 in the 36 hole match.

Andy Ogletree (Photo: @USGA)

Augenstein got off to a great start on Course No. 4, which was used for the first 18 holes. Three consecutive birdies helped him build a 4Up lead after just 5 holes.

Ogletree came back at the Vanderbilt player gradually on the back nine and a birdie on the final hole saw him go into lunch just 2Down.

The Mississipian was relentless as play moved on to Course No. 2 in the afternoon. He finally got the match back to All Square on the 31st and immediately moved to 1Up with a birdie on the par 5 14th. After two shared holes with pars a four putt from off the green on the par 3 17th by Augenstein handed the trophy to Ogletree.

Ogletree made just three bogeys in the 37 holes he played in the Final.

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) was for the second year running GB&I’s leading performer in the Championship. He eventually lost in the Round of 16 to Cohen TROLIO (USA) 5&4. Trolio recorded five birdies on his front nine to take a 4Up lead and eventually saw out the game with another birdie on the 14th.

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

Brandon WU (USA) won the Stroke Play Qualifying competition with rounds of 65 -5 (No. 4) and 72 +2 (No. 2).

Brandon Wu (Photo: @USGA)

Tom SLOMAN (ENG) was one of six players one shot back of Wu on -2. Thomas FORSTER (ENG) and Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) -1 also qualified in the top 20.

11 GB&I players competed in 2019 with just five progressing to the Match Play Stage. Ben JONES (ENG), who finished tied 62nd, missed out after a 27-for-3 sudden death play-off on Course No. 4.

Here are the full GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Results: –

U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

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

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2020 will see its 120th 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.

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

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

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

09-15 August 2021 – Oakmont Country Club,

15-21 August 2022 – Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey

14-20 August 2023 – Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado

12-18 August 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota

11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California

10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania

09-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York

11-17 August 2031 – Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tennessee

Appendix – GB&I Players Eligible For The 2020 U.S. Amateur

Based on the main exemption categories originally announced by the USGA 28 GB&I players earned a spot in the field.

However, due to international travel restrictions many of these players were not able to take up this opportunity. This in turn opened the door to six other GB&I players who were ranked lower in the WAGR but were based in USA.

Here’s a list of the relevant exemption categories, the GB&I players initially caught by them and confirmation of the 11 who will be competing.

Round of 64 from the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship
Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) ENTERED
Sandy SCOTT (SCO) ENTERED
James SUGRUE (IRL)

From the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, winners in 2016-2019; runners-up in 2018-2019 and quarterfinalists in 2019
Joe PAGDIN (ENG) ENTERED

Playing members of the United States and Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup Teams, four year exemption once appointed to the team (2017 & 2019)
Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG)
Conor GOUGH (ENG)
Thomas PLUMB (ENG)
Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL)
Sandy SCOTT (SCO)
James SUGRUE (IRL)

Winners of The Amateur Championship (five year exemption) (2016-2019).
James SUGRUE (IRE)

From the current Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) the top 225-ranked players as of 24th June 2020
Sandy SCOTT (SCO) #9
Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL) #17
James SUGRUE (IRL) #19
Joe PAGDIN (ENG) #20
Ben SCHMIDT (ENG) #27
Ben JONES (ENG) #30
Conor GOUGH (ENG) #43
Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) #63
Jake BOLTON (ENG) #69
Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) #73 ENTERED
Mark POWER (IRL) #81
Tom MCKIBBIN (IRL) #116
John MURPHY (IRL) #127
Charlie STRICKLAND (ENG) #136
Matty LAMB (ENG) #145
Joe LONG (ENG) #147
Robin WILLIAMS (ENG) #151
Thomas PLUMB (ENG) #153
Peter O’KEEFFE (IRL) #157
Sam BAIRSTOW (ENG) #158
Keith EGAN (IRL) #160
Harry GODDARD (ENG) #167
Max MARTIN (ENG) #173
Arron EDWARDS-HILL (ENG) #178
Callum FARR (ENG) #188
Jamie LI (ENG) #205 ENTERED
Connor MCKINNEY (SCO) #224 ENTERED

From the current Men’s WAGR, the top 25-ranked players using the WAGR Age Filter as of 24th June 2020. Players must be age 25 on or before August 10, 2020. Player’s WAGR profile must include date of birth to be considered for this exemption category
Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL) #17 (2nd)
Peter O’KEEFFE (IRL) #157 (8th)
Colm CAMPBELL (IRL) #399 (24th)

[Matthew Clark (SCO) #319 – date of birth not added to WAGR biography so excluded]

Remaining spots in the championship field will be filled using the World Amateur Golf Ranking
Dan BRADBURY (ENG) #298 ENTERED
Barclay BROWN (ENG) #353
Archie DAVIES (WAL) #244 ENTERED
John GOUGH (ENG) #239 ENTERED
Rhys NEVIN (ENG) #346 ENTERED
Daniel O’LOUGHLIN (ENG) #326 ENTERED

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U.S. Amateur Championship – 2019 Preview, Reports & Results

Posted on 09/08/2019 by Golf Bible

Sunday 18th August 2019

Final

Andy OGLETREE won the Final of the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship beating John AUGENSTEIN 2&1 in the 36 hole match.

Andy Ogletree (Photo: @USGA)

Augenstein got off to a great start on Course No. 4, which was used for the first 18 holes. Three consecutive birdies helped him build a 4Up lead after just 5 holes.

Ogletree came back at the Vanderbilt player gradually on the back nine and a birdie on the final hole saw him go into lunch just 2Down.

Ogletree made just three bogeys in the 37 holes he played in the Final and can now look forward to a place in the U.S. Walker Cup team and playing exemptions into the U.S. Masters (where he will be paired for the first two rounds with Tiger Woods), the U.S. Open and The Open Championship.

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Click here to view the live – U.S. Amateur Match Play Draws and Scores

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Saturday 17th August 2019

Semi-Finals

Andy OGLETREE beat Cohen TROLIO 3&1 in a fairly poor quality first Semi-Final where pars on Pinehurst’s tough Course No. 2 were frequently good enough to win holes.

The second match was of a much higher standard with John AUGENSTEIN coming through against William HOLCOMB V who battled to the end but was outclassed by his more experienced opponent.

Ogletree and Augenstein both gain exemptions into The Masters Tournament and U.S. Open Championship in 2020 following their wins today.

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U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Click here to view the live – U.S. Amateur Match Play Draws and Scores

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Friday 16th August 2019

Quarter Finals

Debutant Cohen TROLIO, who celebrated his 17th birthday last week continues to surprise at the U.S. Amateur Championship. Having drawn level on the 13th with an eagle Austin SQUIRES gifted Game 1 to his opponent by following it with three consecutive bogeys on 14, 15 and 16.

Trolio will now play 21 year old Andy OGLETREE, a fellow Mississippian and a rising senior at Georgia Tech, who overcame Spencer RALSTON in their Quarter Final. Ralston was made to pay for five bogeys on the day by the much steadier Ogletree.

John AUGENSTEIN (21) beat Palmer JACKSON 3&2 and is now the player to beat for me. A strong start saw the man from Kentucky build a 3Up lead after seven holes and he saw the game out comfortably thereafter.

In the biggest surprise of the day William HOLCOMB V, who is 21 and married, easily saw off Australia’s Karl VILIPS, who turned 18 today. Vilips who had looked so good all week simply didn’t turn up. He shot 6-over for the front nine gifting Holcomb a 4Up lead and whilst he played much better on the back side he was unable to make any inroads.

The Quarter finals were delayed for just over an hour when heavy rain caused a suspension in play at 4.32pm.

Here are the current SPWAR’s of the Semi-Finalists – Augenstein #21, #Ogletree #120, Holcomb #426 and Trolio #1,706.

On paper, from a selfish GB&I Walker Cup perspective, I would be pleased to see anyone but Augenstein win the Championship over the weekend. The champion earns an automatic place on the U.S.A. team.

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U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Click here to view the live – U.S. Amateur Match Play Draws and Scores

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Thursday 15th August 2019

Match Play Round of 16

An inspired Cohen TROLIO (USA) beat Alex FITZPATRICK 5&4 in their Round of 16 match. Five birdies on his front nine handed Trolio a 4Up lead and after a wobble at the start of the back nine he eventually saw out the game with another birdie on the 14th.

UPPER HALF (seedings in brackets)

Cohen Trolio (57) 🇦🇺 v. Alex FITZPATRICK (24) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

The son of a golf professional Trolio, from West Point in Mississippi is 17 and has verbally committed to Louisiana State University for the 2021/22 academic year. Whilst relatively inexperienced and unknown he is certainly enjoying his time in North Carolina this week. Before beating Fitzpatrick this afternoon he had taken out 8th seed Trevor WERBYLO (USA) by 2 Holes in the Round of 64 and 40th seed Blake WAGONER (USA) 2&1 earlier today.

Trolio will play Austin SQUIRES (USA) in the Quarter Finals. Squires has gone from strength to strength since claiming the last Match Play spot in Wednesday morning’s play-off, today beating both Stefano MAZZOLI (ITA) and highly fancied Amercian John PAK.

The COODY brothers both lost in the Round of 16. Parker to Spencer RALSTON 6&5 and Pierceson more surprisingly to William HOLCOMB V 2&1.

Ricky CASTILO and Isaiah SALINDA, alongside Pierceson Coody, strong U.S.A. Walker Cup candidates, also lost. Castillo to John AUGENSTEIN 1Up and Salinda to Palmer JACKSON.

Australia’s Karl VILIPS continues to impress. His 3&1 win over Brad DALKE 3&1 won’t have been lost on the rest of the field.

Match Play Round of 32

Alex FITZPATRICK, now GB&I’s sole representative in the U.S. Amateur Championship, teed off against Jack TRENT (AUS) at 8.30am (1.30pm BST) in the Round of 32.

In a tight match where both players played very good golf on the tough Course No. 2 the Yorkshireman finally came through with a birdie on the 21st hole to progress.

The highlight of the game would appear to be hole 5 where Fitzpatrick is shown as having recorded an albatross 2 on the par 5 to win the hole.

UPPER HALF (seedings in brackets)

Jack TRENT (56) 🇦🇺 v. Alex FITZPATRICK (24) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Akshay BHATIA (USA), one of the three players pre-selected for the U.S.A. Walker Cup team fell at this hurdle. He lost 4&2 to John AUGENSTEIN (USA) who has every chance of joining him at Hoylake in three weeks time.

The two COODY brothers, Parker and Pierceson, both win and with the two of them on opposite sides of the draw an all Coody Final remains a possibility.

In the final game Steven FISK (USA) lost to Karl VILIPS (AUS) 3&1 in one of the standout matches of the Round of 32.

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Match Play Draws and Scores

ME.

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Wednesday 14th August 2019

Match Play Round of 64

The Match Play Round of 64 games started at 10.00am (3.00pm BST) today on Course No. 2. The games involving the three leading seeds and the three play-off qualifiers were scheduled at the back of the field to ensure there was no delay in play.

It proved to be a generally disappointing day for the five GB&I players who qualified.

UPPER HALF (seedings in brackets)

Alex FITZPATRICK (24) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 v. James SUGRUE (41) 🇮🇪

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Alex FITZPATRICK comfortably beat an out of sorts James SUGRUE in their match. James was +7 and Alex +2 for the 14 holes played. Alex will now play Australia’s JACK TRENT in the Round of 32 tomorrow morning. Jack beat Ryan GERARD (USA) 4&3 in his Round of 64 match.

LOWER HALF (seedings in brackets)

Tom SLOMAN (3) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 v. Van HOLMGREN (62) 🇺🇸

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Tom SLOMAN will be disappointed to have lost to the relatively inexperienced Minnesotan Van HOLMGREN, particularly having got off to a good start. Tom was +5 for the 16 holes played whilst Holmgren recovered well after a nervous opening to be +1.

Thomas FORSTER (19) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 v. William HOLCOMB V (46) 🇺🇸

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Thomas FORSTER led 4Up with 8 holes to play but bogeyed 7 of them to let Texan William HOLCOMB back into the match. Holcomb found his feet after 7 holes playing the last 11 in 1-under which is always going to get the job done on Course No. 2.

Brad DALKE (27) 🇺🇸 v. Sandy SCOTT (38) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Sandy SCOTT played the best golf of all of the GB&I players who contested the Round of 64 but ended up losing to 2016 runner up Brad DALKE. Scott was Even par on his round when play ended on the 17th. The joys of match play golf.

Medalist Brandon WU (USA) lost by 2 holes to the final qualifier Austin SQUIRES (USA). Other notables exits included Austin ECKROAT (USA), Stewart HAGESTAD (USA), Chandler PHILLIPS (USA), Matthias SCHMID (GER) and Cameron YOUNG (USA).

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Match Play Draws and Scores

ME.

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Tuesday 13th August and Wednesday 14th August 2019

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 2

Course No. 2 – 7,414 yards, par 70 – Rd 1 Stroke Average 77.14
Course No. 4 – 7,246 yards, par 70 – Rd 1 Stroke Average 73.58

Round 2 of the Stroke Play Qualifying competition was not completed on Day 2 with play suspended due to darkness at 8.00pm. This was after a late afternoon weather delay of 1 hour and 21 minutes which ultimately prevented 50 players from finishing their rounds.

The Stroke Play Qualifying resumed on Wednesday morning at 7.20am and was quickly completed.

Just 11 players from the starting field of 312 finished the 36 holes at 140 (Ev) or better highlighting the severity of the U.S.G.A.’s Pinehurst test.

Brandon WU (22) followed up an opening round of 65 (-5) with a 72 (+2) on Course No. 2 to secure medalist honours on 137 (-3).

Brandon Wu (Photo: @USGA)

Six players finished at -2 including Ricky CASTILLO (18), Cooper DOSSEY (21), Jacob SOLOMON (22), Shiryu (Leo) OYO (20) of Japan, Tom SLOMAN (23) of England and Philip BARBAREE (22).

Tom SLOMAN enjoyed 5 birdies on No. 4 on his way to a 68 (-2) and an impressive tied 2nd place finish. He will enter Match Play as the 3rd seed. Tom put his success down to his caddie. “I’ve got a local caddie. He obviously knows where to hit it and I’ve just been trying to do it.” Personally, I think his good play is more likely due to his newly acquired Pinehurst straw boater hat !

Tom Sloman (Photo: USGA / Michael Reaves)

Thomas FORSTER, from Oundle in England, shot a 69 (-1) on No. 4 to secure his passage to the Match Play stage. Forster, who is a rising senior at Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, has used his knowledge of U.S. courses to good affect so far.

Alex FITZPATRICK battled hard on Course No. 2 to secure his place in Match Play with a 74 (+4) on Tuesday. He finished alongside Forster in tied 19th.

Our later starters in Round 2 were impacted by the deteriorating conditions and subsequent weather delay.

Sandy SCOTT shot a back nine 40 on Course No. 2 on his way to a 76 (+6) but thankfully had enough in the bank after his strong opening round to make it through in tied 28th.

The fates of James SUGRUE and Ben JONES were not decided until Wednesday morning.

Sugrue finished Day 2 on +4, which at that point was right on the top 64 and ties cut mark, with two holes to play and having double bogeyed the 15th on Course No. 2. as light faded. Undaunted he came out the following morning and proceeded to birdie 17 and par 18 to comfortably qualify on +3, also in tied 28th.

Jones looked like an easy qualifier all day but sadly unwound coming down the stretch. He sandwiched two birdies on 10 and 18 with 7 dropped shots to shoot 40 and put himself under pressure with a +5 total. Thankfully, it quickly became clear on Wednesday morning that he was likely to get a reprieve with the top 64 and ties cut quickly drifting out to his score.

The 27 players, including Ben JONES, who finished tied 62nd were therefore thrown the lifeline of a 27-for-3 sudden death play-off. It started on Course No. 4 once all of the scores had been collated. Van HOLMGREEN (USA) and Chad SEWELL (USA) birdied the par 4 1st to quickly earn the 62nd and 63rd Match Play seeds. With 7 players eliminated the remaining 18, still including Jones, progressed to the long par 4 2nd. This hole saw a further 5 players eliminated. Jones and 12 others moved onto the par 5 17th. Unfortunately Ben was not able to match the three birdies that were recorded so had to drop out at this point. Austen SQUIRES (USA) went on to par the 18th and secure the final Match Play spot. The play-off took around 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete.

The other GB&I players all missed the cut. Ben SCHMIDT (+6) T89, Euan WALKER (+6) T89, Conor GOUGH (+8) T120, Conor PURCELL (+16) T234 and Caolan RAFFERTY (+16) T234 all missed the cut.

U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Other notable players to miss out on the Match Play were Quade CUMMINS (USA – Walker Cup hopeful), Cole HAMMER (USA – World No. 1), Daniel HILLIER (NZL), David MICHELUZZI (AUS), Kevin O’CONNELL (USA – 2018 Mid-Amateur champion), Trent PHILLIPS (USA – Walker Cup hopeful), Jovan REBULA (RSA – 2018 Amateur champion), Alex SMALLEY (USA – Walker Cup hopeful), Chun An YU (CTP).

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

ME.

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Monday 12th August 2019

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1

Course No. 2 – 7,414 yards, par 70 – Rd 1 Stroke Average 77.05
Course No. 4 – 7,246 yards, par 70 – Rd 1 Stroke Average 73.14

U.S.A’s Brandon WU (22), a recent graduate of Stanford University, leads the Stroke Play Qualifying competition having shot a new course record 65 (-5) on Course No. 4.

This was a little surprising as his preparation for the U.S. Amateur could hardly have been worse. He and Stewart HAGESTAD (USA) represented the U.S.A. at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, last week which finished on Sunday. As such they only arrived at Pinehurst this morning with the U.S.G.A. arranging late tee times for both of them. “I tried to manage my sleep as well as I could,” said Wu, “I slept great on the two flights up here and then took a quick nap before I teed off for about two hours. I actually felt pretty good.”

HAGESTAD, already selected for the U.S.A. Walker cup team, didn’t fair quite so well in Round 1. His 73 (+3) on Course No. 2 leaves him tied 102nd and with work to do on the easier Course No. 4 tomorrow.

The two other U.S.A. Walker Cup W.A.G.R. picks Akshay BHATIA and Cole HAMMER are also far from certain to make match play. Bhatia 72 +2 (No.2) is tied 73rd whilst Hammer 75 +5 (No. 2) is tied 152nd after 18 holes.

Wu holds a one-stroke lead over Trevor WERBYLO (21), a junior at the University of Arizona, and Palmer JACKSON (18), an incoming freshman at the University of Notre Dame, who both shot 66’s (-4) on Course No. 4.

Sandy SCOTT (SCO) is leading the group of eleven Great British & Irish (GB&I) players who are competing. His 67 (-3) on Course No. 4 where he teed off on the 9th hole, included six birdies. Talking after his round Scott said, “I felt like I got off to a little bit of a shaky start. I made a bogey on the second and I had some nerves going through the first few holes, but I managed to bounce back with a birdie (on the par 3 11th). I had three birdies on 15, 16 and 17 which gave me a bit of momentum. I managed to just trust a lot of the numbers that me and my caddie were going with and hit a lot of good approaches.” He finished a much steadier front nine with two birdies on the par 4 7th and 8th.

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG), who reached the Quarter Finals last year, shot a 68 (-2) on Course No. 4 to lie 8th after Round 1. Five birdies and an eagle on the par 4 16th hole were offset by two double bogeys and a bogey. “I played nicely, I had a few bumps in the road, but overall I sort of stuck it out and was patient and waited for openings to appear and luckily took them and yeah, finished off nicely. So pretty pleased.”

Ben JONES (ENG) recorded four birdies on his way to a 69 (-1). He is tied 19th.

Tom SLOMAN (ENG) arguably had the best round by a GB&I player. His even par 70 on Course No. 2 was one of only seven rounds that achieved par or better on this challenging layout. He is tied 28th.

Amateur Champion, James SUGRUE (IRL) is also nicely placed after a 70 (Ev) on Course No. 4 and sits alongside Sloman in tied 28th.

The table below shows how all of the 11 Great British & Irish GB&I players performed, along with their tee times and courses for Round 2. Many found Course No. 2 a tough nut to crack and will be looking to bounce back on Course no. 4 today.

Click here to view the full – U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Scores

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Friday 9th August 2019

The 119^th U.S. Amateur Championship starts on Monday 12th August at the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina.

The Championship is being played on Pinehurst’s No. 2 and No. 4 courses.

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

Competition Format

On Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th August all of the competitiors will play 36-holes of stroke play, one round on Course No. 2 and the other on Course No. 4.

The Top 64 qualifiers will then progress to the match play stage of the competition. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

18 hole match play rounds will then be played on Course No. 2 between Wednesday 14th and Saturday 17th, culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final on Sunday 18th August. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

The first round of the Final will be played over Course No. 4 with the second round utilising Course No. 2. This will be the first time that two different courses have been used for the 36 hole match.

2019 Field

There were 7,191 entries this year, each player paying the $175 entry fee.

96 36 hole Sectional Qualifying events were held in July across the U.S.A., with one each in Canada and Mexico too. The introduction of a European Sectional Qualifier, like the U.S.G.A. stage at Walton Heath for the U.S. Open Championship, remains long overdue in my opinion.

A final field of 312 players from 27 different countries (2018: 24) will contest this year’s Championship. 246 players are from U.S.A. with 66 coming from the Rest of the World.

Jay BROOKS (USA) is the youngest competitor at 14 and Sean KNAPP (USA) the oldest at 57. The average age of the field is 22.1 years.

2015 U.S.A. Walker Cup player Mike McCOY (56), the second oldest player, will be making his 20th appearance in the Championship. His son Nathaniel McCOY (29), also a reinstated amateur, is also playing this week.

There are 11 GB&I players competing. There were 7 in 2018, 9 in 2017 and 11 in 2016 at Pebble Beach, Riviera and Oakland Hills respectively.

Here is a list of the GB&I players with their Exemption Category or Sectional Qualifying event noted: –

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) – 2018 U.S. Amateur Quarter Finalist

Tom FORSTER (ENG) – Qualifier (1st Alternate) from Little Rock, Arkansas (22/07/19)

Conor GOUGH (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Ben JONES (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Connor PURCELL (IRE) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Caolan RAFFERTY (IRE) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Ben SCHMIDT (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Sandy SCOTT (SCO) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Tom SLOMAN (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

James SUGRUE (IRE) – Winner of the Amateur Championship 2019

Euan WALKER (SCO) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Earlier this week Joe PAGDIN (ENG) qualified for a place in the field based on his WAGR of 30th as at 7/8/19. However, having already committed to this week’s Boys’ Home Internationals and next week’s Boys’ Amateur Championship he understandably declined the opportunity.

Jake BURNAGE (ENG) narrowly missed out on a place. He rose to 46th in the WAGR this week but was the sixth new player, not already exempt, to move into the top 50. Only the top 5 are eligible with declined places, such as Pagdin’s, falling into the hands of Qualifying Alternates. Garrett Rank (CAN), the surprise winner of last week’s Western Amateur, moved up to 45th in the WAGR this week to secure the last of these final exemptions. The Points Average difference between him and Jake being just 0.5857.

2019 Stroke Play Qualifying

The draw for the 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifying competition was made on Wednesday 7th August and can be viewed here – U.S. Amateur Tee Times

Play will start at 7.15am (BST 12.15pm). As North Carolina is 5 hours behind us the action will take place place during our afternoons and evenings.

Host Courses

The Pinehurst Resort – Courses No. 2 and No. 4 (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Pinehurst Resort Course No. 2
7,519 yards (maximum), Par 70
Opened in 1907.
Designed by Donald Ross (1907). Renovated by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2010).

No. 2 is the primary Championship course of the nine that make up the Pinehurst Resort. Donald Ross worked on his masterpiece until he died in 1948. It is known for its crowned, undulating greens and has been returned to its original state by Coore and Crenshaw with huge areas of turf removed and a more natural look re-introduced. There are 111 bunkers and no rough on the course now.

This will be the third time that No. 2 has been the lead course for the U.S. Amateur. The previous stagings were in 1962 and 2008 with Labron Harris Jr. and Danny Lee the champions.

Pinehurst Resort Course No. 4
7,196 yards (maximum), Par 70.
Opened in 1919.
Designed by Gil Hanse (2018); Designed originally by Donald Ross (1919)

Weather Forecast (Updated – at 8.00am 12th August 2019)

Hot and sunny weather is forecast with the possibility of some delays in play due to late afternoon thundery showers.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 12th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (SE). Temp. Min 20°C. / Max. 33°C.
Tues 13th August – Sunny. Wind 10mph (SW). Temp. Min 23°C. / Max. 35°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 14th August – Sunny, PM Showers. Wind 9mph (SW). Temp. Min 21°C. / Max. 35°C.
Thurs 15th August – Sunny, PM Showers. Wind 7mph (W). Temp. Min 20°C. / Max. 31°
Fri 16th August – Sunny. Wind 7mph (NW). Temp. Min 20°C. / Max. 32°C.
Sat 17th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (SE). Temp. Min 20°C. / Max. 30°C.
Sun 18th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (NE). Temp. Min 20°C. / Max. 32°C.

UK Television Coverage

Sky Sports Golf channel will be taking the Fox U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

Prizes

The 2019 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;

b) An exemption to play in the 2020 U.S. Open to be staged at Winged Foot Golf Club;

and assuming they remain amateur,

c) An exemption to play in the 2020 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s Golf Club;

d) An invitation to play in the 2020 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;

e) An exemption to play in the 2020 – 2029 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

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

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

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

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.

2018 U.S. Amateur Championship

Viktor HOVLAND (NOR) beat Devon BLING (USA) 6&5 in the 36-hole Final of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Hovland became just the second Continental European to win the U.S. Amateur. Edoardo Molinari (ITA) won in 2005 at Merion Golf Club beating Dillon Dougherty (USA) 4&3 in the Final.

From a GB&I perspective Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) did superbly well eventually losing in the Quarter Finals to Cole HAMMER (USA) 3&2. Harry HALL (ENG) and Eoin LEONARD (IRE) also qualified for the match play stage but both lost in the Rd of 64, to Stewart HEGASTAD (USA) by 1 Hole and Kristoffer REITAN (NOR) by 6&4 respectively.

In the preceding stroke play competition, played at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, only Eoin LEONARD (IRE) on 145 +2 [74 SH / 71PB], Harry HALL (ENG) 146 +3 [72 PB / 74 SH] and Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) 146 +3 [72 PB / 74 SH] qualified from the seven strong Great British and Irish contingent. Matthew JORDAN (ENG) 148 +5 [77 SH / 71 PB], Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) 148 +5 [78 SH / 70 PB], Robin DAWSON (IRE) 150 +7 [76 SH / 74 PB] and Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) 150 +7 [78 SH / 72PB] all missed the Top 64 match play cut.

Click here to view the full – 2018 U.S. Amateur Championship Results

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U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and this will be its 119th 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.

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

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

10-16 August 2020 – Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon

9-15 August 2021 – Oakmont Country Club,

15-21 August 2022 – Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey

14-20 August 2023 – Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado

12-18 August 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota

11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California

10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania

ME.

Johnny Goodman

Posted on 18/12/2018 by Golf Bible

18th December 2018

Johnny Goodman was the last amateur to win a major Championship, securing the 1933 U.S. Open. A relative unknown nowadays he holds a record which is unlikely to ever be broken.

He was the underdog who came good but never got the recognition or financial rewards he deserved.

Johnny Goodman (Photo: omaha.com)

John George Goodman was born on 28th December 1909 in South Omaha, Nebraska, the fifth child of Lithuanian immigrants, William and Rose Goodman. His father worked in the local slaughterhouses and faced with horrific working conditions and poverty drifted into alcoholism. Shortly after his wife died in late 1924 giving birth to their 13th child (who also died) William chose to desert his family and the home he owned.

Abandoned at 15 and ultimately left to fend for himself it’s fair to say Johnny’s prospects appeared poor. The game of golf and the generosity of friends proved to be his saviour.

By accident Johnny had become a caddie at the nearby Omaha Field Club a few years earlier when he was 11. Playing on the railway which criss-crossed the golf course he had found a stray golf ball. Whilst selling it to a passing player he had learnt that more money was available for carrying bags at the Club. Within days he was earning on the weekends and given his natural intelligence and hard work soon became the best caddie at the Club. In 1922, reflecting this status, he was handed the bag of Walter Hagen by the caddie-master when the reigning Open champion arrived in Omaha on an exhibition tour with Australian Joe Kirkwood.

After briefly sleeping rough his friend Matt Zadalis persuaded his family to take him in and the skills he had developed as a caddie in dealing with adults quickly made him a respectful and welcome house guest. Whilst he continued to take his studies seriously his attendance at school became more sporadic. The need to earn, to feed and clothe himself, took priority and over the next few years he secured jobs as a Western Union messenger, a printing factory assistant and even occasionally as a cleaner in the slaughterhouses. To his credit he later did night classes to catch up and completed his high school diploma on time in June 1927.

He had continued to caddie in the spring and summer months and having cobbled together a set of clubs began discretely practising on the Omaha Field course. It wasn’t long before he became proficient and at 15, having won the 1925 Metropolitan Golf Tournament, could rightly call himself one of the best golfers in Omaha.

Like most sports fans at the time Bobby Jones was his hero and understandably given the era Johnny was taken with the amateur ideal. Given his hand to mouth existence at home he had no aspirations to turn professional and to be treated as a second class citizen at the golf course like most professionals still were. He was happy to continue travelling to events in the cheaper boxcars used to transport livestock and mail on the trains if it meant he could continue to have the sanctuary of golf clubhouses.

He developed a sound posture and a repeatable swing where he hit the ball late, more on the upswing than driving the club into the ground at impact. What started off as a draw became a power fade as he practiced more and sought greater consistency. As a small and slender man of 5ft 8” he never hit the ball far but the closer he got to the hole the deadlier he became; there were few who could pitch and putt better.

The next step up the golfing ladder should have been the Nebraska Amateur Championship but ambitiously in June 1926 Johnny went for the regional Trans-Mississippi Championship in St. Louis. Playing in his first major competition Goodman showed his potential, first breaking Hagen’s course record in qualifying before falling to the more experienced Johnny Dawson 2&1 in the semi-finals. Despite the loss his performance made headline news back in Omaha. As he said himself: “One day I woke up and I was famous”.

Whilst his appearance, at least in his early playing years, often left a little to be desired he now realised he needed to look the part every day even if his finances made that hard to achieve. More importantly he now also understood that controlling his emotions on the course would help his scoring. Observers noticed how mentally strong he was and how he played with a competitive focus few others could match.

Goodman won the Trans-Mississippi Championship the following year at Broadmoor C.C. in Colorado Springs beating James Ward 2&1 in the Final. He would go on to become a 3-time Trans-Mississippi champion; wins in 1931 and 1935 bookending a loss in the 1934 final.

Goodman won the Nebraska Amateur Championship in 1929 and went on to retain it in 1930 and 1931. However, his sights were increasingly set at a national rather than state level. He didn’t have to wait long to make his mark.

At the 1929 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach Golf Links, in one of the great upsets in the history of the game, he beat medalist Bobby Jones 2&1 in Round 1 of the match play stage. Disappointingly but perhaps not surprisingly he lost in Round 2 by the same scoreline in the afternoon to a 19 year old Lawson Little, who was just setting out on his own path to greatness.

The event started ominously for Goodman. Upon arrival in California he had been summoned to a USGA meeting to explain a new Spalding sporting goods store assistant’s role he had recently started amid concerns about his amateur status. His $8 per week salary appeared to be nothing to him when compared with some of the employment and writing arrangements other leading amateurs, like Jones and Chick Evans, were benefiting from. At the time the USGA appeared happy to show a little more flexibility to the more affluent gentleman players who met their concept of the perfect amateur. Unfortunately “Boxcar Johnny” fell very much at the other end of the spectrum; just the kind of player who they could make an example of and who they felt should be earning a living as a pro. Thankfully he was able to dissuade the Committee of any major impropriety and take up his place in the field. Although relations weren’t subsequently helped when he removed the star player from the field and attendances (and takings) over the final days were decimated. The USGA introduced a seeded match play draw the following year which perhaps played a part in helping Jones complete his 1930 grand slam.

Johnny’s trip to the Monterey Peninsula ended well. The victory over Bobby Jones caught the attention of a watching Bing Crosby who invited Johnny to play a $100 per hole 9 hole cash game at Pebble Beach the day after the Final. Goodman won $500 off the entertainer and with the Wall Street Crash and the onset of the Great Depression just days away the timing couldn’t have been better.

After a disappointing Round 1 defeat in the 1930 U.S. Amateur Goodman was struggling to balance the competing priorities in his life. “Amateur golf is a rich man’s game, and I am far from rich. I am forced to make a living, and find it impossible to combine competitive golf with business.” However, he had no where to go. He was a man of the amateur era, one who believed the U.S. Amateur to be the greatest Championship in the world and who harboured strong Walker Cup hopes. Professional golf was no real solution at the time as the tour was still embryonic and only a handful were making a living on it. Whilst the retirement of Bobby Jones and the continuing Depression saw amateurism lose some of its attractiveness, save for the very wealthiest in society, Johnny chose steadfastly to continue along this path. However, with his fiancé Josephine Kersigo and her family to consider he did decide to take a job selling insurance in early 1931, offered to him by Pete Lyck, a friend from the Omaha Field Club.

Goodman looked odds on for a place in the 1932 USA Walker Cup team after he qualified and then finished 14th and the leading amateur in that year’s U.S. Open. However, revealing the snobbery of the time, some regional prejudice and perhaps an implied accusation of professionalism, the USGA overlooked Johnny, neither naming him to their 10 man team or as an alternate. Many of those selected for the match at Brookline were either past their best or clearly did not have the recent playing record of the man from Omaha. The accompanying outcry from the nation’s golf correspondents finally led to the USGA making a statement. The Selection Committee, despite making their public announcement three days after the U.S. Open had finished, explained that their decision had actually been made before the Championship. Showing maturity beyond his years Johnny largely kept his own counsel and vowed to do his talking on the course. As the USA team comfortably beat GB&I 8-1 in Boston the selection soon became a moot point anyway.

The disappointment fuelled a run at the 1932 U.S. Amateur which started at Baltimore C.C. just ten days after the Walker Cup match finished. Gaining some redemption for his snub Goodman beat Francis Ouimet in the semi-final and was the last U.S. player left standing. However, despite being 2Up with 9 holes to play in the Final, he sadly failed to deliver the ultimate coup de grâce he had hoped for, losing 2&1 to Canadian Ross Somerville in their 36 hole match.

The 1933 U.S. Open took place at North Shore C.C. at Glenville, Illinois, a long, tight course made tougher by the baked fairways from a hot early summer. Rounds of 75, 66 – the joint lowest in Championship history at the time – and 70 gave Goodman a 6-shot lead heading into the final round. After a good start to Rd 4 his game deserted him on the final four holes of the front nine which he played in +4. Nevertheless to his credit he collected himself; playing the back nine in +1 he recorded a final round of 76. Thankful for a bogey 5 by his nearest challenger Ralph Guldahl on the 72nd hole Goodman ended up winning the Championship by 1-shot. Showing their continued disdain for the social standing of Johnny the USGA refused to formally present the famous trophy to their new 23 year old champion. Unusually there are no photos of USGA President Herbert H. Ramsey or any other official presenting the trophy to Goodman – reports said he simply lifted it off a presentation table himself.

Johnny Goodman – 1933 U.S. Open Pathe News

This win in June 1933 saw Johnny Goodman became the last member of a select group which already included Jerry Travers, Francis Ouimet, Chick Evans and Bobby Jones – amateurs to beat the pros and win the U.S. Open Championship. 85 years later he remains the last amateur to win a major Championship.

In the light of his U.S. Open win Goodman refused to turn Pro. He continued with his insurance job turning down numerous touring, publishing and sponsorship opportunities that came his way. “Golf is a game for me, not a business” he said.

Johnny Goodman With the U.S. Open Championship Trophy (Photo: USGA Museum)

The Masters was first played in late March 1934. Despite being the reigning U.S. Amateur champion it appears Johnny Goodman was not invited to compete by Bobby Jones, although he may simply have not been able to afford the time or cost of the trip. Ironically it was Goodman’s defeat of Jones at Pebble Beach in 1929 that created the time for him to visit the newly opened Cypress Point G.C. So taken with the course was Jones that he immediately decided that its designer Dr. Alistair MacKenzie would be handed control of any new course that he may build in the future. That course proved to be Augusta National. Despite clearly being one of America’s leading players in the 1930’s Goodman ended up playing in just one Masters. In 1936 he shot rounds of 80, 81 and 79 to finish 43rd. Perhaps Goodman didn’t take to the course and chose not to play in the event again.

Johnny finally made his Walker Cup debut aged 24 at St. Andrews in May 1934. Captain Francis Ouimet played him No. 1 for the U.S. team and he didn’t disappoint, taking to links golf quickly. Paired with fellow rookie Lawson Little in the Day 1 Foursomes they beat a fading Cyril Tolley and Roger Wethered 8&6, Wethered in particular struggling throughout the 36 hole match. On Day 2 Goodman beat the British Captain and reigning Amateur champion, a 55 year old Hon. Michael Scott 7&6. The USA won the match 9.5-2.5 with golf writer Bernard Darwin describing Goodman’s play as “appallingly good.”

The following week Goodman crossed Scotland to play at Prestwick G.C. in the Amateur Championship. A straight knockout in those days the Omaha man reached the Quarter Finals where he succumbed to young Englishman Leslie Garnett 3&1. Johnny’s Foursomes partner Lawson Little went on to beat James Wallace by a record breaking 14&13 score. Little recorded twelve 3’s on the 23 holes played in the Final.

At the 1936 Walker Cup, played at Pine Valley G.C., Goodman was one of four returning USA players and again played at No. 1. Paired with Albert “Scotty” Campbell he won his Foursomes 7&5 against Hector Thomson and Harry Bentley. On Day 2 he again beat Thomson this time 3&2 in the Singles, maintaining his 100% win record and leading the USA to a famous 9-0 victory. There were no points awarded for halved matches in those days so it was not quite the whitewash it appeared.

The 1937 U.S. Amateur was played at Alderwood C.C. in Portland, Oregon. It would prove to be Johnny Goodman’s crowning glory. In his 1Up semi-final win against Bud Ward he one putted 15 greens. ‘Cinderella Man’ Ray Billows, known for his relaxed temperament (as well as finishing second), waited for him in the Final. Johnny stumbled down the home straight again but finished strongly to ultimately win by 2 holes. Finally accepted by the USGA, President John G. Jackson happily made the trophy presentation to a man who had now achieved the American double.

Just 11 players have won the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open – Francis Ouimet (1914 / 1913 respectively), Jerome Travers (1907 / 1915), Chick Evans (1916 / 1916), Bobby Jones (1924 / 1923), Johnny Goodman (1937 / 1933), Lawson Little (1934 / 1940), Arnold Palmer (1954 / 1960), Gene Littler (1953 / 1961), Jack Nicklaus (1959 / 1962), Jerry Pate (1974 / 1976) and Tiger Woods (1994 / 2000). Goodman is the last player to win the U.S. Amateur after the U.S. Open.

The 10th Walker Cup match, played on 3-4 June 1938 at St. Andrews, again featured Johnny Goodman, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. The U.S. team first travelled to Troon to play in the Amateur. An ‘unlucky’ draw saw Goodman beat Ray Billows 4&2 in Round 2 before falling 3&2 to Charles Kocsis in Round 4, both U.S. teammates. Unfortunately any form he had deserted him in his Walker Cup matches as he lost on both days as GB&I won for the first time 7-4. Hector Thomson got revenge for his 1939 defeat comfortably winning their repeat Singles 6&4. With World War II interrupting proceedings the next match would not be played until 1947 and hence this proved to be Johnny’s last involvement.

Back home Johnny Goodman remained well known and respected. He featured on the cover of the popular Time Weekly Newsmagazine on 6 June 1938 under the heading ‘The King of Swings’ and in a story about him being the natural successor to Bobby Jones. To my knowledge Jones, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only other golfers to grace the cover of this famous U.S. magazine.

Johnny Goodman – Time Magazine, 6th June 1938

Shortly afterwards Johnny married Josephine in Omaha, Lawson Little acting as his best man, and with little money moved in with his mother in law.

However, on the golfing front his play started to drift and he was never to contend in a big event again.

The Pearl Harbour attack just a few days before Johnny’s 32nd birthday in December 1941, which led to the United States’ entering World War II, changed more than just the golfing landscape. Goodman found himself called up to serve in the Quartermaster Corps and ended up being posted to India.

Once the War was over Johnny settled back into family life. He left the insurance world and started working for his brother in law John Atkins who had become a successful beer distributor and club owner in Omaha. 1947 proved to be a pivotal year in his life. Firstly he and Josephine had a son, Johnny Goodman Jr. and then he was involved in a serious car crash, badly breaking his right arm. Any hope of resurrecting his top level golf career was lost in the crash.

The Goodman’s eventually decided a change of scene was needed and in 1950 the family moved to South Gate in Southern California. He used his knowledge and trade connections to obtain a sales job for Canada Dry.

Unfortunately a restructuring led to Johnny losing this job eventually and he started to drink more than he should. In 1959 he became ill and very nearly died from complications brought about by cirrhosis of the liver.

He survived and having adopted a healthier lifestyle started to play more golf. He enjoyed playing with Johnny Jr. and shortly afterwards turned Pro to take up a teaching position at the Bellflower Golf Center in California.

On the 8th August 1970 Johnny Goodman died in his sleep aged 60. Just a few days earlier he had travelled back to Omaha Field and played a round at his old club with his nephew Jack Atkins. It was his goodbye to the game he loved. He was buried in Omaha in a nondescript grave without headstone. More recently a municipal golf course in the southwest of the City has been named in his honour.

Johnny Goodman earned next to nothing for his golfing exploits and faced discrimination throughout most of his career. However, his story is one of the more interesting ones and his U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open wins mean he has his place in the record books forever and should perhaps be better remembered by the golfing world.

ME.

U.S. Amateur Championship – 2018 Preview, Reports & Results

Posted on 12/08/2018 by Golf Bible

Sunday 19th August 2018

Viktor HOVLAND (NOR) beat Devon BLING (USA) 6&5 in the 36-hole Final of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Viktor Hovland (Photo: USGA)

The Final was effectively won around the turn on the first 18 holes when Hovland won four holes in a row. Bling bogeying 8, 9 and 10 before Hovland birdied 11. The Californian battled to the end but was always unlikely to recover such a deficit against the in form Norwegian.

Hovland is just the second Continental European to win the U.S. Amateur. Edoardo Molinari (ITA) won in 2005 at Merion Golf Club, besting Dillon Dougherty (USA) 4&3 in the Final.

Match Play Final Results (Photo: USGA)

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

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Saturday 18th August 2018

Devon BLING (USA) beat Isaiah SALINDA (USA) by 1 Hole to win the first Semi-Final.

Devon will play Viktor HOVLAND (NOR) in tomorrow’s Final after the Norwegian overcame Cole HAMMER (USA) 3&2 in the other match.

Match Play Semi-Finals Results (Photo: USGA)

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Friday 17th August 2018

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) lost 3&2 to Cole HAMMER (USA) in their Quarter Final match.

Cole (18), arguably the best amateur golfer in the world at the moment, came into this week having already won the Azalea Invitational, the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (with partner Garrett Barber) and most impressively the Western Amateur Championship this season. He starts his college career at the University of Texas in September and is certainly one to watch.

After the match Cole said to the U.S.G.A.: “I think when I won the Azalea earlier this year, when I came out on top in a playoff against Hugo Bernard and Joe Pagdin, I felt like I belonged in amateur golf rather than just in junior golf. Actually even before that, last year at the Jones Cup, I came in third, and that’s a pretty solid finish for 17 [years old]. But this whole year has gradually been a rise to the confidence that I have now.”

As can be seen from the hole-by-hole scores below this was a hard fought contest with both players in good form. Cole was -3 for the holes played and Alex -2.

C. Hammer v. A. Fitzpatrick Match Play Quarter Final Scores (Photo: USGA)

Fitzpatrick (19) can now look forward to starting his freshman season at Wake Forest in September with renewed confidence knowing he belongs at this level.

As this year’s eight quarter finalists each earn an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Amateur he can at least take solace in the fact he has also punched his ticket for next year’s U.S. Amateur already.

Europe’s other representative Viktor HOVLAND (NOR) continues to impress. Following his second successive 7&6 win the Oklahoma State player appears to be the man to beat. In beating Austin SQUIRES (USA) he won seven consecutive holes (2-8) and equalled the largest margin of victory in an 18 hole Quarter Final record.

Here are the full results from the Quarter Finals: –

Match Play Quarter Finals Results (Photo: USGA)

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Thursday 16th August 2018

Match Play Round 3

For the second time on Thursday Alex FITZPATRICK required extra holes to get the win.

This time McClure MEISSNER was beaten on the 19th Hole. As with this morning’s round Alex bogeyed the par 3 17th to put himself under pressure. After three putting the 18th for a 6 and a fortunate half it was great to see the Yorkshireman birdie the 1st extra hole to end the match. 39 holes in a day is more than enough for anyone.

Mesissner is not someone I have heard too much about but having beaten both Brad DALKE and John AUGENSTEIN in the previous rounds he was clearly playing very well.

A. Fitzpatrick v. M. Meissner Match Play Round 3 Scores (Photo: USGA)

Speaking to the U.S.G.A. after the match Alex was understandably delighted to have made the Quarter finals: “It means a lot. This tournament has been something I’ve really wanted to get in from the start of the year. I’ve worked pretty hard to get in this, and it’s nice to actually play good golf when I get here. I didn’t expect to even qualify for the stroke play, so sort of each match getting further and further is getting more exciting, and as I said, if I was to get knocked out, I still wouldn’t be disappointed because I’ve had a great week.”

In the all-Norwegian match up Viktor HOVLAND beat Kristoffer REITAN 7&6 in a surprisingly one sided game.

Here are the full Round 3 results: –

Match Play Round 3 Results (Photo: USGA)

Match Play Round 2

It was a close run thing but Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) finally overcame Jesus MONTENEGRO (ARG) in a tight match on the 20th Hole.

Alex pared the par 5 18th to draw level before Montenegro bogeyed the 2nd extra hole to allow the man from Sheffield to progress.

A. Fitzpatrick v. J. Montenegro Match Play Round 2 Scores (Photo: USGA)

The two other remaining Europeans in the draw are Viktor HOVLAND and Kristoffer REITAN and sadly for Norwegian fans they will play each other in the penultimate game of this afternoon’s series.

Here are the full Round 2 results from Pebble Beach: –

Match Play Round 2 Results (Photo: USGA)

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Wednesday 15th August 2018

Match Play Round 1

Harry HALL (ENG) lost by 1 Hole to Stewart HAGESTAD (USA). Stewart, the mid-amateur selection for the 2017 U.S.A. Walker Cup team, came into the match full of confidence after recording the lowest qualifying round; a bogey free 66 in his Rd 2 at Pebble Beach yesterday. In a tight match where neither player led by more than one hole Stewart just came out on top.

S. Hagestad v. H. Hall – Match Play Round 1 Scores (Photo: USGA)

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) beat Ian SIEBERS (USA) 2&1. Ian handed control of the match to Alex with four bogeys in the first six holes and Alex was good enough to see it out from there. The draw was perhaps favourable to Alex but the match still had to be won. Whilst Ian shot a 68, including 7 birdies, at Pebble Beach in Stroke Play Round 2 and qualified strongly in 7th place he is just 16 years old and therefore inexperienced at this level.

I. Siebers v. A. Fitzpatrick – Match Play Round 1 Scores (Photo: USGA)

After a birdie on the opening hole Eoin LEONARD (IRE) appeared to lose his way on the famous cliff top holes that end Pebble Beach’s front nine, effectively handing the match to Kristoffer REITAN (NOR) with a sequence of bogeys. Reitan is an experienced international player ranked 44th in the SPWAR so there was certainly no shame in losing to him for the in-form Irishman.

K. Reitan v. E. Leonard – Match Play Round 1 Scores (Photo: USGA)

Here are the complete Round 1 results: –

Match Play Round 1 Results (Photo: USGA)

Medalist Daniel HILLIER (NZL) safely overcame play-off winner Jacob BERGERON (USA) 3&2.

The main upsets in Round 1 fell in the lower half of the draw which potentially could be good news for Alex Fitzpatrick. Braden THORNBERRY (USA), Collin MORIKAWA (USA) and Justin SUH (USA), all ranked in the SPWAR’s top 10, lost their games. Brad DALKE (USA), runner-up to Curtis Luck in 2016, and highly rated Junior Akshay BHATIA (USA) also lost in this part of the draw.

24-For-1 Play-Off

The sudden death play-off for the 64th and final Match Play spot started at 7.30am (3.30pm BST) on the 17th hole at Pebble Beach. The hole was set at 208 yards for the play off with the flag tucked on the back left hand side of the green.

The play-off was televised in full by the U.S.G.A. and streamed on Facebook and Twitter.

Unsurprisingly given the hole set up and circumstances just two players made birdie on the par 3 from the 24 who were competing. They were Jacob BERGERON (USA), the 12th to tee off, and Peter KUEST (USA), the 24th and last.

Both Bergeron and Kuest then hit great drives into the fairway on 18, the next play-off hole. Unfortunately at that point things went crazy. Bergeron mis-hit his lay up right blocking himself out behind the big tree in front of the green whilst Kuest, going for the green, hooked his approach into the Pacific. To cut a long story short Bergeron ended up winning the hole with a 6 with Kuest could only manage an 8.

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Tuesday 14th August 2018

63 players on +3 or better secured places in the Match Play Stage of the U.S. Amateur championship today.

A further 24 players on +4 will play-off tomorrow morning on Pebble Beach’s 17th hole to determine who takes up the final qualifying spot.

Stroke Play Qualifying Results Summary (Photo: USGA)

Daniel HILLIER (NZL) secured medalist honours from Cole HAMMER (USA) after both finished on 137 (-6). Daniel edged Cole on Pebble Beach count back. Both played the lead venue on Day 1 with Daniel recording a 67 (-4) to Cole’s 69 (-2).

As expected after Day 1 only Eoin LEONARD (IRE) on 145 +2 [74 SH / 71PB], Harry HALL (ENG) 146 +3 [72 PB / 74 SH] and Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) 146 +3 [72 PB / 74 SH] qualified from the seven strong Great British and Irish contingent.

Eoin qualified in some style. Standing at +5 after 27 holes he needed something special on Pebble Beach’s front nine to make the cut. Thankfully he was able to deliver a 32 including an eagle and two birdies to qualify comfortably.

Eoin Leonard’s Front 9 Scorecard At Pebble Beach (Photo: USGA)

Eoin has been seeded 43rd, Alex 56th and Harry 52nd for the Match Play Stage based on their qualifying scores.

Norway’s Kristoffer REITAN Ev T19 and Viktor HOVLAND +1 T24 were the only other European qualifiers. Fred LACROIX (FRA) +4 T64 has the opportunity to make it 8 European qualifiers as he is one of the players contesting tomorrow morning’s 23-for-1 play-off.

Whilst Matthew JORDAN (ENG) 148 +5 [77 SH / 71 PB], Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) 148 +5 [78 SH / 70 PB], Robin DAWSON (IRE) 150 +7 [76 SH / 74 PB] and Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) 150 +7 [78 SH / 72PB] all produced improved scores at Pebble Beach in Round 2 they had simply left themselves too much to do after struggling at the tough Spyglass Hill on Day 1.

Amateur champion Jovan REBULA (RSA) also missed out on with a 148 +5 [76 SH / 72 PB].

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Monday 13th August 2018

Daniel HILLIER (NZL) and Trevor PHILLIPS (USA) lead the Stroke Play Qualifying competition at the US Amateur Championship at the end of Day 1.

Hillier, 19, shot a 67 (-4) at Pebble Beach which included 5 birdies and an eagle.

Phillips, 20, recorded a 68 (-4) at Spyglass Hill which included 6 birdies, 4 on an unblemished back 9.

Recent winners in the U.S. Isaiah SALINDA (USA) -3 (PB) 3rd, Cole HAMMER (USA) -2 (PB) T4, Akshay BHATIA (USA) -1 (PB) T12 and Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA) -1 (PB) T12 have all clearly brought their form to California.

Hammer is 18, whilst Bhatia and Thorbjornsen are just 16. All three are amongst the favourites this week.

Norway’s Kristoffer REITAN -1 (SH) T12 and Viktor HOVLAND Ev (PB) T28 are the leading European entrants after Round 1.

As you can see from the table below it was a generally disappointing day for the Great British and Irish players. Harry HALL, Alex FITZPATRICK and Eoin LEONARD now have the best chance of making the top 64 Match Play Stage. The other players will need something very special on day 2 to progress where the cut can now be expected to fall at +2 or +3 based on the first round scores.

Amateur champion Jovan REBULA (RSA) also has a lot of work to do if he is to progress.

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Scores Summary (Photo: USGA)

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Sunday 12th August 2018

The 118^th U.S. Amateur Championship starts tomorrow in Pebble Beach, California.

This year the championship is being staged at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course.

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

Competition Format

On Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th August all of the contestants will play 36-holes of stroke play, one at Pebble Beach and the other at Spyglass Hill.

The Top 64 qualifiers will then progress to the match play stage of the competition. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

18 hole match play rounds will then be played between Wednesday 15th and Saturday 18th, culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final on Sunday 19th August. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

2018 Field

A field of 312 players from 24 (2017: 29) different countries will contest this year’s Championship.

261 players are from U.S.A. with Canada (10) and Australia (8) the next best represented countries.

This year 96 (2017: 100) 36 hole Sectional Qualifying events were held in July across the USA, with one each in Canada and Mexico too. The introduction of a European Sectional Qualifier, like the U.S.G.A. stage for the U.S. Open Championship, remains long overdue.

This year’s average competitor age is 22.59 (2017: 22.39).

The oldest player will be Paul SIMSON (67, b. 10th May 1951) and the youngest Gaven LANE (14, b. 16th June 2004).

2015 Walker Cup player Mike McCOY will be making his 19th appearance in the Championship.

Denmark’s Nicolai HØSGAARD has chosen not to take up his exemption that came with his European Amateur Championship win at Royal Hague in late June. He is instead playing in the Boys’ Amateur Championship in Northern Ireland, aiming to secure his spot on Europe’s Junior Ryder Cup team.

There are 7 GB&I players competing. There were 9 in 2017 and 11 in 2016 at Riviera and Oakland Hills respectively.

Here is a list of the GB&I players with their exemption category or Sectional Qualifying event noted: –

Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR 27/6/18

Robin DAWSON (IRE) – Top 50 WAGR 27/6/18

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR 27/6/18

Harry HALL (ENG) – Qualifier at Santa Rosa, California (23/07/17), 68 66 (-10) 1st.

Matthew JORDAN (ENG) – GB&I Walker Cup 2017 and Top 50 WAGR 27/6/18

Eoin LEONARD (IRE) – Qualifier at Westfield, New Jersey (16/07/17), 67 70 (-5) 1st.

Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR 27/6/18

2018 Stroke Play Qualifying Draw

The draw for the 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifying competition can be viewed here – U.S. Amateur Tee Times

California is 8 hours behind us so much of the action will take place overnight.

Matthew JORDAN and Robin DAWSON are in the same threesome. They will tee off at 8.01am (1st) at Spyglass on Day 1 and 1.16pm (10th) at Pebble Beach on Day 2.

Host Courses

Pebble Beach Golf Links
7,039 yards, Par 71.
Opened in 1919.
Designed by Jack Neville & Douglas Grant (1919) / Herbert Fowler (1920) / H. Chandler Egan (1928) / Jack Nicklaus (1998) / Arnold Palmer & Thad Layton (2007-2016).

Pebble Beach famously enjoys nine holes perched on the cliffs above the Pacific and is one of the world’s finest courses. An occasional criticism is that the poa-annua greens can be bumpy in the morning and late afternoon.

This will be the 12th U.S.G.A. Championship Pebble beach has staged. It has hosted four previous U.S. Amateurs; in 1929, 1947, 1961 and 1999, the latter won by David Gossett.

Pebble Beach Golf Links (Photo: Bart Keagy)

Spyglass Hill Golf Course
7,049 yards, Par 72.
Opened in 1966.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones (1966) / Tom Fazio (R. 1996).

Spyglass starts with five opening holes set in sand dunes near to the Pacific coast before moving inland to more challenging holes amongst the Monterey pine covered hills. A top rated course in the U.S. many commentators believe it to be nearly as good as Pebble Beach.

Spyglass co hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1999 alongside Pebble Beach.

3rd Hole, Spyglass Hill Golf Course (Photo: Pebble Beach Company)

Weather Forecast (as at 11.00pm 12th August 2018)

A cool spell of weather is forecast for next week with playing conditions expected to be virtually identical on each day.

Stroke Play Stage
Mon 13th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 17°C / Min 12°C.
Tues 14th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 17°C / Min 13°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 15th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 17°C / Min 13°C.
Thurs 16th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 19°C / Min 12°C.
Fri 17th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 20°C / Min 14°C.
Sat 18th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 22°C / Min 14°C.
Sun 19th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 20°C / Min 14°C.

UK Television Coverage

Sky Sports will be taking the Fox U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

Prizes

The 2018 U.S. Amateur Champion will receive the following: –

a) A Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;

and assuming they remain amateur

b) An exemption to play in the 2019 U.S. Open coincidentally to be staged at Pebble Beach Golf Links;

c) An exemption to play in the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club;

d) An invitation to play in the 2019 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;

e) An exemption to play in the 2019 – 2028 U.S. Amateurs; and

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

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

Bobby Jones Receives the Original U.S. Amateur Trophy in 1924

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.

The 2017 U.S. Amateur Championship

Doc Redman (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

The 2017 U.S. Amateur Championship was played at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.

Doc REDMAN (USA) won beating Doug GHIM (USA) on the 37th hole of the Championship match.

In an astonishing finish Redman recovered from 2-Down with 2 holes to play. On the 35th hole Redman dropped a 60 foot eagle putt before finishing the match with a birdie on the 36th and a conceded birdie on the first extra hole.

The U.S.G.A. highlights video below is worth watching just for Redman’s putt on the 35th.

2017 U.S. Amateur Highlights (You Tube: U.S.G.A.)

The Stroke Play medalist was Hayden WOOD who broke the U.S. Amateur Championship 36-hole qualifying record with a total of 131. Wood followed his 64 at Riviera with a 67 at Bel-Air to beat the 132 shot by Hank Kim (1994), Gregor Main (2011) and Bobby Wyatt (2012).

Jack SINGH BRAR, Robert MACINTYRE and Connor SYME all qualified for the Match Play Stage. Harry ELLIS lost out in the play-off on Riviera’s famous short par 4 10th hole. His double bogey 6 in the second group out saw him fall out of contention quickly.

Connor SYME went the furthest reaching the Quarter Finals before eventually losing 2&1 to Doug GHIM.

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and this will be its 118th playing.

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

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

Former US winners include Walter Travis (1900-01-03), Jerome Travers (1907-08-12-13), Bobby Jones (1924-25-27-28-30), Francis Ouimet (1914-31), W. Lawson Little (1934-35) Arnold Palmer (1954), Jack Nicklaus (1959-61), Deane Beman (1960-63), Lanny Wadkins (1970), Craig Stadler (1973), Mark O’Meara (1979), Hal Sutton (1980), Phil Mickelson (1990), Justin Leonard (1992), Tiger Woods (1994-95-96), Matt Kucher (1997), Ryan Moore (2004), Peter Uihlein (2010) and Bryson DeChambeau (2015).

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

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) is the only player from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

2019 – Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, North Carolina – Courses No. 2 and 4.

2020 – Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon

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U.S. Amateur Championship – 2018 Preview, Reports & Results