Amateur golf tournament
Golf tournament
The Amateur Championship (sometimes referred to as the British Amateur or British Amateur Championship outside the UK) is a golf tournament which has been held annually in the United Kingdom since 1885 except during the two World Wars, and in 1949 and 2019 when Ireland hosted the championship. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur. It normally has the widest international representation of any individual amateur event, with 38 golf federations from all six continents represented in the 2018 championship.[1]
Before World War II it was regarded as one of golf's major championships, but given the modern dominance of the sport by professional golfers, this is no longer the case. Two Amateur Championship winners in the post-World War II era have gone on to win professional major championships: José María Olazábal and Sergio García, both Spaniards.
History
The inaugural tournament was organised by the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in 1885. It was played on 20, 21 and 23 April and was "open to all amateur members of recognised golf clubs". The format was match-play. All players were included in the draw for each round, any extra player receiving a bye. If a match was halved after the 18 holes both players progressed to the next round, playing each other again. There were 49 entries from 12 different clubs, although only 44 were included in the draw and four of these players did not turn up. Of the 22 first-round matches, 2 were halved, meaning that there were 12 matches in the second round.[2][3] There were no more halved matches in the following rounds which meant that 3 players reached the semi-final stage.[4][5] John Ball beat his father, also called John, in the third round.[5] Allan Macfie received a bye at the semi-final stage with Horace Hutchinson beating Ball 2 up in the only semi-final match. After his morning round, Hutchinson played badly in the afternoon and Macfie won 7&6.[6][7] Each player paid a 1 guinea entry fee. This, together with 25 guineas from the Royal Liverpool club, was used for prizes. The losing finalist received £10 with the remainder being used to buy plate for the winner.[3] The final amount for the winner was about £60[6] or £70.[7] By comparison the winner of the 1885 Open Championship received £10. For many years the 1885 event was not regarded as the first Amateur Championship. It was only in 1922 that the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews decided "to place on record the name of Mr. A. F. Macfie as the winner of the Amateur Championship of 1885".[8]
Despite the unusual format of the 1885 event, it was regarded as a success. A meeting was arranged in 1886 where it was decided to start an amateur championship, to be held alternately at St Andrews, Hoylake and Prestwick. A number of clubs subscribed to buy a perpetual trophy for the championship. In addition, gold and silver medals were presented to the winner and runner-up, with bronze medals for the losing semi-finalists. The format became a simple knockout, with extra holes played in case of a tie after 18 holes. Otherwise the format remained the same as for the 1885 event. Because of the late arrangements the inaugural championship was not held until late September. With 42 entries, six rounds were needed which were completed in three days with the semi-finals and final on the last day.[9][10] John Ball again lost in the semi-finals, 7&6 to Henry Lamb, but Lamb lost the final against Horace Hutchinson by the same score.[11]
Entry, format
Entry to the Championship is now given to the most-qualified 288 applicants from around the world, with perhaps half the places reserved for top players from the United Kingdom and Ireland. Qualifying rounds for all players were first introduced in 1983, when the popularity of the championship led to the number of applicants increasing to unmanageable levels. Major golf nations are allocated entries on what amounts to a quota basis for their top applicants, with each applicant's national federation cooperating with the R&A on selection. For example, the 2010 entry list included players from the British Isles (England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland), mainland Europe (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Slovenia, Switzerland, Austria, Iceland), North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Peru), Asia (China, India, South Korea, Japan, Singapore), Australasia (Australia, New Zealand) and Africa (South Africa).[12]
The first stage of the Championship involves 288 players, each of whom plays two rounds of 18 holes, one on each of two courses, over the first two days. The 64 lowest scores over the 36 holes, and ties for 64th place compete in the match play stage of the Championship, on the event's principal course, and are seeded by qualifying scores. Each match consists of one round of 18 holes, except for the Final, which is over 36 holes. Since there are generally more than 64 qualifiers from the stroke play stage, the first round of the match play involves a small number of matches to reduce the number of qualifiers to exactly 64. In 2024 exactly 64 players qualified, ties for the final places being decided by a sudden-death playoff. Tied matches are broken by sudden death over extra holes. The event is played in June, normally with a Monday to Saturday schedule.
The winner receives invitations to three of the major championships, namely the following month's Open Championship, and the following year's Masters Tournament and U.S. Open, provided he remain an amateur prior to each major. The Amateur Championship is open to amateur golfers of any nationality in good standing with their national federations. Briton John Ball won the most career titles, with eight. Ball was still competing in the event as late as 1921 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.[13] In modern times, Briton Michael Bonallack's five titles lead. The most famous American winner of the competition was Bobby Jones, whose 1930 victory was part of his Grand Slam.
Results
Year |
Winner |
Score |
Runner-up |
Semi-finalists |
Venue |
Ref.
|
2024 |
Jacob Skov Olesen |
4 & 3 |
Dominic Clemons |
Jack Bigham, Luke Sample |
Ballyliffin |
|
2023 |
Christo Lamprecht |
3 & 2 |
Ronan Kleu |
Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Frank Kennedy |
Hillside |
|
2022 |
Aldrich Potgieter |
3 & 2 |
Sam Bairstow |
John Gough, Alex Maguire |
Royal Lytham & St Annes |
[14]
|
2021 |
Laird Shepherd |
38 holes |
Monty Scowsill |
James Ashfield, Jack Dyer |
Nairn |
[15]
|
2020 |
Joe Long |
4 & 3 |
Joe Harvey |
Jake Bolton, Mark Power |
Royal Birkdale |
[16]
|
2019 |
James Sugrue |
2 up |
Euan Walker |
Ben Jones, David Micheluzzi |
Portmarnock |
[17]
|
2018 |
Jovan Rebula |
3 & 2 |
Robin Dawson |
Conor Purcell, Mitch Waite |
Royal Aberdeen |
[18]
|
2017 |
Harry Ellis |
38 holes |
Dylan Perry |
Luca Cianchetti, Alejandro Tosti |
Royal St George's |
[19]
|
2016 |
Scott Gregory |
2 & 1 |
Robert MacIntyre |
Paul McBride, Adrian Meronk |
Royal Porthcawl |
[20]
|
2015 |
Romain Langasque |
4 & 2 |
Grant Forrest |
Alexandre Daydou, Jack McDonald |
Carnoustie |
[21]
|
2014 |
Bradley Neil |
2 & 1 |
Zander Lombard |
Connor Syme, Sean Towndrow |
Royal Portrush |
[22]
|
2013 |
Garrick Porteous |
6 & 5 |
Toni Hakula |
Jim Liu, Max Orrin |
Royal Cinque Ports |
[23]
|
2012 |
Alan Dunbar |
1 up |
Matthias Schwab |
Paul Ferrier, Jack McDonald |
Royal Troon |
[24]
|
2011 |
Bryden Macpherson |
3 & 2 |
Michael Stewart |
Sébastien Gros, Greg Paterson |
Hillside |
[24]
|
2010 |
Jin Jeong |
5 & 4 |
James Byrne |
Matthew Nixon, Chris Paisley |
Muirfield |
[24]
|
2009 |
Matteo Manassero |
4 & 3 |
Sam Hutsby |
Stiggy Hodgson, Darren Renwick |
Formby |
[24]
|
2008 |
Reinier Saxton |
3 & 2 |
Tommy Fleetwood |
Andy Sullivan, Joe Vickery |
Turnberry |
[24]
|
2007 |
Drew Weaver |
2 & 1 |
Tim Stewart |
Callum Macaulay, Jason Shufflebotham |
Royal Lytham & St Annes |
[24]
|
2006 |
Julien Guerrier |
4 & 3 |
Adam Gee |
Mitchell Brown, Jamie Moul |
Royal St George's |
[24]
|
2005 |
Brian McElhinney |
5 & 4 |
John Gallagher |
Oliver Fisher, Lloyd Saltman |
Royal Birkdale |
[24]
|
2004 |
Stuart Wilson |
4 & 3 |
Lee Corfield |
Eric Ramsay, Andrew Svoboda |
St Andrews Links |
[24]
|
2003 |
Gary Wolstenholme (2) |
6 & 5 |
Raphaël De Sousa |
Francesco Molinari, Eric Ramsay |
Royal Troon |
[24]
|
2002 |
Alejandro Larrazábal |
1 up |
Martin Sell |
Jamie Elson, Graham Gordon |
Royal Porthcawl |
[24]
|
2001 |
Michael Hoey |
1 up |
Ian Campbell |
Stuart Davis, Simon Mackenzie |
Prestwick |
[24]
|
2000 |
Mikko Ilonen |
2 & 1 |
Christian Reimbold |
David Ryles, Andrew Webster |
Royal Liverpool |
[24]
|
1999 |
Graeme Storm |
7 & 6 |
Aran Wainwright |
Ian Campbell, Richard McEvoy |
Royal County Down |
[24]
|
1998 |
Sergio García |
7 & 6 |
Craig Williams |
Mark Hilton, Ben Mason |
Muirfield |
[24]
|
1997 |
Craig Watson |
3 & 2 |
Trevor Immelman |
Colin Edwards, David Griffiths |
Royal St George's |
[24]
|
1996 |
Warren Bladon |
1 up |
Roger Beames |
Steve Bodenheimer, Robert Wiggins |
Turnberry |
[24]
|
1995 |
Gordon Sherry |
7 & 6 |
Michael Reynard |
Jody Fanagan, Roger Beames |
Royal Liverpool |
[24]
|
1994 |
Lee S. James |
2 & 1 |
Gordon Sherry |
Kalle Brink, Allan Turnbull |
Nairn |
[24]
|
1993 |
Iain Pyman |
37 holes |
Paul Page |
Neil Anderson, Raymond Russell |
Royal Portrush |
[24]
|
1992 |
Stephen Dundas |
7 & 6 |
Bradley Dredge |
Stephen Gallacher, Matt Stanford |
Carnoustie |
[24]
|
1991 |
Gary Wolstenholme |
8 & 6 |
Bob May |
Wilson Bryson, David Duval |
Ganton |
[24]
|
1990 |
Rolf Muntz |
7 & 6 |
Michael Macara |
Craig Cassells, Richard Johnson |
Muirfield |
[24]
|
1989 |
Stephen Dodd |
5 & 3 |
Craig Cassells |
Stephen McCraw, Garth McGimpsey |
Royal Birkdale |
[24]
|
1988 |
Cristian Härdin |
1 up |
Ben Fouchee |
Nigel Graves, Carl Suneson |
Royal Porthcawl |
[24]
|
1987 |
Paul Mayo |
3 & 1 |
Peter McEvoy |
Russell Claydon, Len Mattiace |
Prestwick |
[24]
|
1986 |
David Curry |
11 & 9 |
Geoff Birtwell |
Peter McEvoy, Bryan Shields |
Royal Lytham & St Annes |
[24]
|
1985 |
Garth McGimpsey |
8 & 7 |
Graham Homewood |
Patrick Hall, David James |
Royal Dornoch |
[24]
|
1984 |
José María Olazábal |
5 & 4 |
Colin Montgomerie |
David Curry, David Gilford |
Formby |
[24]
|
1983 |
Philip Parkin |
5 & 4 |
Jim Holtgrieve |
Peter Deeble, Stephen Keppler |
Turnberry |
[25]
|
1982 |
Martin Thompson |
4 & 3 |
Andy Stubbs |
Peter Hedges, Philip Parkin |
Royal Cinque Ports |
[26]
|
1981 |
Philippe Ploujoux |
4 & 2 |
Joel Hirsch |
John Carr, Tony Gresham |
St Andrews Links |
[27]
|
1980 |
Duncan Evans |
4 & 3 |
David Suddards |
Duncan Lindsay-Smith, Arthur Pierse |
Royal Porthcawl |
[28]
|
1979 |
Jay Sigel |
3 & 2 |
Scott Hoch |
Tony Gresham, Doug Roxburgh |
Hillside |
[29]
|
1978 |
Peter McEvoy (2) |
4 & 3 |
Paul McKellar |
John Davies, David Suddards |
Royal Troon |
[30]
|
1977 |
Peter McEvoy |
5 & 4 |
Hugh Campbell |
Michael Bonallack, Paul McKellar |
Ganton |
[31]
|
1976 |
Dick Siderowf (2) |
37 holes |
John Davies |
Allan Brodie, Iain Carslaw |
St Andrews Links |
[32]
|
1975 |
Vinny Giles |
8 & 7 |
Mark James |
Geoff Marks, Dick Siderowf |
Royal Liverpool |
[33]
|
1974 |
Trevor Homer (2) |
2 up |
Jim Gabrielsen |
Martin Poxon, Hugh Stuart |
Muirfield |
[34]
|
1973 |
Dick Siderowf |
5 & 3 |
Peter Moody |
Harry Ashby, Howard Clark |
Royal Porthcawl |
[35]
|
1972 |
Trevor Homer |
4 & 3 |
Alan Thirlwell |
Michael Bonallack, Roger Revell |
Royal St George's |
[36]
|
1971 |
Steve Melnyk |
3 & 2 |
Jim Simons |
Tom Kite, Peter Moody |
Carnoustie |
[37]
|
1970 |
Michael Bonallack (5) |
8 & 7 |
Bill Hyndman |
Bruce Critchley, Brian Hoey |
Royal County Down |
[38]
|
1969 |
Michael Bonallack (4) |
3 & 2 |
Bill Hyndman |
Bill Davidson, Dale Hayes |
Royal Liverpool |
[39]
|
1968 |
Michael Bonallack (3) |
7 & 6 |
Joe Carr |
Reg Glading, Geoff Marks |
Troon |
[40]
|
1967 |
Bob Dickson |
2 & 1 |
Ron Cerrudo |
Gordon Clark, Marty Fleckman |
Formby |
[41]
|
1966 |
Bobby Cole |
3 & 2[a] |
Ronnie Shade |
Gordon Cosh, Henri de Lamaze |
Carnoustie |
[42]
|
1965 |
Michael Bonallack (2) |
2 & 1 |
Clive Clark |
Martin Christmas, Rodney Foster |
Royal Porthcawl |
[43]
|
1964 |
Gordon Clark |
39 holes |
Michael Lunt |
Martin Christmas, John Hall |
Ganton |
[44]
|
1963 |
Michael Lunt |
2 & 1 |
John Blackwell |
Ron Luceti, Ed Updegraff |
St Andrews Links |
[45]
|
1962 |
Richard Davies |
1 up |
John Povall |
Brian Chapman, Rodney Foster |
Royal Liverpool |
[46]
|
1961 |
Michael Bonallack |
6 & 4 |
James Walker |
Martin Christmas, Ralph Morrow |
Turnberry |
[47]
|
1960 |
Joe Carr (3) |
8 & 7 |
Bob Cochran |
Gordon Huddy, James Walker[b] |
Royal Portrush |
[48]
|
1959 |
Deane Beman |
3 & 2 |
Bill Hyndman |
Bob Magee, Guy Wolstenholme[b] |
Royal St George's |
[49]
|
1958 |
Joe Carr (2) |
3 & 2 |
Alan Thirlwell |
Michael Bonallack, Tim Holland[b] |
St Andrews Links |
[50]
|
1957 |
Reid Jack |
2 & 1 |
Harold Ridgley |
Alan Bussell, Arthur Walker[b] |
Formby |
[51]
|
1956 |
John Beharrell |
5 & 4 |
Leslie Taylor |
George Henderson, Reid Jack[b] |
Troon |
[52]
|
1955 |
Joe Conrad |
3 & 2 |
Alan Slater |
Arthur Perowne, Philip Scrutton |
Royal Lytham & St Annes |
[53]
|
1954 |
Doug Bachli |
2 & 1 |
William C. Campbell |
Joe Carr, Tony Slark |
Muirfield |
[54]
|
1953 |
Joe Carr |
2 up |
Harvie Ward |
Cecil Beamish, Arthur Perowne |
Royal Liverpool |
[55]
|
1952 |
Harvie Ward |
6 & 5 |
Frank Stranahan |
Joe Carr, Robin Cater |
Prestwick |
[56]
|
1951 |
Dick Chapman |
5 & 4 |
Charles Coe |
Joe Carr, Albert Evans |
Royal Porthcawl |
[57]
|
1950 |
Frank Stranahan (2) |
8 & 6 |
Dick Chapman |
Jim McHale Jr., Cyril Tolley |
St Andrews Links |
[58]
|
1949 |
Max McCready |
2 & 1 |
Willie Turnesa |
Bunny Millward, Ken Thom |
Portmarnock |
[59]
|
1948 |
Frank Stranahan |
5 & 4 |
Charlie Stowe |
Dennis Martin, Willie Turnesa |
Royal St George's |
[60]
|
1947 |
Willie Turnesa |
3 & 2 |
Dick Chapman |
John Campbell, Sam McKinlay |
Carnoustie |
[61]
|
1946 |
Jimmy Bruen |
4 & 3 |
Robert Sweeny Jr. |
Gerald Micklem, Harry Walker |
Royal Birkdale |
[62]
|
1940–1945: Not played due to World War II
|
1939 |
Alex Kyle |
2 & 1 |
Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=The_Amateur_Championship
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