The Amateur Championship

The Amateur Championship (sometimes referred to as the British Amateur or British Amateur Championship outside of the UK) is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. 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 34 golf federations from all six continents represented in the 2010 championship.[1] It has always been held under traditional links golf conditions, near the coasts of the British Isles. It has been held in the UK on all but one occasion; in 1949 Ireland hosted the championship.

Contents

History

The event was founded in 1885 by the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, and has been formally organized by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews since 1921. 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. Surprisingly, considering the prestige the event still carries, only one Amateur Championship winner in the post-World War II era has gone on to win a professional major—José María Olazábal.

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 the Republic of 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).[1]

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 (broken by sudden-death playoffs held as soon as possible) 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. Tied matches are broken by sudden death through extra holes. The event is played in June, normally with a Monday through Saturday schedule.

The winner receives invitations to two of the major championships, namely the following month's Open Championship, and the following year's Masters Tournament. 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. 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.

Most times hosted

The courses that have hosted the Amateur the most times (through 2011):

Winners

Year Venue Champion Country Score Runner-up
2011 Hillside Golf Club Bryden Macpherson  Australia 3 & 2 Michael Stewart
2010 Muirfield Jin Jeong  South Korea 5 & 4 James Byrne
2009 Formby Golf Club Matteo Manassero  Italy 4 & 3 Sam Hutsby
2008 Turnberry Reinier Saxton  Netherlands 3 & 2 Tommy Fleetwood
2007 Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club Drew Weaver  United States 2 & 1 Tim Stewart
2006 Royal St. George's Golf Club Julien Guerrier  France 4 & 3 Adam Gee
2005 Royal Birkdale Golf Club Brian McElhinney  Ireland 5 & 4 John Gallagher
2004 St. Andrews Links Stuart Wilson  Scotland 4 & 3 Lee Corfield
2003 Royal Troon Golf Club Gary Wolstenholme  England 6 & 5 Raphael De Sousa
2002 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club Alejandro Larrazabal  Spain 1 up Martin Sell
2001 Prestwick Golf Club Michael Hoey  Northern Ireland 1 up Ian Campbell
2000 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Mikko Ilonen  Finland 2 & 1 Christian Reimbold
1999 Royal County Down Golf Club Graeme Storm  England 7 & 6 Aran Wainwright
1998 Muirfield Sergio García  Spain 7 & 6 Craig Williams
1997 Royal St. George's Golf Club Craig Watson  Scotland 3 & 2 Trevor Immelman
1996 Turnberry Warren Bladon  England 1 up Roger Beames
1995 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Gordon Sherry  Scotland 7 & 6 Michael Reynard
1994 Nairn Golf Club Lee James  England 2 & 1 Gordon Sherry
1993 Royal Portrush Golf Club Iain Pyman  England 37 holes Paul Page
1992 Carnoustie Golf Links Stephen Dundas  Scotland 7 & 6 Bradley Dredge
1991 Ganton Golf Club Gary Wolstenholme  England 8 & 6 Bob May
1990 Muirfield Rolf Muntz  Netherlands 7 & 6 Michael Macara
1989 Royal Birkdale Golf Club Stephen Dodd  Wales 5 & 3 Craig Cassells
1988 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club Christian Hardin  Sweden 1 up Ben Fouchee
1987 Prestwick Golf Club Paul Mayo  Wales 3 & 1 Peter McEvoy
1986 Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club David Curry  England 11 & 9 Geoff Birtwell
1985 Royal Dornoch Golf Club Garth McGimpsey  Northern Ireland 8 & 7 Graham Homewood
1984 Formby Golf Club José María Olazábal  Spain 5 & 4 Colin Montgomerie
1983 Turnberry Philip Parkin  Wales 5 & 4 Jim Holtgrieve
1982 Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club Martin Thompson  England 4 & 3 Andrew Stubbs
1981 St. Andrews Links Phillipe Ploujoux  France 4 & 2 Joel Hirsch
1980 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club Duncan Evans  Wales 4 & 3 David Suddards
1979 Hillside Golf Club Jay Sigel  United States 3 & 2 Scott Hoch
1978 Royal Troon Golf Club Peter McEvoy  England 4 & 3 Paul McKellar
1977 Ganton Golf Club Peter McEvoy  England 5 & 4 H.M. Campbell
1976 St. Andrews Links Dick Siderowf  United States 37 holes J.C. Davies
1975 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Vinny Giles  United States 8 & 7 Mark James
1974 Muirfield Trevor Homer  England 2 up Jim Gabrielsen
1973 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club Dick Siderowf  United States 5 & 3 Peter H. Moody
1972 Royal St. George's Golf Club Trevor Homer  England 4 & 3 Alan Thirlwell
1971 Carnoustie Golf Links Steve Melnyk  United States 3 & 2 Jim Simons
1970 Royal County Down Golf Club Michael Bonallack  England 8 & 7 Bill Hyndman
1969 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Michael Bonallack  England 3 & 2 Bill Hyndman
1968 Royal Troon Golf Club Michael Bonallack  England 7 & 6 Joe Carr
1967 Formby Golf Club Bob Dickson  United States 2 & 1 Ron Cerrudo
1966 Carnoustie Golf Links Bobby Cole  South Africa 3 & 2 Ronnie Shade
1965 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club Michael Bonallack  England 2 & 1 Clive Clark
1964 Ganton Golf Club Gordon Clark  England 39 holes Michael Lunt
1963 St. Andrews Links Michael Lunt  England 2 & 1 John Blackwell
1962 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Richard Davies  United States 1 up John Povall
1961 Turnberry Michael Bonallack  England 6 & 4 James Walker
1960 Royal Portrush Golf Club Joe Carr  Ireland 8 & 7 Robert Cochran
1959 Royal St. George's Golf Club Deane Beman  United States 3 & 2 Bill Hyndman
1958 St. Andrews Links Joe Carr  Ireland 3 & 2 Alan Thirlwell
1957 Formby Golf Club Reid Jack  Scotland 2 & 1 Harold Ridgley
1956 Royal Troon Golf Club John Beharrell  England 5 & 4 Leslie Taylor
1955 Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club Joe Conrad  United States 3 & 2 Alan Slater
1954 Muirfield Douglas Bachli  Australia 2 & 1 William C. Campbell
1953 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Joe Carr  Ireland 2 up Harvie Ward
1952 Prestwick Golf Club Harvie Ward  United States 6 & 5 Frank Stranahan
1951 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club Dick Chapman  United States 5 & 4 Charles Coe
1950 St. Andrews Links Frank Stranahan  United States 8 & 6 Dick Chapman
1949 Portmarnock Golf Club Samuel McCready  Ireland 2 & 1 Willie Turnesa
1948 Royal St. George's Golf Club Frank Stranahan  United States 5 & 4 Charles Stowe
1947 Carnoustie Golf Links Willie Turnesa  United States 3 & 2 Dick Chapman
1946 Royal Birkdale Golf Club James Bruen  Ireland 4 & 3 Robert Sweeny Jr.
1940–45: Not played due to World War II
1939 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Alexander Kyle  Scotland 2 & 1 A.A. Duncan
1938 Royal Troon Golf Club Charles Yates  United States 3 & 2 Cecil Ewing
1937 Royal St. George's Golf Club Robert Sweeny Jr.  United States 3 & 2 Lionel Munn
1936 St. Andrews Links Hector Thomson  Scotland 2 up Jim Ferrier
1935 Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club Lawson Little  United States 1 up William Tweddell
1934 Prestwick Golf Club Lawson Little  United States 14 & 13 J. Wallace
1933 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Hon. Michael Scott  England 4 & 3 T.A. Bourn
1932 Muirfield John De Forest  England 3 & 1 Eric Fiddian
1931 Royal North Devon Golf Club Eric Martin-Smith  England 1 up John De Forest
1930 St. Andrews Links Bobby Jones  United States 7 & 6 Roger Wethered
1929 Royal St. George's Golf Club Cyril Tolley  England 4 & 3 J. Nelson Smith
1928 Prestwick Golf Club Phil Perkins  England 6 & 4 Roger Wethered
1927 Royal Liverpool Golf Club William Tweddell  England 7 & 6 D.E. Landale
1926 Muirfield Jess Sweetser  United States 6 & 5 A.F. Simpson
1925 Royal North Devon Golf Club Robert Harris  Scotland 13 & 12 Kenneth F. Fradgley
1924 St. Andrews Links Ernest Holderness  England 3 & 2 E.F. Storey
1923 Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club Roger Wethered  England 7 & 6 Robert Harris
1922 Prestwick Golf Club Ernest Holderness  England 1 up John Caven
1921 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Willie Hunter  Scotland 12 & 11 Allan Graham
1920 Muirfield Cyril Tolley  England 37 holes Robert A. Gardner
1915–19: Not played due to World War I
1914 Royal St. George's Golf Club J.L.C. Jenkins  Scotland 3 & 2 Charles O. Hezlet
1913 St. Andrews Links Harold Hilton  England 6 & 5 Robert Harris
1912 Royal North Devon Golf Club John Ball  England 38 holes Abe Mitchell
1911 Prestwick Golf Club Harold Hilton  England 4 & 3 E.A. Lassen
1910 Royal Liverpool Golf Club John Ball  England 10 & 9 C.C. Aylmer
1909 Muirfield Robert Maxwell  Scotland 1 up C.K. Hutchison
1908 Royal St. George's Golf Club E.A. Lassen  England 7 & 6 H.E. Taylor
1907 St. Andrews Links John Ball  England 6 & 4 C.A. Palmer
1906 Royal Liverpool Golf Club James Robb  Scotland 4 & 3 C.C. Lingen
1905 Prestwick Golf Club Arthur Barry  England 3 & 2 Osmund Scott
1904 Royal St. George's Golf Club Walter Travis  United States 4 & 3 Edward Blackwell
1903 Muirfield Robert Maxwell  Scotland 7 & 5 Horace Hutchinson
1902 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Charles Hutchings  England 1 up Sidney Fry
1901 St. Andrews Links Harold Hilton  England 1 up John L. Low
1900 Royal St. George's Golf Club Harold Hilton  England 8 & 7 James Robb
1899 Prestwick Golf Club John Ball  England 37 holes Freddie Tait
1898 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Freddie Tait  Scotland 7 & 5 S. Mure Fergusson
1897 Muirfield Jack Allan  Scotland 4 & 2 James Robb
1896 Royal St. George's Golf Club Freddie Tait  Scotland 8 & 7 Harold Hilton
1895 St. Andrews Links Leslie Balfour-Melville  Scotland 19 holes John Ball
1894 Royal Liverpool Golf Club John Ball  England 1 up S. Mure Fergusson
1893 Prestwick Golf Club P.C. Anderson  Scotland 1 up Johnny Laidlay
1892 Royal St. George's Golf Club John Ball  England 3 & 1 Harold Hilton
1891 St. Andrews Links Johnny Laidlay  Scotland 20 holes Harold Hilton
1890 Royal Liverpool Golf Club John Ball  England 4 & 3 Johnny Laidlay
1889 St. Andrews Links Johnny Laidlay  Scotland 2 & 1 Leslie Balfour-Melville
1888 Prestwick Golf Club John Ball  England 5 & 4 Johnny Laidlay
1887 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Horace Hutchinson  England 1 up John Ball
1886 St. Andrews Links Horace Hutchinson  England 7 & 6 Henry Lamb
1885 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Allen MacFie  England 7 & 6 Horace Hutchinson

Multiple winners

Sixteen players have won more than one Amateur Championship, through 2011:

Three players have won both the Amateur and the Open:

Future sites

References

  1. ^ a b randa.org, the 2010 Amateur Championship entry list

External links