The Amateur Championship
The Amateur Championship Trophy in 2009 at Gardagolf Country Club | |
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Location | United Kingdom |
Established | 1885 |
Format | Stroke play and match play |
Month played | June |
Current champion | |
Garrick Porteous |
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 been held in the UK on all but one occasion; in 1949 Ireland hosted the championship.
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 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 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. Round 1 of the match play reduces the number of golfers to 64. 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 three of the major championships, namely the following month's Open Championship,and the following year's Masters Tournament and U.S. Open. 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 2013):
- 18 Royal Liverpool Golf Club
- 16 St Andrews Links
- 13 Royal St George's Golf Club
- 11 Prestwick Golf Club, Muirfield
Winners
Year | Venue | Champion | Country | Score | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club | Garrick Porteous | England | 6 & 5 | Toni Hakula |
2012 | Royal Troon Golf Club | Alan Dunbar | Northern Ireland | 1 up | Matthias Schwab |
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 | Philip 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 | Allan MacFie | England | 7 & 6 | Horace Hutchinson |
Multiple winners
Sixteen players have won more than one Amateur Championship, through 2013:
- 8 wins: John Ball
- 5 wins: Michael Bonallack
- 4 wins: Harold Hilton
- 3 wins: Joe Carr
- 2 wins: Horace Hutchinson, Johnny Laidlay, Freddie Tait, Robert Maxwell, Ernest Holderness, Cyril Tolley, Lawson Little, Frank Stranahan, Trevor Homer, Dick Siderowf, Peter McEvoy, Gary Wolstenholme
Three players have won both the Amateur and the Open:
- John Ball – 1888, 1890, 1892, 1894, 1899, 1907, 1910, 1912 Amateurs; 1890 Open
- Harold Hilton – 1900, 1901, 1911, 1913 Amateurs; 1892, 1897 Opens
- Bobby Jones – 1930 Amateur; 1926, 1927, 1930 Opens
Future sites
- 2014 Carnoustie Golf Links. Additional course: Panmure Golf Club
- 2015 Royal Portrush Golf Club. Additional course: Portstewart Golf Club
References
External links
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