The Amateur Championship

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
England 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):

Winners

YearVenueChampionCountryScoreRunner-up
2013 Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club Garrick Porteous  England 6 & 5 Finland Toni Hakula
2012 Royal Troon Golf Club Alan Dunbar  Northern Ireland 1 up Austria Matthias Schwab
2011 Hillside Golf Club Bryden Macpherson  Australia 3 & 2 Scotland Michael Stewart
2010 Muirfield Jin Jeong  South Korea 5 & 4 Scotland James Byrne
2009 Formby Golf Club Matteo Manassero  Italy 4 & 3 England Sam Hutsby
2008TurnberryReinier Saxton Netherlands3 & 2England Tommy Fleetwood
2007Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf ClubDrew Weaver United States2 & 1Australia Tim Stewart
2006Royal St. George's Golf ClubJulien Guerrier France4 & 3England Adam Gee
2005Royal Birkdale Golf ClubBrian McElhinney Ireland5 & 4Scotland John Gallagher
2004St. Andrews LinksStuart Wilson Scotland4 & 3England Lee Corfield
2003Royal Troon Golf ClubGary Wolstenholme England6 & 5Switzerland Raphael De Sousa
2002Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubAlejandro Larrazabal Spain1 upWales Martin Sell
2001Prestwick Golf ClubMichael Hoey Northern Ireland1 upEngland Ian Campbell
2000Royal Liverpool Golf ClubMikko Ilonen Finland2 & 1Germany Christian Reimbold
1999Royal County Down Golf ClubGraeme Storm England7 & 6England Aran Wainwright
1998MuirfieldSergio García Spain7 & 6Wales Craig Williams
1997Royal St. George's Golf ClubCraig Watson Scotland3 & 2South Africa Trevor Immelman
1996TurnberryWarren Bladon England 1 upScotland Roger Beames
1995Royal Liverpool Golf ClubGordon Sherry Scotland7 & 6England Michael Reynard
1994Nairn Golf ClubLee James England2 & 1Scotland Gordon Sherry
1993Royal Portrush Golf ClubIain Pyman England37 holesEngland Paul Page
1992Carnoustie Golf LinksStephen Dundas Scotland7 & 6Wales Bradley Dredge
1991Ganton Golf ClubGary Wolstenholme England8 & 6United States Bob May
1990MuirfieldRolf Muntz Netherlands7 & 6Wales Michael Macara
1989Royal Birkdale Golf ClubStephen Dodd Wales5 & 3England Craig Cassells
1988Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubChristian Hardin Sweden1 upSouth Africa Ben Fouchee
1987Prestwick Golf ClubPaul Mayo Wales3 & 1England Peter McEvoy
1986Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf ClubDavid Curry England11 & 9England Geoff Birtwell
1985Royal Dornoch Golf ClubGarth McGimpsey Northern Ireland8 & 7England Graham Homewood
1984Formby Golf ClubJosé María Olazábal Spain5 & 4Scotland Colin Montgomerie
1983TurnberryPhilip Parkin Wales5 & 4United States Jim Holtgrieve
1982Royal Cinque Ports Golf ClubMartin Thompson England4 & 3England Andrew Stubbs
1981St. Andrews LinksPhillipe Ploujoux France4 & 2United States Joel Hirsch
1980Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubDuncan Evans Wales4 & 3South Africa David Suddards
1979Hillside Golf ClubJay Sigel United States3 & 2United States Scott Hoch
1978Royal Troon Golf ClubPeter McEvoy England4 & 3Scotland Paul McKellar
1977Ganton Golf ClubPeter McEvoy England5 & 4Scotland H.M. Campbell
1976St. Andrews LinksDick Siderowf United States37 holesEngland J.C. Davies
1975Royal Liverpool Golf ClubVinny Giles United States 8 & 7England Mark James
1974MuirfieldTrevor Homer England2 upUnited States Jim Gabrielsen
1973Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubDick Siderowf United States5 & 3England Peter H. Moody
1972Royal St. George's Golf ClubTrevor Homer England4 & 3England Alan Thirlwell
1971Carnoustie Golf LinksSteve Melnyk United States3 & 2United States Jim Simons
1970Royal County Down Golf ClubMichael Bonallack England8 & 7United States Bill Hyndman
1969Royal Liverpool Golf ClubMichael Bonallack England3 & 2United States Bill Hyndman
1968Royal Troon Golf ClubMichael Bonallack England7 & 6Republic of Ireland Joe Carr
1967Formby Golf ClubBob Dickson United States 2 & 1United States Ron Cerrudo
1966Carnoustie Golf LinksBobby Cole South Africa3 & 2Scotland Ronnie Shade
1965Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubMichael Bonallack England2 & 1England Clive Clark
1964Ganton Golf ClubGordon Clark England39 holesEngland Michael Lunt
1963St. Andrews LinksMichael Lunt England2 & 1England John Blackwell
1962Royal Liverpool Golf ClubRichard Davies United States 1 upWales John Povall
1961TurnberryMichael Bonallack England6 & 4Scotland James Walker
1960Royal Portrush Golf ClubJoe Carr Ireland8 & 7United States Robert Cochran
1959Royal St. George's Golf ClubDeane Beman United States3 & 2United States Bill Hyndman
1958St. Andrews LinksJoe Carr Ireland3 & 2England Alan Thirlwell
1957Formby Golf ClubReid Jack Scotland2 & 1United States Harold Ridgley
1956Royal Troon Golf ClubJohn Beharrell England5 & 4Scotland Leslie Taylor
1955Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf ClubJoe Conrad United States3 & 2England Alan Slater
1954MuirfieldDouglas Bachli Australia2 & 1United States William C. Campbell
1953Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJoe Carr Ireland2 upUnited States Harvie Ward
1952Prestwick Golf ClubHarvie Ward United States6 & 5United States Frank Stranahan
1951Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubDick Chapman United States 5 & 4United States Charles Coe
1950St. Andrews LinksFrank Stranahan United States 8 & 6United States Dick Chapman
1949Portmarnock Golf ClubSamuel McCready Ireland2 & 1United States Willie Turnesa
1948Royal St. George's Golf ClubFrank Stranahan United States5 & 4England Charles Stowe
1947Carnoustie Golf LinksWillie Turnesa United States3 & 2United States Dick Chapman
1946Royal Birkdale Golf ClubJames Bruen Ireland4 & 3United States Robert Sweeny Jr.
1940–45: Not played due to World War II
1939Royal Liverpool Golf ClubAlexander Kyle Scotland2 & 1Wales A.A. Duncan
1938Royal Troon Golf ClubCharles Yates United States3 & 2Republic of Ireland Cecil Ewing
1937Royal St. George's Golf ClubRobert Sweeny Jr. United States3 & 2Northern Ireland Lionel Munn
1936St. Andrews LinksHector Thomson Scotland2 upAustralia Jim Ferrier
1935Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf ClubLawson Little United States1 upEngland William Tweddell
1934Prestwick Golf ClubLawson Little United States14 & 13Scotland J. Wallace
1933Royal Liverpool Golf ClubHon. Michael Scott England4 & 3England T.A. Bourn
1932MuirfieldJohn De Forest England 3 & 1England Eric Fiddian
1931Royal North Devon Golf ClubEric Martin-Smith England 1 upEngland John De Forest
1930St. Andrews LinksBobby Jones United States7 & 6England Roger Wethered
1929Royal St. George's Golf ClubCyril Tolley England4 & 3Scotland J. Nelson Smith
1928Prestwick Golf ClubPhilip Perkins England6 & 4England Roger Wethered
1927Royal Liverpool Golf ClubWilliam Tweddell England 7 & 6England D.E. Landale
1926MuirfieldJess Sweetser United States6 & 5Scotland A.F. Simpson
1925Royal North Devon Golf ClubRobert Harris Scotland13 & 12England Kenneth F. Fradgley
1924St. Andrews LinksErnest Holderness England 3 & 2England E.F. Storey
1923Royal Cinque Ports Golf ClubRoger Wethered England 7 & 6Scotland Robert Harris
1922Prestwick Golf ClubErnest Holderness England 1 upScotland John Caven
1921Royal Liverpool Golf ClubWillie Hunter Scotland12 & 11England Allan Graham
1920MuirfieldCyril Tolley England37 holesUnited States Robert A. Gardner
1915–19: Not played due to World War I
1914Royal St. George's Golf ClubJ.L.C. Jenkins Scotland3 & 2Ireland Charles O. Hezlet
1913St. Andrews LinksHarold Hilton England6 & 5Scotland Robert Harris
1912Royal North Devon Golf ClubJohn Ball England38 holesEngland Abe Mitchell
1911Prestwick Golf ClubHarold Hilton England4 & 3England E.A. Lassen
1910Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJohn Ball England10 & 9England C.C. Aylmer
1909MuirfieldRobert Maxwell Scotland 1 upScotland C.K. Hutchison
1908Royal St. George's Golf ClubE.A. Lassen England 7 & 6England H.E. Taylor
1907St. Andrews LinksJohn Ball England6 & 4England C.A. Palmer
1906Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJames Robb Scotland 4 & 3England C.C. Lingen
1905Prestwick Golf ClubArthur Barry England 3 & 2England Osmund Scott
1904Royal St. George's Golf ClubWalter Travis United States4 & 3Scotland Edward Blackwell
1903MuirfieldRobert Maxwell Scotland 7 & 5England Horace Hutchinson
1902Royal Liverpool Golf ClubCharles Hutchings England 1 upEngland Sidney Fry
1901St. Andrews LinksHarold Hilton England1 upScotland John L. Low
1900Royal St. George's Golf ClubHarold Hilton England8 & 7Scotland James Robb
1899Prestwick Golf ClubJohn Ball England37 holesScotland Freddie Tait
1898Royal Liverpool Golf ClubFreddie Tait Scotland 7 & 5Scotland S. Mure Fergusson
1897MuirfieldJack Allan Scotland4 & 2Scotland James Robb
1896Royal St. George's Golf ClubFreddie Tait  Scotland 8 & 7England Harold Hilton
1895St. Andrews LinksLeslie Balfour-Melville Scotland19 holesEngland John Ball
1894Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJohn Ball England1 upScotland S. Mure Fergusson
1893Prestwick Golf ClubP.C. Anderson Scotland1 upScotland Johnny Laidlay
1892Royal St. George's Golf ClubJohn Ball England3 & 1England Harold Hilton
1891St. Andrews LinksJohnny Laidlay Scotland20 holesEngland Harold Hilton
1890Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJohn Ball England4 & 3Scotland Johnny Laidlay
1889St. Andrews LinksJohnny Laidlay Scotland2 & 1Scotland Leslie Balfour-Melville
1888Prestwick Golf ClubJohn Ball England5 & 4Scotland Johnny Laidlay
1887Royal Liverpool Golf ClubHorace Hutchinson England1 upEngland John Ball
1886St. Andrews LinksHorace Hutchinson England7 & 6England Henry Lamb
1885Royal Liverpool Golf ClubAllan MacFie England7 & 6England Horace Hutchinson

Multiple winners

Sixteen players have won more than one Amateur Championship, through 2013:

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

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 randa.org, the 2010 Amateur Championship entry list

External links

Current
Past
Related
See also
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.