The Amateur Championship

The Amateur Championship Trophy in 2009 at Gardagolf Country Club
Tournament information
Location	United Kingdom
Established	1885
Organized by	The R&A
Format	Stroke play and match play
Month played	June
Current champion
Jacob Skov Olesen

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.

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 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.

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	Tony Duncan	William Holt, Charlie Stowe	Royal Liverpool	[63]
1938	Charlie Yates	3 & 2	Cecil Ewing	Ross Somerville, Hector Thomson	Troon	[64]
1937	Robert Sweeny Jr.	3 & 2	Lionel Munn	Alaric de Bendern, Charlie Stowe	Royal St George's	[65]
1936	Hector Thomson	2 up	Jim Ferrier	Cecil Ewing, Alec Hill	St Andrews Links	[66]
1935	Lawson Little (2)	1 up	William Tweddell	Robert Sweeny Jr., Tony Torrance	Royal Lytham & St Annes	[67]
1934	Lawson Little	14 & 13	James Wallace	George Dunlap, Leslie Garnett	Prestwick	[68]
1933	Michael Scott	4 & 3	Dale Bourn	George Dunlap, Cyril Tolley	Royal Liverpool	[69]
1932	John de Forest	3 & 1	Eric Fiddian	Eric McRuvie, Lionel Munn	Muirfield	[70]
1931	Eric Martin Smith	1 up	John de Forest	John MacCormack, William Tulloch	Royal North Devon	[71]
1930	Bobby Jones	7 & 6	Roger Wethered	Lister Hartley, George Voigt	St Andrews Links	[72]
1929	Cyril Tolley (2)	4 & 3	John Nelson Smith	John Dawson, Rex Hartley	Royal St George's	[73]
1928	Philip Perkins	6 & 4	Roger Wethered	John Dawson, Edward Tipping	Prestwick	[74]
1927	William Tweddell	7 & 6	Eustace Landale	R H Jobson, Roger Wethered	Royal Liverpool	[75]
1926	Jess Sweetser	6 & 5	Fred Simpson	William Brownlow, Andrew Jamieson Jr.	Muirfield	[76]
1925	Robert Harris	13 & 12	Kenneth Fradgley	Ronald Hardman, Noel Layton	Royal North Devon	[77]
1924	Ernest Holderness (2)	3 & 2	Eustace Storey	William Murray, Roger Wethered	St Andrews Links	[78]
1923	Roger Wethered	7 & 6	Robert Harris	Douglas Grant, Francis Ouimet	Royal Cinque Ports	[79]
1922	Ernest Holderness	1 up	John Caven	Willie Hunter, Robert Scott Jr.	Prestwick	[80]
1921	Willie Hunter	12 & 11	Allan Graham	Bernard Darwin, Henry Tubbs	Royal Liverpool	[81]
1920	Cyril Tolley	37 holes	Robert A. Gardner	Gustav Mellin, Michael Scott	Muirfield	[82]
1915–1919: Not played due to World War I
1914	James Jenkins	3 & 2	Charles Hezlet	Robert Humphries, Everard Martin Smith	Royal St George's	[83]
1913	Harold Hilton (4)	6 & 5	Robert Harris	Colin Aylmer, Edward Kyle	St Andrews Links	[84]
1912	John Ball (8)	38 holes	Abe Mitchell	Angus Hambro, Charles Macfarlane	Royal North Devon	[85]
1911	Harold Hilton (3)	4 & 3	Edward Lassen	Gordon Lockhart, Leicester Stevens	Prestwick	[86]
1910	John Ball (7)	10 & 9	Colin Aylmer	Harold Hilton, Abe Mitchell	Royal Liverpool	[87]
1909	Robert Maxwell (2)	1 up	Cecil Hutchison	Robert Andrew, Bernard Darwin	Muirfield	[88]
1908	Edward Lassen	7 & 6	Herbert Taylor	Charles Dick, John Graham Jr.	Royal St George's	[89]
1907	John Ball (6)	6 & 4	Charles Palmer	Guy Campbell, Robert Harris	St Andrews Links	[90]
1906	James Robb	4 & 3	Clifford Lingen	Harry Colt, Edward Smirke	Royal Liverpool	[91]
1905	Gordon Barry	3 & 2	Osmund Scott	Archibald Aitken, John Graham Jr.	Prestwick	[92]
1904	Walter Travis	4 & 3	Edward Blackwell	Horace Hutchinson, Johnny Laidlay	Royal St George's	[93]
1903	Robert Maxwell	7 & 5	Horace Hutchinson	Herman de Zoete, Angus MacDonald	Muirfield	[94]
1902	Charles Hutchings	1 up	Sidney Fry	Robert Maxwell, James Robb	Royal Liverpool	[95]
1901	Harold Hilton (2)	1 up	John L. Low	John Graham Jr., Horace Hutchinson	St Andrews Links	[96]
1900	Harold Hilton	8 & 7	James Robb	Johnnie Bramston, John Graham Jr.	Royal St George's	[97]
1899	John Ball (5)	37 holes	Freddie Tait	Gilbert Whigham, John Williamson	Prestwick	[98]
1898	Freddie Tait (2)	7 & 5	Samuel Mure Fergusson	John L. Low, James Robb	Royal Liverpool	[99]
1897	Jack Allan	4 & 2	James Robb	Leslie Balfour-Melville, John L. Low	Muirfield	[100]
1896	Freddie Tait	8 & 7	Harold Hilton	John Graham Jr., Horace Hutchinson	Royal St George's	[101]
1895	Leslie Balfour-Melville	19 holes[c]	John Ball	Laurie Auchterlonie, Freddie Tait	St Andrews Links	[102]
1894	John Ball (4)	1 up	Samuel Mure Fergusson	Johnny Laidlay, Freddie Tait	Royal Liverpool	[103]
1893	P.C. Anderson	1 up	Johnny Laidlay	Samuel Mure Fergusson, Freddie Tait	Prestwick	[104]
1892	John Ball (3)	3 & 1	Harold Hilton	Leslie Balfour, Johnny Laidlay	Royal St George's	[105]
1891	Johnny Laidlay (2)	20 holes	Harold Hilton	William Ballingall, Thomas Gilroy	St Andrews Links	[106]
1890	John Ball (2)	4 & 3	Johnny Laidlay	Leslie Balfour, David Leitch	Royal Liverpool	[107]
1889	Johnny Laidlay	2 & 1	Leslie Balfour	John Ball, William S. Wilson	St Andrews Links	[108]
1888	John Ball	5 & 4	Johnny Laidlay	Leslie Balfour, Alexander Stuart	Prestwick	[109]
1887	Horace Hutchinson (2)	1 up	John Ball	John Ball Sr., John Guthrie Tait	Royal Liverpool	[110]
1886	Horace Hutchinson	7 & 6	Henry Lamb	John Ball, Charles Chambers	St Andrews Links	[11]
1885	Allan Macfie	7 & 6	Horace Hutchinson	John Ball[d]	Royal Liverpool	[6]

Sixteen players have won more than one Amateur Championship, as of 2024:

• 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 Championship:

• 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

Stroke-play qualifying was introduced in 1983. 36 holes are played, using two courses, with the leading 64 and ties advancing to the match-play stage. From 1983 to 1985 exactly 64 players qualified, ties for the final places being decided on countback. In 2020 qualifying was reduced to one round. In 2024 exactly 64 players qualified, ties for the final places being decided by a sudden-death playoff. The leading qualifiers are given below:

+ Number one seed. If two or more players are tied, the seeding is decided on countback using the combined scores on the last 9 holes of both qualifying rounds.^[117]

The Amateur has been played at the following courses, listed in order of number of tournaments hosted (as of 2024):

• 18 Royal Liverpool Golf Club
• 16 St Andrews Links
• 14 Royal St George's Golf Club
• 11 Prestwick Golf Club
• 11 Muirfield
• 7 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
• 6 Royal Troon Golf Club
• 5 Carnoustie Golf Links, Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
• 4 Formby Golf Club, Turnberry Golf Club, Royal Birkdale Golf Club,
• 3 Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Ganton Golf Club, Hillside Golf Club, Royal Portrush Golf Club, Royal North Devon Golf Club
• 2 Royal County Down Golf Club, Portmarnock Golf Club, Nairn Golf Club
• 1 Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Ballyliffin Golf Club

• 2025 – Royal St George's Golf Club and Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club^[118]

• Official website