Conosciuto anche come "British Amateur" o "British Amateur Championship", The Amateur Championship è un torneo di golf per dilettanti che si tiene ogni anno in Gran Bretagna. Insieme allo U.S. Amateur è considerato uno dei due tornei major per dilettanti.
L'evento si è tenuto per la prima volta nel 1885 al Royal Liverpool Golf Club organizzato dal Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Dopo la seconda guerra mondiale è stato equiparato ad uno dei Major. Sorprendentemente, considerato il prestigio che viene ancora oggi attribuito all'evento, solo due vincitori dell'Amateur Championship dopo la seconda guerra mondiale sono riusciti a vincere un Major Professionale: José María Olazábal e Sergio García.
La prima fase del torneo vede gareggiare 288 giocatori che completano i due giri di qualifica da 18 buche. I primi 64 giocatori accedono alla fase finale ad eliminazione con formula Match Play. Ogni incontro è giocato su 18 buche, tranne la finale dove ne vengono giocate 36 più l'eventuale spareggio.
Il vincitore dell'Amateur Championship ottiene l'invito per tre tornei Major: l'Open Championship del mese successivo, il Masters e lo US Open dell'anno successivo.
Il torneo è aperto a golfisti di ogni nazionalità. Tra i vincitori più noti vi sono Bobby Jones, José María Olazábal e Sergio García. L'unico vincitore italiano del torneo è stato Matteo Manassero nel 2009 all'età di 16 anni.
I percorsi dove si sono tenute più edizioni del torneo sono: 18 Royal Liverpool Golf Club; 16 St Andrews Links; 14 Royal St George's Golf Club; 11 Prestwick Golf Club, Muirfield.
Vincitori AnnoLuogoCampioneNazionePunteggioSecondo classificato2022 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club Aldrich Potgieter 3 & 2 Sam Bairstow2021 Nairn Golf Club Laird Shepherd 38 buche Monty Scowsill2020 Royal Birkdale Golf Club Joe Long 4 & 3 Joe Harvey2019 Portmarnock Golf Club James Sugrue 2 up Euan Walker2018 Royal Aberdeen Golf Club Jovan Rebula 3 & 2 Robin Dawson2017 Royal St. George's Golf Club Harry Ellis 38 buche Dylan Perry2016 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club Scott Gregory 2 & 1 Robert MacIntyre2015 Carnoustie Golf Links Romain Langasque 4 & 2 Grant Forrest2014 Royal Portrush Golf Club Bradley Neil 2 & 1 Zander Lombard2013 Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club Garrick Porteous 6 & 5 Toni Hakula2012 Royal Troon Golf Club Alan Dunbar 1 up Matthias Schwab2011 Hillside Golf Club Bryden Macpherson 3 & 2 Michael Stewart2010MuirfieldJin Jeong5 & 4 James Byrne2009 Formby Golf Club Matteo Manassero 4 & 3 Sam Hutsby2008TurnberryReinier Saxton3 & 2 Tommy Fleetwood2007Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf ClubDrew Weaver2 & 1 Tim Stewart2006Royal St. George's Golf ClubJulien Guerrier4 & 3 Adam Gee2005Royal Birkdale Golf ClubBrian McElhinney5 & 4 John Gallagher2004St. Andrews LinksStuart Wilson4 & 3 Lee Corfield2003Royal Troon Golf ClubGary Wolstenholme6 & 5 Raphael De Sousa2002Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubAlejandro Larrazabal1 up Martin Sell2001Prestwick Golf ClubMichael Hoey1 up Ian Campbell2000Royal Liverpool Golf ClubMikko Ilonen2 & 1 Christian Reimbold1999Royal County Down Golf ClubGraeme Storm7 & 6 Aran Wainwright1998MuirfieldSergio García7 & 6 Craig Williams1997Royal St. George's Golf ClubCraig Watson3 & 2 Trevor Immelman1996TurnberryWarren Bladon 1 up Roger Beames1995Royal Liverpool Golf ClubGordon Sherry7 & 6 Michael Reynard1994Nairn Golf ClubLee James2 & 1 Gordon Sherry1993Royal Portrush Golf ClubIain Pyman37 buche Paul Page1992Carnoustie Golf LinksStephen Dundas7 & 6 Bradley Dredge1991Ganton Golf ClubGary Wolstenholme8 & 6 Bob May1990MuirfieldRolf Muntz7 & 6 Michael Macara1989Royal Birkdale Golf ClubStephen Dodd5 & 3 Craig Cassells1988Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubChristian Hardin1 up Ben Fouchee1987Prestwick Golf ClubPaul Mayo3 & 1 Peter McEvoy1986Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf ClubDavid Curry11 & 9 Geoff Birtwell1985Royal Dornoch Golf ClubGarth McGimpsey8 & 7 Graham Homewood1984Formby Golf ClubJosé María Olazábal5 & 4 Colin Montgomerie1983TurnberryPhilip Parkin5 & 4 Jim Holtgrieve1982Royal Cinque Ports Golf ClubMartin Thompson4 & 3 Andrew Stubbs1981St. Andrews LinksPhillipe Ploujoux4 & 2 Joel Hirsch1980Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubDuncan Evans4 & 3 David Suddards1979Hillside Golf ClubJay Sigel3 & 2 Scott Hoch1978Royal Troon Golf ClubPeter McEvoy4 & 3 Paul McKellar1977Ganton Golf ClubPeter McEvoy5 & 4 H.M. Campbell1976St. Andrews LinksDick Siderowf37 buche J.C. Davies1975Royal Liverpool Golf ClubVinny Giles 8 & 7 Mark James1974MuirfieldTrevor Homer2 up Jim Gabrielsen1973Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubDick Siderowf5 & 3 Peter H. Moody1972Royal St. George's Golf ClubTrevor Homer4 & 3 Alan Thirlwell1971Carnoustie Golf LinksSteve Melnyk3 & 2 Jim Simons1970Royal County Down Golf ClubMichael Bonallack8 & 7 Bill Hyndman1969Royal Liverpool Golf ClubMichael Bonallack3 & 2 Bill Hyndman1968Royal Troon Golf ClubMichael Bonallack7 & 6 Joe Carr1967Formby Golf ClubBob Dickson 2 & 1 Ron Cerrudo1966Carnoustie Golf LinksBobby Cole3 & 2 Ronnie Shade1965Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubMichael Bonallack2 & 1 Clive Clark1964Ganton Golf ClubGordon Clark39 buche Michael Lunt1963St. Andrews LinksMichael Lunt2 & 1 John Blackwell1962Royal Liverpool Golf ClubRichard Davies 1 up John Povall1961TurnberryMichael Bonallack6 & 4 James Walker1960Royal Portrush Golf ClubJoe Carr8 & 7 Robert Cochran1959Royal St. George's Golf ClubDeane Beman3 & 2 Bill Hyndman1958St. Andrews LinksJoe Carr3 & 2 Alan Thirlwell1957Formby Golf ClubReid Jack2 & 1 Harold Ridgley1956Royal Troon Golf ClubJohn Beharrell5 & 4 Leslie Taylor1955Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf ClubJoe Conrad3 & 2 Alan Slater1954MuirfieldDouglas Bachli2 & 1 William C. Campbell1953Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJoe Carr2 up Harvie Ward1952Prestwick Golf ClubHarvie Ward6 & 5 Frank Stranahan1951Royal Porthcawl Golf ClubDick Chapman 5 & 4 Charles Coe1950St. Andrews LinksFrank Stranahan 8 & 6 Dick Chapman1949Portmarnock Golf ClubSamuel McCready2 & 1 Willie Turnesa1948Royal St. George's Golf ClubFrank Stranahan5 & 4 Charles Stowe1947Carnoustie Golf LinksWillie Turnesa3 & 2 Dick Chapman1946Royal Birkdale Golf ClubJames Bruen4 & 3 Robert Sweeny Jr.1940-45: Non giocate a causa della seconda guerra mondiale1939Royal Liverpool Golf ClubAlexander Kyle2 & 1 A.A. Duncan1938Royal Troon Golf ClubCharles Yates3 & 2 Cecil Ewing1937Royal St. George's Golf ClubRobert Sweeny Jr.3 & 2 Lionel Munn1936St. Andrews LinksHector Thomson2 up Jim Ferrier1935Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf ClubLawson Little1 up William Tweddell1934Prestwick Golf ClubLawson Little14 & 13 J. Wallace1933Royal Liverpool Golf ClubMichael Scott4 & 3 T.A. Bourn1932MuirfieldJohn De Forest 3 & 1 Eric Fiddian1931Royal North Devon Golf ClubEric Martin-Smith 1 up John De Forest1930St. Andrews LinksBobby Jones7 & 6 Roger Wethered1929Royal St. George's Golf ClubCyril Tolley4 & 3 J. Nelson Smith1928Prestwick Golf ClubPhil Perkins6 & 4 Roger Wethered1927Royal Liverpool Golf ClubWilliam Tweddell 7 & 6 D.E. Landale1926MuirfieldJess Sweetser6 & 5 A.F. Simpson1925Royal North Devon Golf ClubRobert Harris13 & 12 Kenneth F. Fradgley 1924St. Andrews LinksErnest Holderness 3 & 2 E.F. Storey1923Royal Cinque Ports Golf ClubRoger Wethered 7 & 6 Robert Harris1922Prestwick Golf ClubErnest Holderness 1 up John Caven1921Royal Liverpool Golf ClubWillie Hunter12 & 11 Allan Graham1920MuirfieldCyril Tolley37 buche Robert A. Gardner1915-19: Non giocate a causa della prima guerra mondiale1914Royal St. George's Golf ClubJ.L.C. Jenkins3 & 2 Charles O. Hezlet1913St. Andrews LinksHarold Hilton6 & 5 Robert Harris1912Royal North Devon Golf ClubJohn Ball38 buche Abe Mitchell1911Prestwick Golf ClubHarold Hilton4 & 3 E.A. Lassen1910Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJohn Ball10 & 9 C.C. Aylmer1909MuirfieldRobert Maxwell 1 up C.K. Hutchison1908Royal St. George's Golf ClubE.A. Lassen 7 & 6 H.E. Taylor1907St. Andrews LinksJohn Ball6 & 4 C.A. Palmer1906Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJames Robb 4 & 3 C.C. Lingen1905Prestwick Golf ClubArthur Barry 3 & 2 Osmund Scott1904Royal St. George's Golf ClubWalter Travis4 & 3 Edward Blackwell1903MuirfieldRobert Maxwell 7 & 5 Horace Hutchinson1902Royal Liverpool Golf ClubCharles Hutchings 1 up Sidney Fry1901St. Andrews LinksHarold Hilton1 up John L. Low1900Royal St. George's Golf ClubHarold Hilton8 & 7 James Robb1899Prestwick Golf ClubJohn Ball37 buche Freddie Tait1898Royal Liverpool Golf ClubFreddie Tait 7 & 5 S. Mure Fergusson1897MuirfieldJack Allan4 & 2 James Robb1896Royal St. George's Golf ClubFreddie Tait 8 & 7 Harold Hilton1895St. Andrews LinksLeslie Balfour-Melville19 buche John Ball1894Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJohn Ball1 up S. Mure Fergusson1893Prestwick Golf ClubP.C. Anderson1 up Johnny Laidlay1892Royal St. George's Golf ClubJohn Ball3 & 1 Harold Hilton1891St. Andrews LinksJohnny Laidlay20 buche Harold Hilton1890Royal Liverpool Golf ClubJohn Ball4 & 3 Johnny Laidlay1889St. Andrews LinksJohnny Laidlay2 & 1 Leslie Balfour-Melville1888Prestwick Golf ClubJohn Ball5 & 4 Johnny Laidlay1887Royal Liverpool Golf ClubHorace Hutchinson1 up John Ball1886St. Andrews LinksHorace Hutchinson7 & 6 Henry Lamb1885Royal Liverpool Golf ClubAllen MacFie7 & 6 Horace Hutchinson
Curiosità Sedici giocatori hanno vinto più di un Amateur Championship: 8 vittorie: John Ball; 5 vittorie: Michael Bonallack; 4 vittorie: Harold Hilton; 3 vittorie: Joe Carr; 2 vittorie: Horace Hutchinson, Johnny Laidlay, Freddie Tait, Robert Maxwell, Ernest Holderness, Cyril Tolley, Lawson Little, Frank Stranahan, Trevor Homer, Dick Siderowf, Peter McEvoy, Gary Wolstenholme.
Tre giocatori hanno vinto sia l'Amateur Championship che l'Open Championship: John Ball - 1888, 1890, 1892, 1894, 1899, 1907, 1910, 1912 Amateur; 1890 Open; Harold Hilton - 1900, 1901, 1911, 1913 Amateurs; 1892, 1897 Open; Bobby Jones - 1930 Amateur; 1926, 1927, 1930 Open.
Collegamenti esterni
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