Amateur Championship could ‘return to straight knockout format’ at Birkdale

COULD the Amateur Championship be reverting to a simple knockout format due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic?

The R&A has abandoned plans to use two courses – as it has for the past 36 years – to stage its traditional 36-hole qualifier, leading to a knockout matchplay for the top 64 players.

Instead of using West Lancashire and Royal Birkdale golf clubs to stage the 125^th Amateur Championship, the event will now be held exclusively at the latter from August 25-30.

With a normal entry of 288 players from all over the world, this year’s Amateur Championship looks almost certain to revert to a straight knockout.

Royal Birkdale cannot physically stage 36 holes of qualifying and five rounds of matchplay – before a 36-hole final on the last day – within the allotted six days.

The only alternative would be for the R&A to slash the number of entries in half – if it wanted to maintain the qualifying format played over the first two days.

The latest changes to the blue riband event on the amateur calendar – which has been won by Hampshire golfers in two of the last four years – were announced on Tuesday.

The R&A would not be drawn on the likely format for the revised championships.

An R&A spokesman told Golf South: “We are aiming to open entries for both championships next week – at which time the terms of competition will be published.

“We are in the process of finalising our arrangements for both events and will be able to confirm these next week.”

Corhampton’s Scott Gregory with his 2017 Masters invite after winning the 2016 Amateur Championship, beating Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre in the final at Royal Porthcawl.
Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

Using Lancashire venues allows R&A to ‘concentrate its resources’

WITH the rejigged England Golf schedule, the country’s top amateurs will have a run playing the Brabazon Trophy – two weeks after the English Amateur Championship at Woodhall Spa – followed by The Amateur at Royal Birkdale.

The winner of The Amateur would normally play in that summer’s Open Championship, and traditionally receives an invite to The Masters the following April, before also being offered a place in that year’s US Open.

The Women’s Amateur winner normally earns a start in the Women’s British Open – the 2020 Major is scheduled to be played the weekend before at Royal Troon.

What exemptions the 2020 winners of both Amateur Championships will earn has not yet been announced.

R&A executive director Duncan Weir said: “We have been working hard to make sure we can deliver The Amateur and Women’s Amateur championships in August in as safe a manner as possible for players and officials.

“With that in mind, we plan to stage both championships at neighbouring venues in the north west of England so we can concentrate our resources in one area.

“We look forward to staging these great championships which will provide an opportunity for the leading players to compete at the highest level and – if eligible – stake their claims for places in the Walker and Curtis cups as well as other international matches next year.”

Both championships were moved back from their respective dates in June to August at the end of April.

The stunning West Lancashire Golf Club, which will now host The Women’s Amateur Championship from August 25-29, after The R&A switched it from Kilmarnock (Barassie)

Women’s Amateur switches to West Lancashire from Barassie

WHILE West Lancashire will play no role in the Amateur, it will now host the Women’s Amateur Championship instead, over the same week.

West Cornwall’s Emily Toy had been due to defend the crown she won last year at Royal County Down, at Kilmarnock (Barassie) this month.

The Scottish venue will now host the 2021 Women’s Amateur from June 12-18 while Conway GC, in North Wales, will now host the 41st Curtis Cup from September 3-5, next year.

The biennial clash between the defending champions the USA and Great Britain and Ireland, was cancelled back in April after discussions with the USGA.

Mr Weir added: “We are also delighted to confirm the dates for the Curtis Cup match and look forward to welcoming the players of both teams to Conwy in 2021.”

IN other developments, the Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur Championships – which had been due to have been played in the middle of August – have both been cancelled.

The Girls’ Amateur was won in its centenary year at Panmure GC by Slovenia’s 15-year-old Pia Babnik, while the Boys’ crown went to France’s Tom Gueant at Saunton, in North Devon.

•The Amateur Championship was played as a straight knockout from 1885 onwards until the 36-hole strokeplay was introduced in 1984 at Formby and Southport & Ainsdale.

The final was contested by future Ryder Cup captains Jose Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie – with the Spaniard claiming the famous trophy.

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Wentworth member Harry Ellis, from Hampshire, who won the Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s in 2017. The 2020 Amateur Championship has been put back two months. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

THE R&A have announced that both of its major amateur championships – and the women’s Curtis Cup clash with America – are being put back to later dates because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Amateur Championship – due to be held at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire from June 15-20 – and the Women’s Amateur Championship, which was set for a week later at Kilmarnock (Barassie), are now scheduled to be played in the week commencing August 24.

The biennial Curtis Cup clash between the USA and Great Britain and Ireland – which was set to be played at Conwy Golf Club, in North Wales, from June 12-14, has been put back until 2021 after talks with the United States Golf Association (USGA).

The winner of the Amateur Championship earns a place in The Open Championship – but the 2020 winner at Royal Birkdale may miss out unless the R&A subsequently postpone the 149^th Open Championship, which is due to be played at Royal St George’s in July.

The R&A are currently considering whether its plans for The Open at Sandwich, can go ahead because of the threat from COVID-19 which has led to more than 2,300 deaths in the UK in the past month.

An R&A spokesman said: “Following advice provided by the UK Government, health authorities and our own medical consultants in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have postponed the amateur championships and international match due to be played in June.”

Duncan Weir, the R&A’s director of amateur championships, said: “We have a responsibility to protect the health and well-being of the players and everyone involved in our events so it is the right course of action to take.

“We are grateful to all of the venues for their continuing support in these challenging circumstances and will update everyone involved with our plans.”

“We continue to review our 2020 professional championships and the remainder of our domestic amateur season.

“Further information will be issued in due course.”

A date for the 2021 Curtis Cup will be announced in due course, the R&A spokesman added.

The victorious USA team at the 2018 Curtis Cup, played at New York’s Quaker Ridge.
Picture by STEVE GIBBONS / USGA

Curtis Cup dates back to 1932

The Curtis Cup will now be played at Conwy Golf Club in 2021

THE Curtis Cup dates back to 1932 – the Americans currently lead with 30 wins to GB&I’s 10 victories – and since 2008 the match has been played over three days.

The United States won the last Curtis Cup at Quaker Ridge, in New York, with the hosts having won the last five.

GB&I broke a losing sequence dating back to their win at Ireland’s Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in 1996 when they beat the USA at Nairn Golf Club, in 2012 under the captaincy of Wales’ Tegwen Matthews.

Hampshire’s 2016 Amateur Champion Scott Gregory, from Corhampton GC.
Picture by ANDREW GRIFIFN / AMG PICTURES

Hampshire pair won Amateur Championship back-to-back

THE Amateur Championship was won in 2019 by Ireland’s James Sugrue, from Mallow GC, who went on to play for GB&I against America in the Walker Cup, at Hoylake, in September.

The Irishman featured alongside Stoke Park’s English Amateur Champion Conor Gough at Royal Liverpool GC, where the USA ran out winners by 151/2-101/2.

The Buckinghamshire teenager was just 17 when he made his Walker Cup debut, having won the English crown at Hankley Common, six weeks earlier when he was still 16.

Harry Ellis, who holds the record as the youngest English Amateur Champion at 16, won the Amateur Championship when it was held at Royal St George’s in 2017.

The Florida State University graduate from Meon Valley G&CC, who is now a member at Wentworth, was the second Hampshire player to win in a row after Corhampton’s Scott Gregory claimed the historic prize at Royal Porthcawl.

Gregory, who is now playing on the Challenge Tour, beat Scotland’s Robert McIntyre at Royal Porthcawl in 2016, with the pair playing with Ellis in the 2017 Walker Cup at Los Angeles Country Club.

Other recent winners of the men’s title include South Africa’s Jovan Rebula, who beat Ireland’s Robin Dawson at Royal Aberdeen two years ago, and France’s Romain Langasque, who beat Scot Grant Forrest at Carnoustie, five years ago.

Mattias Schwab, who lost to Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar, at Royal Troon in 2012, and Zander Lombard – beaten in the final by Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil at Royal Portrush in 2014, have both gone on to play on the European Tour.

Meanwhile the winners of those two Amateur Championships have not translated their wins into success in the pro ranks. Although Neil has played on the European Challenge Tour.

AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO NAIRN IN 2021

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Kilmarnock Barassie 12th Green. Pic Kenny Smith, Kenny Smith Photography
Tel 07809 450119

One of the finest championship links courses in Scotland has undergone a new look to help boost enjoyment and playability.

Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club, a former Open Final Qualifying and Amateur Championship venue, now boasts an impressive new short 12^th hole and other subtle course changes that have helped increase membership at the west coast layout.

In the early 2000s, the prestigious Ayrshire club on the outskirts of Troon completed a project to add an additional nine holes to the existing historic 18-hole course, primarily to add length to the championship course and offer members more challenge and variety.

However, two parts of the site required having to walk over 400 yards between holes and Barassie have moved to address this issue in an era of trying to speed up the sport.

Working with renowned designer Paul Kimber, an area of the club’s property was identified to create an exciting new par-3 hole with good drainage and remove the walks. After gorse was taken away and sand imported from other parts of the site, the new 12^th, known as ‘Hillhouse,’ replaces the former par-3 6^th hole.

Kilmarnock Barassie 12th Hole. Pic Kenny Smith, Kenny Smith Photography
Tel 07809 450119

To create a better link between the 5^th green and the former 7^th fairway, Kimber has also built new teeing grounds near the 5^th green to enable play towards the new 6^th fairway from a completely different angle and achieve a right-to-left dogleg hugging the railway line.

With the alterations ready for the start of the 2019 season, the new 12^th – which at 145 yards features an undulating green, pot bunkers around the green and a view to Arran looking back down the hole – has already proved popular with members and visitors.

Bob Anderson, Greens Convenor at Kilmarnock (Barassie), said: “We are absolutely delighted with the new 12^th hole, it couldn’t have looked better. It is a well-designed signature par-3, with a nice yardage and improves the enjoyment of playing Barassie without the walks.

“Visitors or potential members were previously coming to Barassie and it was too long, overall. Over the years we have tried to get the playability up but retain the enjoyment and the new hole has already proved tremendously popular with all the members.”

The total yardage for the par-72 course has reduced by eight yards to 6,814, while the standard scratch for all levels remains the same.

Coupled with other initiatives such as rough reduction, the course changes have also helped Barassie to grow membership in these challenging times.

The club, which was founded in 1887 and the course finally laid as 18 holes in 1937, now has a total membership of over 1,100.

Claire Middleton, General Manager at Kilmarnock (Barassie), added: “We are thrilled with the new par-3 12^th hole. Paul Kimber and his team managed not only to meet our budget and a tight schedule but, even more importantly, meet members’ expectations.

“We look forward to another great golfing season and our members and visitors enjoying the course changes.”

Barassie, which also boasts a 9-hole layout, counts former Amateur champion Gordon Sherry and fellow ex-Walker Cup winning players Jim Milligan and Jack McDonald among its current members.

The club also offers improved facilities in the clubhouse and professional’s shop, run by Gregor Howie.

www.kbgc.co.uk

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