Last year’s Amateur Championship winner James Sugrue. The R&A will hold the 2020 event at Royal Birkdale in August if COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed by then. Picture by R&A

THE R&A has published a rearranged schedule for its 2020 amateur championships – but all of its international matches between Europe and Great Britain and Ireland, and the Home Internationals have been cancelled.

The R&A’s two biggest junior events – the Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur Championships – will go ahead as planned in August, while three of its biggest adult competitions have been moved from earlier in the summer to late August

The R&A Seniors Championship – which traditionally attracts a strong entry from the USA and Europe has been put back to late September from its traditional slot in late July.

With the exception of the Curtis Cup clash between the USA and Great Britain and Ireland’s elite women amateurs – which has been postponed until 2021 – all other international matches scheduled in 2020 have been cancelled.

All six major championships will be played at their original venues – and are dependent on the COVID-19 situation, the R&A stressed.

The full list is as follows:–

• The R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship Southport & Ainsdale, Lancs, will be played from August 11-15 as scheduled
• The R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship at Moortown and Alwoodley, Yorks, will be played from August 11-16 as scheduled
• The R&A Women’s Senior Amateur Championship at Ashridge, Herts, will be played from August 19-21 as scheduled
• The Women’s Amateur Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie) has been rescheduled from June 23-27 to August 25-29
• The Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire has been rescheduled from June 15-20 to August 25-30
• The R&A Senior Amateur Championship at Royal Cinque Ports, Deal, has been rescheduled from July 29-31 to September 23-25

The revised schedule for the championships will only go ahead if the restrictions introduced to combat the coronavirus pandemic allow.

An R&A spokesman said: “We will continue to follow the guidance from the UK Government, health authorities and our own medical consultants.”

The R&A Junior Open, which was due to be played from 13-15 July at Kent’s Littlestone GC, from July 13-15 – in the build up to the 149th Open at Royal St George’s – has been cancelled along with The Open Championship at nearby Sandwich (July 16-19).

The following amateur international matches have all been cancelled:–

• St Andrews Trophy – GB&I v Europe – Royal Porthcawl (July 23-24)
• R&A Boys’ Home Internationals, Killarney (Aug 4-6)
• R&A Women’s and Girls’ Home Internationals, Royal St David’s (Aug 5&7)
• Junior Vagliano Trophy and Jacques Leglise Trophy – GB&I v Europe – Blairgowrie (Lansdowne), Aug 28-29
• R&A Men’s and Women’s Senior Home Internationals West Kilbride, (Sept 29-Oct 1)

St Andrews Trophy has produced 26 Ryder Cup since first GB&I v Europe match at Wentworth in 1956

The winning Continent of Europe team that won the St Andrews Trophy at Finland’s Linna Golf in 2018. Picture by JAN KRUGER R&A / GETTY IMAGES

THE biennial St Andrews Trophy – jointly arranged with the European Golf Association – between the GB&I men’s team and Continental Europe was called off last month.

The match has seen many GB&I players go on to feature in the Walker Cup against the USA. It was due to be played at Royal Porthcawl, from July 23-24.

And 26 members from both St Andrews’ teams have featured in Ryder Cups over the past 60 years.

That list includes the likes of Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Francesco Molinairi and his brother Edoardo, Darren Clarke, Jose Maria Olazabal, Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomery, Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer, Sandy Lyle and Thomas Bjørn.

It dates back to 1956 and GB&I won 19 of the first 22 matches. Since 2000, GB&I have won the match six times with Europe claiming three of the last matches.

The first match was played at Wentworth’s West Course with Gerald Micklem captaining the GB&I team.

The current Walker Cup captain has traditionally led the GB&I team as part of their preparations to play against the USA the following year.

In 2018, Finland’s Sami Valimaki, who won the Oman Open in February, was on the winning Continental Europe team

The first tie in the event’s history – at Prince’s in 2016 – saw GB&I retain the trophy. GB&I now lead 25-6 overall.

The 2022 St Andrews Trophy is set to be played at Penati, in Slovakia.

The post R&A push on with plans for big six championships – IF amateur golf gets green light appeared first on Golf North.

Stuart Wilson – the new Walker Cup captain appointed by the R&A played for GB&I who beat the USA at Ganton, in 2003. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

STUART Wilson – one of Scotland’s most renowned amateur golfers – has been named as Great Britain and Ireland’s Walker Cup captain, who will try to regain the trophy from America in May 2021.

The 2004 Amateur champion will begin his stint as captain of the GB&I men’s teams by leading the four Home Nations against Continental Europe, at the St Andrews Trophy, in July, at Royal Porthcawl.

After four years serving on The R&A Boys’ selection committee, including three as chairman, and The R&A’s amateur status committee, Wilson has accepted the new opportunity to succeed Craig Watson, whose team lost heavily to the USA, at Royal Liverpool, in September.

Following a glittering amateur career, including his victory in The Amateur Championship, at St Andrews, in 2004 – where he defeated 2018 Champion Golfer of the Year Francesco Molinari in the quarter-finals – Wilson is well-placed to lead the next generation of golfing talent.

And with most GB&I captains serving for two Walker Cups, Wilson is in line to have a dream return to the Home of Golf when St Andrews hosts the 2023 Walker Cup, in its more traditional September date.

Wilson was a member of the winning Walker Cup side at Ganton, in 2003, contributing two points – with a win and a half playing with David Inglis in the foursomes.

But Wilson lost heavily to Matt Hendrix in the Sunday singles, having held the American for a half in Saturday’s afternoon session.

The 42-year-old will now captain the GB&I team when it heads to Seminole, Florida in 2021 to take on the United States, having also captained Europe’s Junior Ryder Cup teams against the USA in 2012, and 2014.

GB&I will be aiming to reclaim both the St Andrews Trophy and Walker Cup under Wilson’s leadership.

“I am very proud to be selected as the GB&I men’s team captain and look forward to leading a talented group of golfers at the St Andrews Trophy and the Walker Cup,” said Wilson.

“I have fond memories of my time as a player representing GB&I in these prestigious matches and  I am determined to make a valuable contribution to the team as its leader and in helping the players.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on The R&A Boys’ Selection Committee and know first-hand the level of talent which is emerging.

“It feels like a very natural progression to be taking on this role to continue to foster these gifted amateur golfers.”

Stoke Park’s Conor Gough, who was handed his Walker Cup debut by Craig Watson at just 17, and Rotherham’s record-breaker Ben Schmidt – who was surprisingly only named as a reserve despite becoming the youngest player to win the Brabazon – will be two key names on Wilson’s shortlist for Seminole.

Schmidt also become the youngest player to complete the double of claiming the Carris Trophy, at the English Boys Strokeplay, in the same season – taking Sandy Lyle’s records in the process.

Following his win at the 2004 Amateur Championship, Stuart Wilson went on to win the Silver Medal at The 133rd  Open, at Royal Troon, having also qualified for The Open in 2001.

The R&A Foundation scholar, who studied at Dundee’s Abertay University – and won the 2003 Lytham Trophy while doing his degree, played in the 2005 Masters at Augusta National.

Wilson is a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and is the managing secretary of Forfar Golf Club. He is married with two children.

Wilson’s first international match – the St Andrews Trophy – takes place at the renowned south Wales links on July 23 and 24.

Hampshire’s Scott Gregory beat European Tour Rookie of the Year in the final of the 2016 Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl.

•Click here for key dates in the R&A’s schedule in 2020 and here for England’s leading championships.

The USA’s five-point victory against Great Britain and Ireland, at Hoylake, in September was the biggest away win since Sunningdale in 1987. Picture by USGA

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