Boys Amateur Championship Explained

Boys Amateur Championship
Location:United Kingdom
Establishment:1921
Course:Moortown Golf Club (2024)
Format:Stroke play followed by match play
Month Played:August
Current Champion: Viggo Olsson Mörk

The Boys Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. The competition is organised and run by The R&A.[1]

History

The Boys Amateur Championship was first played at Royal Ascot in 1921.[1] In 1921 boys had to be under-16 but this was raised to under-17 in 1922 and to under-18 in 1923, which is the age limit that has been retained since.

The venue for the competition has been played at many golf courses throughout the United Kingdom and has frequented several golf courses on more than one occasion. Notably the first two completion were both played at Royal Ascot.[1]

The first championship started on 5 September 1921 with nearly 50 boys competing. The first day saw 14-year-old Henry Cotton play the eventual winner, Donald Mathieson, Cotton losing by 2 holes.[2] Cotton was all square after 16 holes but lost the 17th, after being incorrectly penalised for placing his bag in a bunker, and then went out of bounds at the final hole.[3] The Scot, Mathieson, met an English boy, Guy Lintott in the 36-hole final. Lincott won the final three holes to tie the match but Mathieson won the 37th hole to win the championship. Mathieson was the son of Donald MacKay Mathieson, a well-known golf journalist.[3]

Format

The current format for the Boys Amateur Championship has been used since 2010 and comprises an initial stroke play stage with all 252 competitors playing two rounds of 18 holes, one on each of the two courses. The 64 lowest scores over the 36 holes then compete in the match play final stage of the Championship. Ties for 64th place are decided by countback. Each round of the knockout is played over 18 holes with the exception of the final which is played over 36 holes. Boys must be under 18 at the start of the year in which the championship is held.[4]

The 2020 event was cancelled, while the 2021 event was run with a reduced field of 144 played at a single venue, Royal Cinque Ports.

Results

YearWinnerScoreRunner-upVenueRef.
2024 4 & 3
2023 38 holes
2022 2 & 1
2021 37 holes
2020 Cancelled [5]
2019 37 holes [6]
2018 3 & 1 [7]
2017 5 & 4 [8]
2016 37 holes [9]
2015 4 & 3 [10]
2014 1 up [11]
2013 10 & 9 [12]
2012 10 & 8 [13]
2011 37 holes
2010 4 & 3
2009 5 & 4
2008 39 holes
2007 1 up
2006 38 holes
2005 3 & 2
2004 2 & 1
2003 1 up
2002 37 holes
2001 3 & 2
2000 1 up
1999 1 up
1998 1 up
1997 6 & 5
1996 2 & 1
1995 7 & 6
1994 2 & 1
1993 3 & 1
1992 3 & 2
1991 4 & 3
1990 3 & 1
1989 5 & 3
1988 3 & 2
1987 3 & 1
1986 5 & 4
1985 5 & 4
1984 2 & 1
1983 6 & 5
1982 37 holes
1981 4 & 3
1980 7 & 6
1979 6 & 5
1978 3 & 2
1977 1 up
1976 6 & 5
1975 1 up
1974 10 & 9
1973 5 & 3
1972 7 & 5
1971 6 & 5
1970 1 up
1969 37 holes
1968 3 & 2
1967 4 & 2
1966 12 & 11
1965 4 & 2
1964 9 & 8
1963 2 & 1
1962 1 up
1961 3 & 2
1960 5 & 3
1959 3 & 1
1958 4 & 3
1957 2 & 1
1956 2 & 1
1955 39 holes
1954 38 holes
1953 6 & 4
1952 37 holes
1951 6 & 5
1950 2 & 1
1949 3 & 2
1948 37 holes
1947 5 & 4
1946 7 & 5
align=center colspan=61940–1945: No tournament due to World War II
1939 4 & 2
1938 3 & 2 Moor Park
1937 8 & 7
1936 11 & 9
1935 6 & 5
1934 12 & 10
1933 3 & 2
1932 2 & 1
1931 5 & 4
1930 9 & 8 Fulwell
1929 6 & 4
1928 6 & 5
1927 4 & 2
1926 1 up Coombe Hill
1925 4 & 3
1924 2 up Coombe Hill
1923 3 & 1 [14]
1922 4 & 2 Royal Ascot [15]
1921 37 holes Royal Ascot [16]

Source:[17]

Future venues

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The R&A - The Boy's Championship - History. 20 May 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110506012428/http://www.randa.org/en/Championship-Golf/Amateur-Championships/Boys-Amateur/History.aspx. 6 May 2011.
  2. News: The Boys Championship . The Glasgow Herald . 3 . 6 September 1921.
  3. News: Boy golfers at Ascot . The Sphere . 17 September 1921 . 7 July 2021 . . subscription.
  4. Web site: The R&A - The Boy's Championship. 23 May 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110806195501/http://www.randa.org/en/Championship%20Golf/Amateur%20Championships/Boys%20Amateur.aspx. 6 August 2011.
  5. Web site: Amateur Championships and Matches Update . 22 June 2020 . The R&A.
  6. Web site: R&A Championships and International Matches 2019 . 11 December 2022 . The R&A.
  7. Web site: R&A Championships and International Matches 2018 . 11 December 2022 . The R&A.
  8. Web site: R&A Championships and International Matches 2017 . 11 December 2022 . The R&A.
  9. Web site: R&A Championships and International Matches 2016 . 11 December 2022 . The R&A.
  10. Web site: R&A Championships and International Matches 2015 . 11 December 2022 . The R&A.
  11. Web site: R&A Championships and International Matches 2014 . 11 December 2022 . The R&A.
  12. Web site: R&A Championships and International Matches 2013 . Peter N. . Lewis . 11 December 2022 . The R&A.
  13. Web site: R&A Championships and International Matches 1984 - 2012 . Peter N. . Lewis . 11 December 2022 . The R&A.
  14. News: Mathieson again boy champion . The Glasgow Herald . 1 September 1923 . 13.
  15. News: The boys' championship . The Glasgow Herald . 11 September 1922 . 13.
  16. News: The boys' championship . The Glasgow Herald . 12 September 1921 . 12.
  17. Web site: Past Winners The Boys Amateur Championship . 11 December 2022.
  18. Web site: Venues announced for R&A Amateur Championships and international matches in 2025 . The R&A . 28 June 2024 . 6 June 2024.