Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship

The Scottish Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship is the national amateur stroke play golf championship in Scotland. Entry is open to all amateur golfers. It has been played annually since 1967 and is organised by the Scottish Golf. The format is 72-hole stroke-play contested over three days. After 36 holes the leading 40 competitors and ties play a further 36 holes on the final day.

Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship
Tournament information
LocationScotland
Established1967
Organised byScottish Golf
FormatStroke play
Month playedMay/June
Current champion
Scotland Connor Graham

History edit

The event was started in 1967, based on the format of the Brabazon Trophy which had been played in England since 1947.[1] It was held on 1 and 2 July with 36 holes played each day. Two courses, Muirfield and Gullane No. 1, were used on the first day after which the leading 40 and ties played 36 holes at Muirfield on the final day.[2] Bernard Gallacher win with a score of 291, five strokes ahead of Charlie Green.[3] A similar format was generally used in following years, with two courses used on the opening day. Starting in 1968 the championship was played in June for many years. Ronnie Shade won by six strokes in 1968 at Prestwick.[4] There was another Scottish winner in 1969, Scott Macdonald, although two English golfers, Peter Benka and Rodney Foster were runners-up.[5]

1970 saw the first non-Scottish winner, when the South African Dale Hayes won by four strokes.[6] Ian Hutcheon won in 1971 and would win again in 1974 and 1979.[7][8][9] Bert Nicholson won in 1972 while 1973 produced the only tie in the event, when Gordon Clark, from England, and David Robertson finished level. There was no playoff.[10] the experienced Charlie Green won in 1975 while Steve Martin won by a record 11 strokes in 1976.[11][12] There were further Scottish winners in 1977 and 1978 with Paul McKellar and Alistair Taylor.[13][14] Mike Miller was a runner-up three times between 1975 and 1978 but never won the championship. Gordon Brand Jnr win in 1980 when the event was reduced to 54 holes by heavy rain on the first day.[15]

The 1980s produced two overseas winners. In 1981, Philip Walton, from Ireland, won by a stroke from defending champion Gordon Brand Jnr, while in 1989 Frenchman François Illouz won by two strokes.[16][17] Charlie Green won for the second time in 1984, while Colin Montgomerie won by five strokes in 1985.[18][19] The 1990 event was reduced to 36 holes by harr. 1996 saw the first playoff in the championship. Alastair Forsyth and South African Hennie Otto were tied on 279 and it took nine sudden-death holes before Forsyth won. there were further playoffs in 2000 and 2001 won by Simon Mackenzie and the Australian John Sutherland.[20][21]

Gary Wolstenholme won the 2003, the first English winner since 1973.[22] Richie Ramsay won in 2004 with a record score of 269, but there was another English winner in 2005, Robert Dinwiddie.[23][24] Wallace Booth won in 2008, a contest reduced to 54 holes.[25] Tommy Fleetwood won in 2009 with a new record score of 268, eight strokes ahead of the field.[26]

Pre-qualifying, for players without a guaranteed place, was introduced in 2022. A single round was played a few days before the championship.[27]

Winners edit

Year Winner(s) Score Margin
of victory
Runner(s)-up Venue(s) Ref.
2023   Connor Graham 265 4 strokes   Altin van der Merwe Meldrum House
2022   Charlie Thornton 278 1 stroke   John Gough Cruden Bay
2021   Callan Barrow 261 3 strokes   James Wilson Southerness [28]
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
2019   Jake Bolton 272 1 stroke   Sam Bairstow The Duke's (St Andrews) [29]
2018   Victor Veyret 268 6 strokes   Conor Purcell Gleneagles, Kings Course [30]
2017   Liam Johnston 275 2 strokes   Matthew Jordan Western Gailes [31]
2016   Cameron John 269 4 strokes   Grant Forrest
  Stuart Grehan
Gullane No.1 [32]
2015   Marco Penge 278 1 stroke   Graeme Robertson Moray [33]
2014   Gavin Moynihan 275 2 strokes   Geoff Drakeford
  Jack Hume
  Nick Marsh
Panmure [34]
2013   Garrick Porteous 277 4 strokes   Dermot McElroy
  Richie O'Donovan
  Callum Shinkwin
Southerness [35]
2012   Paul Barjon 282 4 strokes   Rory Bourke
  Haydn Porteous
Kilmarnock (Barassie) [36]
2011   Andy Sullivan 282 1 stroke   Steven Brown Blairgowrie, Lansdowne [37]
2010   Romain Wattel 275 6 strokes   Billy Hemstock Glasgow, Gailes Links [38]
2009   Tommy Fleetwood 268 8 strokes   Gavin Dear Murcar Links [26]
2008   Wallace Booth 210[a] 4 strokes   Édouard Dubois The Duke's (St Andrews) [25]
2007   Kevin McAlpine 271 2 strokes   James Byrne
  Alexandre Kaleka
Royal Dornoch [39]
2006   Scott Henry 277 1 stroke   Ross McGowan Craigielaw [40]
2005   Robert Dinwiddie 281 3 strokes   Jonathan King Royal Aberdeen [24]
2004   Richie Ramsay 269 1 stroke   Roope Kakko Lundin Links [23]
2003   Gary Wolstenholme 273 4 strokes   Richard Walker Turnberry, Kintyre [22]
2002   Barry Hume 277 2 strokes   David Inglis
  Simon Mackenzie
Southerness [41]
2001   John Sutherland 279 Playoff[b]   Steven Carmichael Nairn/Nairn Dunbar [21]
2000   Simon Mackenzie 278 Playoff[c]   Barry Hume Letham Grange [20]
1999   Graham Rankin 286 3 strokes   Mark Loftus St Andrews
1998   Lorne Kelly 275 6 strokes   Steven Carmichael Moray/Elgin
1997   Barclay Howard 271 8 strokes   Geoff Ogilvy
  Robert Wiggins
Monifieth/Panmure
1996   Alastair Forsyth 279 Playoff[d]   Hennie Otto Cardross/Helensburgh
1995   Stephen Gallacher 282 1 stroke   Simon Mackenzie Paisley/Renfrew
1994   David Downie 288 1 stroke   Nicolas Vanhootegem Letham Grange
1993   Alan Reid 289 1 stroke   Dean Robertson St Andrews
1992   Dean Robertson 281 2 strokes   Scott Knowles Mortonhall/Bruntsfield Links
1991   Andrew Coltart 295 2 strokes   David Carrick Royal Troon
1990   Garry Hay 133[e] 3 strokes   Simon Mackenzie Royal Aberdeen/Murcar
1989   François Illouz 281 2 strokes   Craig Cassels
  Craig Everett
  Jim Milligan
Blairgowrie [17]
1988   Stephen Easingwood 277 6 strokes   Craig Cassels
  Hamish Kemp
Cathkin Braes/East Kilbride [42]
1987   David Carrick 282 6 strokes   Ian Hutcheon Lundin Links/Ladybank [43]
1986   Kenny Walker 289 3 strokes   Graeme Shaw Carnoustie [44]
1985   Colin Montgomerie 274 5 strokes   John Lindberg Dunbar/North Berwick [19]
1984   Charlie Green 287 1 stroke   Lee Vannet Blairgowrie [18]
1983   Gordon Murray 291 3 strokes   Steve Campbell
  Paul Girvan
  Charlie Green
Irvine/Irvine Ravenspark [45]
1982   George Macgregor 287 3 strokes   Jean-Charles Gassiat Downfield/Camperdown [46]
1981   Philip Walton 287 1 stroke   Gordon Brand Jnr Renfrew/Erskine [16]
1980   Gordon Brand Jnr 207[a] 1 stroke   Garry Hay
  George Macgregor
Musselburgh/Royal Musselburgh [15]
1979   Ian Hutcheon 296 1 stroke   Barclay Howard
  George Macgregor
Blairgowrie [9]
1978   Alistair Taylor 281 3 strokes   Keith Macintosh
  Mike Miller
Cawder [14]
1977   Paul McKellar 299 6 strokes   Mike Miller Muirfield/Gullane [13]
1976   Steve Martin 283 11 strokes   Peter Wilson Carnoustie/Monifieth [12]
1975   Charlie Green 295 1 stroke   George Macgregor
  Mike Miller
Nairn/Nairn Dunbar [11]
1974   Ian Hutcheon 283 1 stroke   David Tierney Blairgowrie/Alyth [8]
1973   Gordon Clark
  David Robertson
284 Tied Dunbar/North Berwick [10]
1972   Bert Nicholson 290 1 stroke   Neil Rowberry Dalmahoy/Ratho Park
1971   Ian Hutcheon 277 5 strokes   Alistair Wilson Leven/Lundin Links [7]
1970   Dale Hayes 275 4 strokes   Allan Brodie
  Alistair Thomson
Glasgow Gailes/Barassie [6]
1969   Scott Macdonald 288 3 strokes   Peter Benka
  Rodney Foster
Carnoustie/Monifieth [5]
1968   Ronnie Shade 282 6 strokes   Gordon Cosh Prestwick/Prestwick St. Nicholas [4]
1967   Bernard Gallacher 291 5 strokes   Charlie Green Muirfield/Gullane No. 1 [3]
  1. ^ a b Event reduced to 54 holes because of adverse weather.
  2. ^ Sutherland beat Carmichael with a birdie at the third extra hole.
  3. ^ Mackenzie beat Hume with a birdie at the first extra hole.
  4. ^ Forsyth beat Otto with a par at the ninth extra hole.
  5. ^ Event reduced to 36 holes because of adverse weather.

Source:[47]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Inaugural event". The Glasgow Herald. 23 August 1966. p. 6.
  2. ^ Jacobs, Raymond (1 July 1967). "Testing course for Scottish stroke play". The Glasgow Herald. p. 13.
  3. ^ a b Jacobs, Raymond (3 July 1967). "Gallacher's victory by five strokes". The Glasgow Herald. p. 4.
  4. ^ a b Jacobs, Raymond (24 June 1968). "Scottish title for Shade by six strokes". The Glasgow Herald. p. 12.
  5. ^ a b Jacobs, Raymond (23 June 1969). "Macdonald's success upsets form". The Glasgow Herald. p. 4.
  6. ^ a b Jacobs, Raymond (22 June 1970). "Dales Hayes wins open stroke play championship". The Glasgow Herald. p. 5.
  7. ^ a b Jacobs, Raymond (21 June 1971). "Hutcheon wins by five strokes". The Glasgow Herald. p. 4.
  8. ^ a b "Ian Hutcheon now dual Scottish champion". The Glasgow Herald. 17 June 1974. p. 3.
  9. ^ a b Jacobs, Raymond (18 June 1979). "Consistency key to third Hutcheon win". The Glasgow Herald. p. 23.
  10. ^ a b Jacobs, Raymond (18 June 1973). "Robertson and Clark share Scottish title". The Glasgow Herald. p. 4.
  11. ^ a b "Green wins Scots title in tense finish". The Glasgow Herald. 16 June 1975. p. 18.
  12. ^ a b "Steve Martin coasts home". The Glasgow Herald. 21 June 1976. p. 21.
  13. ^ a b Jacobs, Raymond (13 June 1977). "McKellar stakes his claim". The Glasgow Herald. p. 17.
  14. ^ a b "Yet another victory for the young". The Glasgow Herald. 19 June 1978. p. 17.
  15. ^ a b "Brand's fiery comeback steals stroke-play title". The Glasgow Herald. 16 June 1980. p. 20.
  16. ^ a b "Irish teenage Scotland's new stroke-play champion". The Glasgow Herald. 15 June 1981. p. 16.
  17. ^ a b "French burn up course". The Glasgow Herald. 19 June 1989. p. 22.
  18. ^ a b "Vannet's double 6 finish gives Green the title". The Glasgow Herald. 18 June 1984. p. 17.
  19. ^ a b "Records tumble as Colin collects his first national title". The Glasgow Herald. 17 June 1985. p. 17.
  20. ^ a b "Mackenzie overhauls Hume for play-off win". The Herald (Glasgow). 19 June 2000.
  21. ^ a b "Golf: Play-off win gives John huge lift in bid to join pro ranks". Daily Record (Scotland). 19 June 2001 – via thefreelibrary.com.
  22. ^ a b "Golf: Gonnet no dae that when I'm hitting tee shot". Daily Record (Scotland). 16 June 2003 – via thefreelibrary.com.
  23. ^ a b "Student Ramsay Wins Scottish Open Amateur Strokeplay". University of Stirling. 24 May 2004.
  24. ^ a b "Dinwiddie putts England back on winning trail". Evening Chronicle. 13 June 2005 – via thefreelibrary.com.
  25. ^ a b "Wallace Booth wins Scottish open amateur stroke-play". Scottish Golf View. 2 June 2008.
  26. ^ a b "Fleetwood storms to Scottish victory". Amateur Golf. 1 June 2009.
  27. ^ "The stage is set for Scottish Men's Open at Cruden Bay". Scottish Golf. 25 May 2022.
  28. ^ "Barrow Claims the Scottish Men's Open Title". Scottish Golf. 30 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Bolton closes out wire to wire victory at Scottish Open Amateur". Amateur Golf. 25 August 2019.
  30. ^ "Veyret flies French flag as winner of Scottish Open Amateur". Amateur Golf. 29 August 2018.
  31. ^ "Scottish Open Am: Johnston First Scot to Win in 9 Years". Amateur Golf. 4 June 2017.
  32. ^ "Cameron John wins Scottish Open Amateur". Amateur Golf. 29 May 2016.
  33. ^ "Scottish Open Amateur: Marco Penge, 17, secures biggest win of career". Amateur Golf. 31 May 2015.
  34. ^ Keogh, Brian (1 June 2014). "Moynihan wins Scottish Amateur; Hume tied second". Irish Golf Desk.
  35. ^ "Porteous wins Scottish Open Stroke Play". Amateur Golf. 2 June 2013.
  36. ^ "Barjon takes Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play". Amateur Golf. 3 June 2012.
  37. ^ "Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play Championship: Sullivan wins wire to wire". Amateur Golf. 30 May 2011.
  38. ^ "Wattel wins Scottish Open Amateur". Amateur Golf. 30 May 2010.
  39. ^ "Well done Kevin ... and James too!". Scottish Golf View. 4 June 2007.
  40. ^ "Late drama at Craigielaw". kirkwoodgolf.co.uk. 5 June 2006.
  41. ^ "Golf: Gallacher plays for the Jersey". Daily Record (Scotland). 17 June 2002 – via thefreelibrary.com.
  42. ^ "Stephen's 6-shot win". The Glasgow Herald. 14 June 1988. p. 12.
  43. ^ "Carrick joins elite with stroke-play victory". The Glasgow Herald. 15 June 1987. p. 12.
  44. ^ "Carnoustie is a winner with Kenny". The Glasgow Herald. 16 June 1986. p. 12.
  45. ^ "Murray hands out reminder". The Glasgow Herald. 13 June 1983. p. 15.
  46. ^ "A title at last for Macgregor". The Glasgow Herald. 14 June 1982. p. 15.
  47. ^ "Past Champions". Scottish Golf. Retrieved 1 July 2021.

External links edit