Western Amateur
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Glenview, Illinois (2023) |
| Established | 1899 |
| Course(s) | North Shore Country Club (2023) |
| Format | Stroke play and Match play |
| Current champion | |
 Kazuma Kobori | |
The Western Amateur is a leading annual golf tournament in the United States for male amateur golfers. It is organized by the Western Golf Association. The Western Amateur features an international field of top-ranked amateur golfers. It was first held in 1899, making it the third-oldest amateur golf event in the world.[1]
The tournament was first held at Glen View Club in Golf, Illinois. The location has varied since, with the most events held at Point O'Woods Golf & Country Club near Benton Harbor, Michigan, including a stretch from 1971 to 2008.[1] The winner receives the George R. Thorne championship trophy and, until 2007, an exemption to play in the Western Open, the PGA Tour's annual stop at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Illinois.
World Golf Hall of Fame member Chick Evans holds a record eight Western Amateur titles. Past winners also include golf greats Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Crenshaw, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Curtis Strange, Hal Sutton, Francis Ouimet, Lanny Wadkins, and Tom Weiskopf.
In December 2021, the Western Amateur joined with six other tournaments to form the Elite Amateur Golf Series.[2]
Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Course | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Kazuma Kobori | 1 up | Christian Maas | North Shore Country Club | Glenview, Illinois |
| 2022 | Austin Greaser | 1 up | Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira | Exmoor Country Club | Highland Park, Illinois |
| 2021 | Michael Thorbjornsen | 4 & 3 | Gordon Sargent | Glen View Club | Golf, Illinois |
| 2020 | Pierceson Coody | 3 & 2 | Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen | Crooked Stick Golf Club | Carmel, Indiana |
| 2019 | Garrett Rank | 3 & 2 | Daniel Wetterich | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 2018 | Cole Hammer | 1 up | Davis Riley | Sunset Ridge Country Club | Northfield, Illinois |
| 2017 | Norman Xiong | 22 holes | Doc Redman | Skokie Country Club | Glencoe, Illinois |
| 2016 | Dylan Meyer | 3 & 1 | Sam Horsfield | Knollwood Club | Lake Forest, Illinois |
| 2015 | Dawson Armstrong | 20 holes | Aaron Wise | Rich Harvest Farms | Sugar Grove, Illinois |
| 2014 | Beau Hossler | 2 up | Xander Schauffele | Beverly Country Club | Chicago, Illinois |
| 2013 | Jordan Niebrugge | 3 & 2 | Sean Dale | The Alotian Club | Roland, Arkansas |
| 2012 | Chris Williams | 1 up | Jordan Russell | Exmoor Country Club | Highland Park, Illinois |
| 2011 | Ethan Tracy | 1 up | Patrick Cantlay | North Shore Country Club | Glenview, Illinois |
| 2010 | David Chung | 2 & 1 | Gregor Main | Skokie Country Club | Skokie, Illinois |
| 2009 | John Hahn | 3 & 2 | Zach Barlow | Conway Farms Golf Club | Lake Forest, Illinois |
| 2008 | Danny Lee | 4 & 2 | Erik Flores | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 2007 | Jhared Hack | 1 up | Alex Prugh | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 2006 | Bronson La'Cassie | 2 & 1 | Pablo Martín | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 2005 | Jamie Lovemark | 3 & 2 | Chris Wilson | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 2004 | Ryan Moore | 19 holes | James Nitties | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 2003 | Chris Botsford | 3 & 2 | J. J. Jakovac | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 2002 | John Klauk | 6 & 5 | Adam Rubinson | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 2001 | Bubba Dickerson | 6 & 4 | Trip Kuehne | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 2000 | Michael Kirk | 2 & 1 | Ben Curtis | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1999 | Steve Scott | 2 & 1 | Andy Miller | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1998 | Michael Henderson | 1 up | Shawn Koch | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1997 | Danny Green | 19 holes | Andy Miller | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1996 | Joel Kribel | 2 & 1 | Brett Partidge | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1995 | Patrick Lee | 2 & 1 | Robert Floyd | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1994 | Tiger Woods | 2 & 1 | Chris Riley | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1993 | Justin Leonard | 6 & 4 | Danny Green | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1992 | Justin Leonard | 2 up | David Howser | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1991 | Phil Mickelson | 2 & 1 | Justin Leonard | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1990 | Craig Kanada | 4 & 2 | Greg Griffin | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1989 | David Sutherland | 2 & 1 | Tony Mollica | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1988 | Chris DiMarco | 1 up | Bill Lundeen | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1987 | Hugh Royer III | 3 & 2 | Craig Perks | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1986 | Greg Parker | 3 & 1 | Robert Huxtable | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1985 | Scott Verplank | 1 up | Dave Peege | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1984 | John Inman | 3 & 2 | Rocco Mediate | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1983 | Billy Tuten | 2 up | Kent Kluba | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1982 | Rick Fehr | 5 & 3 | Tommy Moore | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1981 | Frank Fuhrer III | 2 & 1 | Curt Byrum | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1980 | Hal Sutton | 4 & 3 | David Ogrin | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1979 | Hal Sutton | 1 up | Mike Gove | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1978 | Bobby Clampett | 2 up | Mark Wiebe | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1977 | Jim Nelford | 2 & 1 | Rafael Alarcon | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1976 | John Stark | 3 & 1 | Mick Soli | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1975 | Andy Bean | 1 up | Randy Simmons | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1974 | Curtis Strange | 20 holes | Jay Haas | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1973 | Ben Crenshaw | 4 & 3 | Jimmy Ellis | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1972 | Gary Sanders | 1 up | Gil Morgan | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1971 | Andy North | 1 up | Barney Thompson | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1970 | Lanny Wadkins | 4 & 2 | Charlie Borner | Wichita Country Club | Wichita, Kansas |
| 1969 | Steve Melnyk | 3 & 1 | Howard Twitty | Rockford Country Club | Rockford, Illinois |
| 1968 | Rik Massengale | 3 & 1 | Kemp Richardson | Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club | Grosse Ile Township, Michigan |
| 1967 | Bob Smith | 3 & 1 | Marty Fleckman | Milburn Golf & Country Club | Overland Park, Kansas |
| 1966 | Jim Wiechers | 1 up | Ron Cerrudo | Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| 1965 | Bob Smith | 19 holes | George Boutell | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1964 | Steve Oppermann | 3 & 2 | Ed Updegraff | Tucson Country Club | Tucson, Arizona |
| 1963 | Tom Weiskopf | 5 & 4 | Labron Harris Jr. | Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club | Benton Township, Michigan |
| 1962 | Art Hudnutt | 1 up | Melvin Stevens | Orchard Lake Country Club | Orchard Lake, Michigan |
| 1961 | Jack Nicklaus | 4 & 3 | James "Billy" Key | New Orleans Country Club | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 1960 | Tommy Aaron | Default | Bob Cochran | Northland Country Club | Duluth, Minnesota |
| 1959 | Ed Updegraff | 7 & 5 | Charles Hunter, Jr. | Waverley Country Club | Portland, Oregon |
| 1958 | James "Billy" Key | 3 & 2 | Mason Rudolph | Country Club of Florida | Golf, Florida |
| 1957 | Ed Updegraff | 9 & 8 | Joe Campbell | Old Warson Country Club | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 1956 | Mason Rudolph | 6 & 4 | Jack Parnell | Belle Meade Country Club | Nashville, Tennessee |
| 1955 | Eddie Merrins | 37 holes | Hillman Robbins | Rockford Country Club | Rockford, Illinois |
| 1954 | Bruce Cudd | 37 holes | Philip Getchell | Broadmoor Golf Club | Seattle, Washington |
| 1953 | Dale Morey | 8 & 6 | Richard Norton | Blythefield Country Club | Belmont, Michigan |
| 1952 | Frank Stranahan | 3 & 2 | Harvie Ward | Exmoor Country Club | Highland Park, Illinois |
| 1951 | Frank Stranahan | 7 & 6 | James Blair III | South Bend Country Club | South Bend, Indiana |
| 1950 | Charles Coe | 7 & 6 | Robert Goldwater | Dallas Country Club | Highland Park, Texas |
| 1949 | Frank Stranahan | 5 & 4 | Walter Cisco | Bellerive Country Club | Town and Country, Missouri |
| 1948 | Skee Riegel | 3 & 1 | Jim McHale Jr. | Wichita Country Club | Wichita, Kansas |
| 1947 | Bud Ward | 1 up | Frank Stranahan | Wakonda Country Club | Des Moines, Iowa |
| 1946 | Frank Stranahan | 1 up | Bud Ward | Northland Country Club | Duluth, Minnesota |
| 1943–1945 | No tournament due to World War II | ||||
| 1942 | Pat Abbott | 7 & 6 | Bruce McCormick | Manito Golf and Country Club | Spokane, Washington |
| 1941 | Bud Ward | 3 & 2 | Harry Todd | Broadmoor Golf Club | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| 1940 | Bud Ward | 3 & 1 | George Victor | Minneapolis Golf Club | St. Louis Park, Minnesota |
| 1939 | Harry Todd | 2 & 1 | Larry Moller | Oklahoma City Country Club | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| 1938 | Bob Babbish | 1 up | Maurice McCarthy | South Bend Country Club | South Bend, Indiana |
| 1937 | Wilford Wehrle | 1 up | Chuck Kocsis | Los Angeles Country Club | Los Angeles, California |
| 1936 | Paul Leslie | 2 & 1 | Bob Frazer | Happy Hollow Club | Omaha, Nebraska |
| 1935 | Charlie Yates | 5 & 3 | Rodney Bliss | Broadmoor Golf Club | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| 1934 | Zell Eaton | 4 & 3 | Spec Goldman | Twin Hills Golf & Country Club | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| 1933 | Jack Westland | 3 & 2 | Rodney Bliss | Memphis Country Club | Memphis, Tennessee |
| 1932 | Gus Moreland | 5 & 4 | Ira Couch | Rockford Country Club | Rockford, Illinois |
| 1931 | Don Moe | 9 & 7 | Malcolm MacNaughton | Portland Golf Club | Portland, Oregon |
| 1930 | John Lehman | 4 & 2 | Ira Couch | Beverly Country Club | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1929 | Don Moe | 37 holes | Gilbert Carter | Mission Hills Country Club | Mission Hills, Kansas |
| 1928 | Frank Dolp | 4 & 3 | Gus Novotny | Bob O'Link Golf Club | Highland Park, Illinois |
| 1927 | Bon Stein | 2 & 1 | Eddie Held | Seattle Golf Club | Seattle, Washington |
| 1926 | Frank Dolp | 6 & 5 | Bon Stein | White Bear Yacht Club | White Bear Lake, Minnesota |
| 1925 | Keefe Carter | 3 & 2 | Russell Martin | Lochmoor Club | Detroit, Michigan |
| 1924 | Jimmy Johnston | 1 up | Albert Seckel | Hinsdale Country Club | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1923 | Chick Evans | 6 & 4 | Hamilton Gardner | Mayfield Country Club | Cleveland, Ohio |
| 1922 | Chick Evans | 5 & 4 | George Von Elm | Hillcrest Country Club | Kansas City, Missouri |
| 1921 | Chick Evans | 3 & 2 | Rudy Knepper | Westmoreland Country Club | Wilmette, Illinois |
| 1920 | Chick Evans | 5 & 4 | Clarence Wolff | Memphis Country Club | Memphis, Tennessee |
| 1919 | Harry Legg | 2 & 1 | Richard Bockenkamp | Sunset Hill Country Club | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 1918 | No tournament due to World War I | ||||
| 1917 | Francis Ouimet | 1 up | Ken Edwards | Midlothian Country Club | Midlothian, Illinois |
| 1916 | Heinrich Schmidt | 7 & 6 | Douglas Grant | Del Monte Golf and Country Club | Del Monte, California |
| 1915 | Chick Evans | 7 & 6 | James D. Standish, Jr. | Mayfield Country Club | Lyndhurst, Ohio |
| 1914 | Chick Evans | 11 & 9 | James D. Standish, Jr. | Kent Country Club | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| 1913 | Warren Wood | 4 & 3 | Ned Allis | Homewood Country Club | Flossmoor, Illinois |
| 1912 | Chick Evans | 1 up | Warren Wood | Denver Country Club | Denver, Colorado |
| 1911 | Albert Seckel | 8 & 7 | Robert Gardner | Detroit Golf Club | Detroit, Michigan |
| 1910 | Mason Phelps | 2 & 1 | Chick Evans | Minikahda Club | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| 1909 | Chick Evans | 1 up | Albert Seckel | Homewood Country Club | Flossmoor, Illinois |
| 1908 | Mason Phelps | 6 & 5 | H. W. Allen | Arsenal Golf Club | Rock Island, Illinois |
| 1907 | Chandler Egan | 5 & 4 | Herbert Jones | Chicago Golf Club | Wheaton, Illinois |
| 1906 | Daniel Sawyer | 37 holes | Warren Wood | Glen Echo Country Club | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 1905 | Chandler Egan | 3 & 2 | Walter Egan | Glen View Club | Golf, Illinois |
| 1904 | Chandler Egan | 6 & 5 | Daniel Sawyer | Exmoor Country Club | Highland Park, Illinois |
| 1903 | Walter Egan | 1 up | Chandler Egan | Arsenal Golf Club | Rock Island, Illinois |
| 1902 | Chandler Egan | 37 holes | Walter Egan | Chicago Golf Club | Wheaton, Illinois |
| 1901 | Phelps Hoyt | 6 & 5 | Bruce Smith | Midlothian Country Club | Midlothian, Illinois |
| 1900 | William Waller | 1 up | William Holabird, Jr. | Onwentsia Club | Lake Forest, Illinois |
| 1899 | David Forgan | 6 & 5 | Walter Egan | Glen View Club | Golf, Illinois |
References
- ^ a b Wittkowski, Tony (July 28, 2019). "Bringing It Back Home". The Herald-Palladium. St. Joseph, Michigan. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
- ^ Melia, Sean (December 10, 2021). "Exclusive: Taking a Deeper Look at the Elite Amateur Series". AmateurGolf.com.