Irish Amateur Open Championship
Tournament information
LocationIreland
Established1892
FormatStroke play
Current champion
John Gough

The Irish Amateur Open Championship is an amateur golf tournament held annually in Ireland and organised by the Golf Ireland. The championship has been played as a 72-hole stroke-play event since 1958. Previously it was played as a match-play tournament.

Golf Ireland also runs the Irish Amateur Close Championship which is restricted to players born in (or with a parent born in) Ireland or, at the discretion of Golf Ireland, resident in Ireland for at least five years.

History

The Golfing Union of Ireland was founded in late 1891 and organised their first championship meeting at Portrush in 1892, which included an open amateur championship. The championship was held from 7 to 9 September. There were 32 entries, with two 18-hole match-play rounds on each of the first two days and an 18-hole final on the third day.[1] Two Scottish golfers contested the final, with Alexander Stuart beating John Andrew by one hole.[2]

The 1893 championship was held from 13 to 15 September. There were 35 entries which meant that three preliminary matches were required.[3] The final was extended to 36 holes. Considerable interest was added by the entry of John Ball, a three-time winner of the Amateur Championship and the 1890 Open champion. He went on to win the event, winning the final 8&7.[4] Ball reached the final again in 1894 at Royal Dublin, this time winning the final 9&7, adding the title to the Amateur Championship he had won earlier in the year.[5] On six occasions between 1894 and 1901, the Irish Championship Meeting included a professional tournament as well as the Amateur Championship. The 1895 championship at Portrush attracted 64 entries and the event was expanded to four days. Ball played again but lost at the last-32 stage to Ranald Gilroy, a young Scottish golfer.[6] Gilroy lost in the semi-final to William B. Taylor who went on the win the final 13&11.[7] Taylor retained the title in 1896, again winning the final by a large margin, this time 9&8.[8]

Harold Hilton made his first appearance in 1897 at Royal Dublin and won the title.[9] William B Taylor won the third time in 1898, although only beating Richard Dallmeyer at the 37th hole. All his three successes came in the absence of John Ball and Hilton.[10] Ball and Hilton both played in 1899 at Portmarnock. Hilton was surprisingly beaten in the semi-final by John Williamson, losing at the final hole.[11] Ball beat Williamson 12&11 in a one-sided final.[12] Ball was unable to defend his title in 1900 as he was serving in the Second Boer War. Hilton won the title, beating Sidney Fry 11&9 in the final.[13] Hilton retained the title in 1901 and again in 1902, his fourth win.[14][15] Hilton played again at Portmarnock in 1903 but lost in the quarter-finals to local player Henry Boyd. Boyd completed the first 8 holes in 30 strokes to be 5 holes up and eventually won 3&2.[16] Boyd became the first Irish finalist but lost a close match to George Wilkie by one hole.[17] The 1904 final was contested between James Worthington and James Mitchell. Mitchell led by 3 holes after the morning round but Worthington won 9 of the 14 holes in the afternoon to win 6&4.[18]

The 1905 meeting was moved to early August to try to attract more of the leading British golfers. However it failed to do so and Henry Boyd and James Mitchell, the losing finalists in 1903 and 1904 met in the 1905 final. Boyd won the match 3&2 and became the first Irish winner.[19] Herbert Barker won in 1906, beating the 1904 champion, James Worthington, in an all-English final.[20] Two Scots won in 1907 and 1908, Douglas Brown followed by James Mitchell, the 1904 and 1905 runner-up.[21][22] Lionel Munn became the second Irish winner in 1909, beating the Scot, Robert Garson, in the final. Munn led by 5 holes after the morning round and was still 4 up with 9 holes to play. The match, however, went to the final hole, Munn winning by two holes.[23] Munn retained the title in 1910, beating Gordon Lockhart in the final. Munn led by 8 holes after the morning round and won 9&7.[24] Munn won the third successive time in 1911, beating Michael Scott in the final. Scott was recently returned from Australia where he had enjoyed considerable success. Munn led by one hole after the morning round but dominated in the afternoon, winning 7&6.[25] There was an all-Scottish final in 1912, with Gordon Lockhart winning.[26] Charles Palmer won in 1913, beating Lou Phillips, an ex-Welsh rugby union international, in the final.[27]

The championship resumed in 1919 and was won by the English golfer Carl Bretherton who beat Tommy Armour in the final at Portrush.[28] Political troubles in Ireland saw a reduction in the number of leading non-Irish amateurs competing and the 1920 event produced the first all-Irish final with Noel Martin winning.[29] Martin won again in 1923 and with Charles Hezlet winning in 1926 and 1929 and Wilson Smyth, Alfred Lowe, Edwin Spiller and Roy McConnell also winning, the 1920s produced eight Irish winners. the two non-Irish winners were Tony Torrance, who won in 1925 and Seymour Noon who won in 1928.[30][31] The early 1930s produced a series of non-Irish winners. William Sutton won an all-English final in 1930 and there were five successive Scottish winners from 1931 to 1935.[32] Eric McRuvie won in 1931 with Jack McLean winning in 1932 and 1933 and Hector Thomson in 1934 and 1935.[33][34][35] The 1936 event clashed with the Walker Cup in which McLean and Thomson were playing and the championship produced an all-Irish final won by Joe Brown.[36] There were further Irish winners in 1937 and 1938 with wins by Johnnie Fitzsimmons and Jimmy Bruen.[37][38] The 1939 event was due to start at Portmarnock on 4 September but was cancelled following the start of World War II.

The event resumed in 1946. A Scot, Alex Kyle, reached the final in 1946 but otherwise all finals from 1946 to 1957 were contested by Irish players.[39] Joe Carr won four times and was in three other finals. Cecil Ewing won twice in 1948 and 1951, while Norman Drew won in 1952 and 1953.[40][41] In an attempt to attract more overseas players, the championship became a 72-hole stroke-play event in 1958. Planned for three days in late-August it was extended to four days by bad weather, and was won by Tom Craddock.[42] Johnny Duncan won in 1959, five strokes ahead of Archibald Gordon.[43] In late June 1960, Portmarnock hosted the Canada Cup. The Irish close championship was moved to the late August date and the amateur open was cancelled. Later in 1960 the GUI decided to discontinue the event, despite protests from the Leinster delegates.

The event was revived at Fota Island in 1995 and was won by Pádraig Harrington. Louis Oosthuizen won in 2002 while Rory McIlroy lost in a playoff in 2006.

Winners

YearChampionScoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upVenueRef
2023England John Gough2801 strokeEngland Dylan Shaw-RadfordThe Island
2022Northern Ireland Colm Campbell289PlayoffNorthern Ireland Matthew McCleanThe Island
2021Republic of Ireland Peter O'Keeffe217PlayoffSwitzerland Nicola GerhardsenEuropean Club
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland[44]
2019England James Newton2755 strokesRepublic of Ireland Conor PurcellCounty Sligo
2018Republic of Ireland Robin Dawson2824 strokesRepublic of Ireland Alex Gleeson
England John Gough		Royal County Down
2017Republic of Ireland Peter O'Keeffe2863 strokesScotland Chris Maclean
England Tom Sloman		County Down
2016Northern Ireland Colm Campbell2721 strokeRepublic of Ireland Jack HumeRoyal Dublin
2015Republic of Ireland Gavin Moynihan2843 strokesNorthern Ireland Cormac SharvinRoyal Dublin
2014Scotland Jamie Savage2882 strokesIsle of Man Tom Gandy
Republic of Ireland Gary McDermott
Northern Ireland Cormac Sharvin
Netherlands Robbie van West		Royal Dublin
2013Republic of Ireland Robbie Cannon295PlayoffRepublic of Ireland Gavin Moynihan
Scotland Graeme Robertson		Royal Dublin
2012Republic of Ireland Gavin Moynihan2951 strokeNetherlands Robin KindRoyal Dublin
2011Wales Rhys Pugh294PlayoffScotland Gordon StevensonRoyal Dublin
2010Northern Ireland Alan Dunbar2921 strokeScotland Kris NicolRoyal Dublin
2009Scotland Gavin Dear2892 strokesScotland Wallace BoothRoyal Dublin
2008Portugal Pedro Figueiredo2787 strokesNorthern Ireland Conor Doran
England Billy Hemstock
Scotland Keir McNicoll		Royal Dublin
2007Scotland Lloyd Saltman2912 strokesNorthern Ireland Richard KilpatrickRoyal Dublin
2006Finland Antti Ahokas291PlayoffNorthern Ireland Rory McIlroyPortmarnock
2005Scotland Richie Ramsay2832 strokesRepublic of Ireland Darren CroweCarton House (O’Meara course)
2004Wales Craig Smith2891 strokeRepublic of Ireland Sean McTernanCarton House (Montgomerie course)
2003Republic of Ireland Noel Fox2822 strokesWales Stuart ManleyRoyal Dublin
2002South Africa Louis Oosthuizen2831 strokeEngland Paul BradshawRoyal Dublin
2001England Richard McEvoy277PlayoffNorthern Ireland Michael HoeyRoyal Dublin
2000Republic of Ireland Noel Fox2843 strokesRepublic of Ireland Ken Kearney
Republic of Ireland Michael McDermott		Royal Dublin
1999Republic of Ireland Gary Cullen2821 strokeRepublic of Ireland Jody FanaganRoyal Dublin
1998Northern Ireland Michael Hoey2862 strokesRepublic of Ireland Gary CullenRoyal Dublin
1997Republic of Ireland Keith Nolan2796 strokesRepublic of Ireland Richie Coughlan
Republic of Ireland Noel Fox		Fota Island
1996Republic of Ireland Keith Nolan2862 strokesRepublic of Ireland Peter LawrieFota Island
1995Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington2834 strokesNorthern Ireland Garth McGimpseyFota Island
1960–94: Not played
1959Northern Ireland Johnny Duncan3135 strokesScotland Archibald GordonRoyal County Down[43]
1958Republic of Ireland Tom Craddock2941 strokeRepublic of Ireland Joe Carr
Republic of Ireland Billy Hulme		Royal Dublin[42]
1957Northern Ireland Ian Bamford37 holesRepublic of Ireland Billy MehargRoyal Portrush[45]
1956Republic of Ireland Joe Carr1 upRepublic of Ireland James MahonPortmarnock[39]
1955Republic of Ireland John Fitzgibbon1 upRepublic of Ireland Billy HulmeRoyal County Down[46]
1954Republic of Ireland Joe Carr6 and 4Republic of Ireland Cecil EwingRoyal Dublin[47]
1953Northern Ireland Norman Drew4 and 3Republic of Ireland Billy O'SullivanKillarney[41]
1952Northern Ireland Norman Drew5 and 4Northern Ireland Cecil BeamishRoyal Portrush[48]
1951Republic of Ireland Cecil Ewing2 and 1Republic of Ireland Joe CarrPortmarnock[40]
1950Republic of Ireland Joe Carr40 holesRepublic of Ireland Cecil EwingCounty Sligo[49]
1949Republic of Ireland Billy O'Sullivan2 upRepublic of Ireland Brennie ScannellKillarney[50]
1948Republic of Ireland Cecil Ewing1 upRepublic of Ireland Joe CarrRoyal County Down[51]
1947Republic of Ireland John Burke1 upRepublic of Ireland Joe CarrRoyal Dublin[52]
1946Republic of Ireland Joe Carr3 and 1Scotland Alex KyleRoyal Portrush[53]
1940–45: Not played due to World War II
1939Cancelled due to declaration of warPortmarnock
1938Republic of Ireland Jimmy Bruen9 and 8Republic of Ireland James MahonRoyal County Down[38]
1937Northern Ireland Johnnie Fitzsimmons4 and 3Scotland Robert McKinnaRoyal Dublin[37]
1936Republic of Ireland Joe Brown39 holesRepublic of Ireland Billy O'SullivanPortmarnock[36]
1935Scotland Hector Thomson5 and 4Scotland Jack McLeanRoyal Portrush[35]
1934Scotland Hector Thomson3 and 2England Harry BentleyPortmarnock[54]
1933Scotland Jack McLean3 and 2England Eric FiddianRoyal County Down[34]
1932Scotland Jack McLean9 and 8Republic of Ireland Joe BrownRoyal Dublin[55]
1931Scotland Eric McRuvie7 and 5Northern Ireland Donald SoulbyRoyal County Down[33]
1930England William Sutton4 and 3England Douglas FiddianPortmarnock[32]
1929Northern Ireland Charles Hezlet1 upScotland Jack LangRoyal Portrush[56]
1928England Seymour Noon1 upNorthern Ireland Edwin SpillerRoyal Dublin[31]
1927Northern Ireland Roy McConnell5 and 3Northern Ireland Donald SoulbyRoyal County Down[57]
1926Northern Ireland Charles Hezlet7 and 6Northern Ireland Roy McConnellPortmarnock[58]
1925Scotland Tony Torrance4 and 3Northern Ireland Charles HezletRoyal Portrush[30]
1924Northern Ireland Edwin Spiller3 and 1Republic of Ireland John MacCormackRoyal Dublin[59]
1923Northern Ireland Noel Martin1 upNorthern Ireland Charles HezletRoyal County Down[60]
1922Northern Ireland Alfred Lowe6 and 4Northern Ireland James HendersonRoyal Portrush[61]
1921Northern Ireland Wilson Smyth2 upRepublic of Ireland Joe GorryRoyal County Down
1920Ireland Noel Martin6 and 5Ireland Charles RobertsonPortmarnock[29]
1919England Carl Bretherton4 and 3Scotland Tommy ArmourRoyal Portrush[28]
1914–18: Not played due to World War I
1913England Charles Palmer4 and 3Wales Lou PhillipsRoyal Dublin[27]
1912Scotland Gordon Lockhart11 and 9Scotland Patrick JenkinsRoyal County Down[26]
1911Ireland Lionel Munn7 and 6England Michael ScottPortmarnock[25]
1910Ireland Lionel Munn9 and 7Scotland Gordon LockhartRoyal Portrush[24]
1909Ireland Lionel Munn2 upScotland Robert GarsonRoyal Dublin[23]
1908Scotland James Mitchell3 and 2Ireland Hugh CairnesRoyal County Down[22]
1907Scotland Douglas Brown2 and 1England Sidney FryPortmarnock[21]
1906England Herbert Barker6 and 4England James WorthingtonRoyal Portrush[20]
1905Ireland Henry Boyd3 and 2Scotland James MitchellRoyal Dublin[19]
1904England James Worthington6 and 4Scotland James MitchellCounty Down[18]
1903Scotland George Wilkie1 upIreland Henry BoydPortmarnock[17]
1902England Harold Hilton5 and 3Scotland William HamiltonRoyal Portrush[15]
1901England Harold Hilton6 and 4Scotland Peter DowieRoyal Dublin[14]
1900England Harold Hilton11 and 9England Sidney FryCounty Down[13]
1899England John Ball12 and 11Scotland John WilliamsonPortmarnock[12]
1898Scotland William Taylor37 holesEngland Richard DallmeyerRoyal Portrush[10]
1897England Harold Hilton6 and 5Scotland Stuart AndersonRoyal Dublin[9]
1896Scotland William Taylor9 and 8Scotland David AndersonCounty Down[8]
1895Scotland William Taylor13 and 11Scotland John WilliamsonRoyal Portrush[7]
1894England John Ball9 and 7Scotland David LowRoyal Dublin[5]
1893England John Ball8 and 7Scotland Stuart AndersonCounty Down[4]
1892Scotland Alexander Stuart1 upScotland John AndrewRoyal Portrush[2]

The 1892 final was played over 18 holes. From 1893 finals were played over 36 holes.

Source:[62][63]

References

  1. ↑ "Irish amateur championship meeting at Portrush". Belfast News-Letter. 8 September 1892. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "The Irish amateur championship meeting at Portrush". Belfast News-Letter. 10 September 1892. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Irish amateur championship meeting". The Glasgow Herald. 14 September 1893. p. 9.
  4. 1 2 "The Irish amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 16 September 1893. p. 9.
  5. 1 2 "The Irish amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 8 September 1894. p. 9.
  6. ↑ "The Irish open amateur championship meeting". The Glasgow Herald. 11 September 1895. p. 7.
  7. 1 2 "The Irish amateur championship meeting". The Glasgow Herald. 14 September 1895. p. 11.
  8. 1 2 "The Irish championship meeting". The Glasgow Herald. 12 September 1896. p. 3.
  9. 1 2 "Irish amateur golf championship". The Glasgow Herald. 4 September 1897. p. 9.
  10. 1 2 "Close of Irish open championship – Victory of W. B. Taylor". The Glasgow Herald. 3 September 1898. p. 8.
  11. ↑ "Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 1 September 1899. p. 10.
  12. 1 2 "The Irish amateur open championship". The Glasgow Herald. 2 September 1899. p. 8.
  13. 1 2 "The Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 8 September 1900. p. 10.
  14. 1 2 "The Irish championship – Victory for Mr. Hilton". The Glasgow Herald. 6 September 1901. p. 11.
  15. 1 2 "The Irish championship". The Glasgow Herald. 8 September 1902. p. 10.
  16. ↑ "Irish open championship". The Glasgow Herald. 4 September 1903. p. 11.
  17. 1 2 "Irish open championship". The Glasgow Herald. 7 September 1903. p. 11.
  18. 1 2 "The Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 5 September 1904. p. 9.
  19. 1 2 "Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 7 August 1905. p. 10.
  20. 1 2 "The Irish open championship". The Glasgow Herald. 10 September 1906. p. 12.
  21. 1 2 "The Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 7 September 1907. p. 12.
  22. 1 2 "Irish open championship". The Glasgow Herald. 5 September 1908. p. 10.
  23. 1 2 "The Irish open golf championship". The Glasgow Herald. 4 September 1909. p. 7.
  24. 1 2 "Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 3 September 1910. p. 7.
  25. 1 2 "Irish golf champion". The Glasgow Herald. 2 September 1911. p. 7.
  26. 1 2 "Irish golf amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 14 September 1912. p. 7.
  27. 1 2 "Golf in Ireland". The Glasgow Herald. 6 September 1913. p. 11.
  28. 1 2 "Irish championship". The Glasgow Herald. 13 September 1919. p. 4.
  29. 1 2 "Irish amateur open championship". The Glasgow Herald. 11 September 1920. p. 9.
  30. 1 2 "Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 12 September 1925. p. 15.
  31. 1 2 "Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 15 September 1928. p. 12.
  32. 1 2 "New Irish golf champion". The Glasgow Herald. 13 September 1930. p. 3.
  33. 1 2 "Scottish golfer's triumph". The Glasgow Herald. 12 September 1931. p. 16.
  34. 1 2 "Brilliant golf final". The Glasgow Herald. 25 September 1933. p. 9.
  35. 1 2 "H. Thomson retains Irish title". The Glasgow Herald. 14 September 1935. p. 3.
  36. 1 2 "J. C. Brown wins Irish golf title". The Glasgow Herald. 12 September 1936. p. 6.
  37. 1 2 "Erratic Scot misses Irish golf title". The Glasgow Herald. 11 September 1937. p. 3.
  38. 1 2 "Britain's best amateur". The Glasgow Herald. 10 September 1938. p. 3.
  39. 1 2 "J. B. Carr wins Irish title". The Glasgow Herald. 3 September 1956. p. 9.
  40. 1 2 "Ewing wins Irish title". Birmingham Post. 8 September 1951. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. 1 2 "Drew retains Irish Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 14 June 1953. p. 9.
  42. 1 2 "Narrow win for Craddock". The Glasgow Herald. 30 August 1958. p. 8.
  43. 1 2 "Irish title won by five shots". The Glasgow Herald. 27 August 1959. p. 10.
  44. ↑ "GUI revises schedule - cancels Irish Amateur and four provincial championships; Irish Close in October". Irish Golf Desk. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  45. ↑ "Irish Amateur Champion". The Glasgow Herald. 2 September 1957. p. 4.
  46. ↑ "Bright Irish final". The Glasgow Herald. 19 September 1955. p. 4.
  47. ↑ "Irish "Amateur"". The Glasgow Herald. 6 September 1954. p. 9.
  48. ↑ "Irish title winner". The Glasgow Herald. 20 June 1952. p. 9.
  49. ↑ "Carr's Irish title". The Glasgow Herald. 9 September 1950. p. 6.
  50. ↑ "Irish title for O'Sullivan". The Glasgow Herald. 24 September 1949. p. 2.
  51. ↑ "Ewing wins Irish title". The Glasgow Herald. 11 September 1948. p. 4.
  52. ↑ "Burke new Irish champion". The Glasgow Herald. 13 September 1947. p. 4.
  53. ↑ "Kyle beaten in Irish golf final". The Glasgow Herald. 7 September 1946. p. 4.
  54. ↑ "Thomson wins Irish championship". The Glasgow Herald. 14 September 1934. p. 19.
  55. ↑ "Jack M'Lean wins at Dublin". The Glasgow Herald. 10 September 1932. p. 9.
  56. ↑ "The Irish amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 14 September 1929. p. 17.
  57. ↑ "Irish amateur golf title". The Glasgow Herald. 16 September 1927. p. 13.
  58. ↑ "The Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 11 September 1926. p. 17.
  59. ↑ "The Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 12 September 1924. p. 5.
  60. ↑ "Irish amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 15 September 1923. p. 15.
  61. ↑ "Irish open amateur championship". The Glasgow Herald. 16 September 1922. p. 10.
  62. ↑ "Past winners of the Irish Amateur Open Championship" (PDF). Golfnet.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  63. ↑ "Irish Amateur Open". Irish Golf Desk. Retrieved 12 May 2022.Irish Amateur Open Championship
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