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]

Western Amateur
Tournament information
LocationGlenview, Illinois (2023)
Established1899
Course(s)North Shore Country Club (2023)
FormatStroke play and Match play
Current champion
New Zealand Kazuma Kobori

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

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Year Winner Score Runner-up Course Location
2024 Ian Gilligan 29 holes Jack Turner Moraine Country Club Dayton, Ohio
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 Euclid Golf Club Cleveland, Ohio
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

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  1. ^ a b Wittkowski, Tony (July 28, 2019). "Bringing It Back Home". The Herald-Palladium. St. Joseph, Michigan. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  2. ^ Melia, Sean (December 10, 2021). "Exclusive: Taking a Deeper Look at the Elite Amateur Series". AmateurGolf.com.
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