Tag: Elite Amateur Series

Women’s Elite Amateur Golf Series to begin in 2024 with five events

Mirroring the men’s series, within the WEAGS is a summer-long competition named the Elite Amateur Cup.

The Elite Amateur Golf Series has announced a new series as part of its mission to align the top competitive amateur events in the United States.

Five leading women’s amateur events representing more than 345 years of conducting championships will form the Women’s Elite Amateur Golf Series (WEAGS) officially launching in summer 2024. The Women’s Elite Amateur Golf Series events are the Sea Island Women’s Amateur, Southwestern Women’s Amateur, North & South Women’s Amateur, Women’s Western Amateur and the Ladies National Golf Association (LNGA) Amateur.

“Since day one, our goal has been to align the top competitive amateur events in the United States, not only for the men’s game but for the women’s game as well,” said Andy Priest, Executive Director of the Southern Golf Association and Chairperson of the Elite Amateur Golf Series. “We are excited to play a leading role in elevating elite women’s golf by providing these athletes with an aligned summer schedule of competition at some of the most renowned venues in the country conducted by historic organizations and world-class resorts.”

In its fourth year, the Sea Island Women’s Amateur will kick off the series on Sea Island Golf Club’s historic Seaside Course in St. Simons Island, Georgia, from May 29-31. Two weeks later, the series heads west to Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the fourth edition of the Southwestern Women’s Amateur from June 12-15. Shortly after hosting the U.S. Open, Pinehurst will contest the men’s and women’s North & South Amateur concurrently on Courses No. 2 and No. 4 from June 25-29 for the first time. This year marks the 122nd playing of the North & South Women’s Amateur. The 124th Women’s Western Amateur is scheduled for July 16-20, bringing the championship back to its founding site at Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Ilinois, for a fifth time. The final event in the series is the 94th LNGA Amateur conducted by the Ladies National Golf Association at Hot Springs Country Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas, from July 23-25.

Mirroring the men’s series, within the Women’s Elite Amateur Golf Series is a summer-long competition named the Elite Amateur Cup. Using the WEAGS event results from the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) as the Elite Amateur Cup point system, top finishers in the final standings will earn exemptions into USGA Championships and other professional playing opportunities to be announced later.

The EAGS tagline is “The Best of the Best,” showcasing the best players playing at the best venues against the best fields in amateur golf. Elite Amateur Golf Series events hold a proven track record of conducting the most challenging competitive tests, making the championships among the majors of amateur golf–now for men and women.

Kazuma Kobori wins 121st Western Amateur, captures Elite Amateur Series title

With the victory, it also gives Kobori the 2023 Elite Amateur Series title.

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Kazuma Kobori and Christiaan Maas were locked in a battle when they came to the 17th hole at North Shore Country Club.

The duo were in the final stages of playing their sixth round of golf in three days, this one being for the Western Amateur title in Glenview, Illinois. Kobori, a 21-year-old from New Zealand, also had an Elite Amateur Series championship on the line.

Maas, a rising sophomore at Texas from South Africa, bogeyed the par-4 17th, giving Kobori a 1 up lead. However, on the 18th hole, Kobori drilled a 20-footer for birdie allowing him to capture the 121st Western Amateur title on Saturday, claiming one of the biggest events in amateur golf.

“For me to be holding this (trophy) right now is unreal,” Kobori said. “I was pretty nervous, and thought I’d try to give it a run. Christiaan putted so well all day I figured I needed to give it a go and I’m just glad it went in.”

With the victory, it also gives Kobori the 2023 Elite Amateur Series title, meaning myriad rewards. He will earn a PGA Tour exemption to be announced, an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Amateur, one 2024 Korn Ferry Tour start and an exemption into final qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Open. Alabama’s Nick Dunlap led by seven points heading into the Western Amateur. Dunlap fell in the quarterfinals of match play.

Kobori finished ninth after 72 holes of stroke play. He knocked out Mac McClear and then Carson Bacha on Friday to advance to the semifinal round Saturday morning. There, he took care of 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur champ Matthew McClean 6 and 5, then he survived Saturday afternoon to win 1 up.

Tyson Shelley ties course record, captures 56th Pacific Coast Amateur in playoff

It was a round Tyson Shelley will never forget. 

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It was a round Tyson Shelley will never forget.

He shot 8-under 62, tying a competitive course record at Capilano Golf and Country Club in Canada. Even better, he got into a playoff and came away victorious to win the 56th Pacific Coast Amateur on Friday.

In the playoff, Shelley and Jack Buchanan each made par on the first hole, and then on the par-5 second hole, Buchanan missed the green and scrambled for par while Shelley found the putting surface in two shots and got it in for birdie to win.

“Everything just clicked when I was out on the course,” Shelley told Amateur Golf. “Off the tee, I was really confident in hitting the fairways, and I was able to execute that. Once I got the ball in play, my putter was really dialed this week, and I was able to hit some good putts, and I was fortunate enough to get a couple of long (putts) to drop.”

The duo tied at 13 under after four rounds of stroke play.

“It means a lot to me and my confidence,” Shelley told Amateur Golf. “Especially this last round. It made me realize that a tournament is never over until it is over. I think this win has my confidence high, and I am able to compete at high levels in any tournament.”

Chuan-Tai Lin, Neal Shipley and Jeffrey Guan all finished T-3 at 11 under.

The Pacific Coast Amateur is the sixth event of seven in the 2023 Elite Amateur Series. The player who has the most points after seven events will earn a PGA Tour exemption to be announced, an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Amateur, one 2024 Korn Ferry Tour start and an exemption into final qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Open. Alabama’s Nick Dunlap led by seven points over Vanderbilt’s Jackson Van Paris through five events.

The final event of the Elite Amateur Series is the 121st Western Amateur, set for July 31-Aug. 5 at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Illinois.

Nick Gabrelcik shoots record 64 in final round to win 117th Southern Amateur

Gabrelcik’s final-round 64 was the best of the week.

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Nick Gabrelcik was six shots behind the leader when he began his final round Saturday morning. By day’s end, he was hoisting a trophy.

Gabrelcik, a rising senior at North Florida, was stellar Saturday in the final round of the 117th Southern Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee. He shot 8-under 64, moving 23 spots up the leaderboard and capturing the title. His 64 was the best round of the week, helping him finish at 11 under par and beating North Carolina’s Dylan Menante by one shot.

“The whole week I was hitting the ball good but the first two days I just couldn’t put it all together with the putting and chipping.” Gabrelcik told Amateur Golf. “It all felt like it was coming together sooner than later. I didn’t wake up this morning thinking I was going to play how I did but it was nice it all came together now.

“I was putting the ball in play and giving myself opportunities with my iron shots and the putter was definitely the key today,” Gabrelcik added.

The tournament was shortened to 54 holes after heavy rains caused numerous delays during the first and second rounds.

The Southern Amateur is the fifth event of seven in the 2023 Elite Amateur Series. The player who earned the most points after seven events will earn a PGA Tour exemption to be announced, an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Amateur, one 2024 Korn Ferry Tour start and an exemption into final qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Open. Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap held the top spot with 57.8349 points through the Trans-Mississippi Amateur.

Up next is the 56th Pacific Coast Amateur from July 25-28 at Capilano Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Oklahoma’s Jake Holbrook captures 2023 Trans-Mississippi Amateur in playoff

Jake Holbrook needed a miracle.

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Jake Holbrook, a rising senior at Oklahoma, was three shots out of the lead with two holes to play.

He needed a miracle to have a chance to win the 119th Trans-Mississippi Amateur on Friday at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas. And did he get one.

Holbrook found his way into a playoff against Neal Shipley from Ohio State, and in that buried a 40-footer for birdie to win the championship. Holbrook and Shipley matched scores every round of the Trans-Mississippi Amateur, (66-65-69-68) with the lone difference being Holbrook’s clutch putt on the 73rd hole to win.

Holbrook birdied the par-3 17th hole. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s Neal Shipley made triple bogey and fell one behind Holbrook. However, Shipley recovered and birdied the 72nd hole to tie Holbrook and send the match to extra holes.

Both players found the fairway, but Shipley put his approach to 30 feet while Holbrook sat 40 feet away from the cup. However, Holbrook stole all momentum when he jarred the putt. Shipley missed, and the title was clinched.

Nick Dunlap, who won the previous two Elite Amateur Series events, finished T-8.

The Trans-Mississippi Amateur is the fourth event of seven in the Elite Amateur Series. Up next is the 117th Southern Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, from July 17-22.

Nick Dunlap wins again, this time at 123rd North & South Amateur at Pinehurst

Nick Dunlap is making his Walker Cup case.

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The Walker Cup begins two months from Sunday and Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap has clearly made his case as to why he should be on the team.

With the biennial competition creeping closer, Dunlap again added a signature amateur win to his resume Sunday morning, capturing the 123rd North & South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2, beating Stanford’s Karl Vilips 1 up in the match-play final. Because of thunderstorms in the Pinehurst, North Carolina, area on Saturday, the championship match’s final eight holes were completed Sunday morning, and Dunlap held on for his second victory in as many weeks.

Last week, Dunlap won the Northeast Amateur in Rhode Island. With his back-to-back victories, he’s almost a lock to make the Walker Cup team and join the three players who already secured spots to play at St. Andrews in September.

Dunlap was a second-team All-American at Alabama as a freshman, finishing the year ranked 16th in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. He qualified for the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club two weeks ago.

Now, he has won two of the first three Elite Amateur Series events of the summer. The North & South is the third of seven men’s events that are a part of the series. Up next is the 119th Trans-Mississippi Amateur from July 10-14 at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas.

Jackson Van Paris shoots course record at Pinehurst No. 4 in 2023 North & South Amateur

It’s safe to say Jackson Van Paris knows his way around Pinehurst.

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It’s safe to say Jackson Van Paris knows his way around Pinehurst. The golf haven in North Carolina is his hometown. It’s also where he now has a course record.

Van Paris, a junior at Vanderbilt, shot a 9-under 61 at Pinehurst No. 4 on Tuesday in the opening round of the 2023 North & South Amateur, setting a new course record by two shots. He carded nine birdies and no bogeys to take a two-shot lead after the first of two rounds of stroke play.

“When you’re out there and playing a good round of golf, you’re trying not to think about it,” Van Paris said. “You’re trying to take it one shot, one hole at a time. But it’s about as good as it gets. It was a great day.”

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Not even two weeks ago, Van Paris shot a 61 in the Sunnehanna Amateur, which he went on to win.

The championship moves on to its second day of stroke play on Wednesday. The top 32 seeds will advance to match play, which begins on Thursday. The championship match is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Alabama’s Nick Dunlap comes from behind to win 2023 Northeast Amateur title

Nick Dunlap and Caleb Surratt were tied heading into the 72nd hole.

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Nick Dunlap started the day three shots behind. He ended it holding the trophy.

Dunlap, an incoming sophomore at Alabama, shot 3-under 66 (par 69) in the final round to complete his comeback and win the 61st Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island. During Friday’s third round, Dunlap shot a 63 to get himself into the final pairing, and he took advantage, beating Tennessee sophomore Caleb Surratt by five shots on Saturday to win.

Dunlap and Surratt were tied heading into the 72nd hole, but Dunlap birdied while Surratt made bogey, a sour ending to a 2-over 71 in the final round. Dunlap, however, finished at 12-under 264 for a two-shot win.

 

Florida State’s Luke Clanton finished third at 8 under while Brian Stark and Davis Bryant tied for fourth at 7 under. Dylan Menante, the 2022 champion, finished T-9 at 2 under.

Dunlap had a strong freshman season for the Crimson Tide, finishing 16th in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings and earning second-team All-America honors. He won the Linger Longer Invitational, finished T-4 at the NCAA Norman Regional and placed T-11 at the NCAA Championship. Dunlap even qualified for the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course, where he missed the cut last week.

He has been playing his best golf as of late, and now he’s a Northeast Amateur champion, which should give him some strong momentum the rest of the summer and into his sophomore campaign.

The Northeast Amateur is the second of seven men’s events that are a part of the Elite Amateur Series. Up next is the 123rd North & South Amateur at Pinehurst in North Carolina from June 24-July 1.

Vanderbilt’s Jackson Van Paris takes home 2023 Sunnehanna Amateur title

The Sunnehanna Amateur is the first of seven men’s events that are a part of the Elite Amateur Series.

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Jackson Van Paris wasn’t an integral part of the Vanderbilt lineup last season, and that’s not necessarily his fault.

He was a talented sophomore stuck battling with one of the deepest lineups in college golf. He teed it up in only five tournaments, his best finish coming at the John Hayt Invitational at T-6.

Heading into his junior season, he has made a case he could be a big factor for the Commodores.

Van Paris won the 82nd Sunnehanna Amateur on Saturday at Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He shot 13-under 267, beating Ohio State’s Neal Shipley by one shot for the title. Van Paris won in big part thanks to his 9-under 61 in the second round, where he took the lead and never looked back.

Even with a bogey on his final hole, Van Paris shot 3-under 67 on Saturday to claim the title. Shipley started the final round two shots behind, carding a 4-under 66 on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to catch Van Paris.

Sebastian Moss of Louisville shot 7 under in the final round to move into solo third at 11-under 269. Luke Clanton, Herman Senke and William Moll tied for fourth at 10 under.

The Sunnehanna Amateur is the first of seven men’s events that are a part of the Elite Amateur Series. Up next is the Northeast Amateur from June 19-24 at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island.