West Yorkshire venues Alwoodley and Moortown host the R&A Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur championships, respectively, this week (12-17 August).
Leading players from across the world will chase both coveted titles, with 144 players in each field following a pre-qualifier for the boys’ championship.
First played in 1919, the Girls’ Amateur Championship is a highly coveted junior title, with Alwoodley acting as host.
Past winners include future professional champions and Solheim Cup players such as Anna Nordqvist, Suzann Pettersen, Azahara Munoz and Georgia Hall. More recently, Slovenia's Pia Babnik triumphed in 2019 and has already gone on to win on the Ladies European Tour.
Spain’s Martina Navarro Navarro, runner-up to Germany’s Helen Briem at Ganton a year ago, returns for another title pursuit. France’s Sara Brentcheneff is the leading ranked player in the field, just outside 100 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Scotland’s Grace Crawford, a former winner of the R&A Girls’ U16 Amateur, also competes.
Given that France’s Perrine Delacour, the 2009 Girls’ Amateur champion, struck the opening tee shot in the women’s event at the Olympics in Paris, the field has much to which to aspire.
Alwoodley is regarded as one of Britain’s finest inland courses. It was designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie, the famed architect who left a legacy of classic courses around the world, among them Augusta National, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne.
“We are excited to be hosting the Girls’ Amateur Championship and working together with the R&A,” said Richard Weeks, secretary manager at Alwoodley Golf Club. “We are welcoming world-class players from many different countries, and we are sure they will enjoy the challenge our venue provides.”
For Alwoodley, the week also offers the chance to highlight its sustainability drive across a number of initiatives. The club has electric greens mowers running during championship week and a large installation of solar panels on the practice ground.
The Boys’ Amateur is also one of the most prestigious events in junior golf.
The international field attracts the best junior male golfers from around the globe and former winners include Michael Bonallack, José María Olazábal, Sergio García, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Adrián Otaegui, Tom Lewis and David Howell.
Spain’s Jorge Siyuan Hao reached the quarterfinals two years ago at Carnoustie and will aim to enjoy another fine week. Scotland’s Aidan Lawson is the top-ranked player in the field.
Moortown has a rich history, including hosting the first-ever Ryder Cup match on British soil in 1929 (the home team led by George Duncan triumphed 7-5 over Walter Hagen’s USA side) and staging many other professional and amateur tournaments.
At both championships, various exemptions are on offer to the victors come Saturday afternoon.
To view the fields: GIRLS / BOYS
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