Two of Australian golf’s under-rated gems will play host to the 2019 Australian Amateur Championships, presented by Swinging Skirts.
Woodlands and Spring Valley, both on Melbourne’s globally renowned sand belt, will open their doors to some of the world’s leading amateurs from 15-20 January.
Defending men’s champion, Japan’s Keita Nakajima, has already committed to fields that will ultimately contain 234 men and 78 women, both of which, tournament director Trevor Herden said, would showcase how highly sought the trophies have become.
“There is an incredible depth of amateur talent at the moment and we’re really proud that so many great players from every corner of the planet have such a desire to win one of the oldest titles in world golf,” Herden said.
“Naturally it helps to attract those players when they have such great courses on which to play – and in Woodlands and Spring Valley, they’re on two of the best.”
Victorian Minister for Sport, John Eren said the championships are an important pathway for our top amateur golfers, and the government was proud to support the event through its Significant Sporting Event Program.
“With top players from around the world competing for ranking points, the championships also showcase our amazing sandbelt courses to players, spectators and tourists,” he said.
The men’s and women’s championships each comprise 36 holes of stroke play qualifying, with the leading 64 men and 32 women advancing to elimination match play.
The championships date back to 1894, and with both winners receiving an exemption into their respective Australian Opens, an additional drawcard for Australia’s pinnacle amateur tournament.
Both clubs have hosted several Vic Opens, with Woodlands most recently having hosted the #AusAm in 2013, while Spring Valley will host the event for the first time.
Woodlands is revered for its conditioning and small greens that are particularly hard and fast. With tight fairways and ample bunkering, it’s regarded as a shotmaker’s course.
Spring Valley, recently rated Australia’s 42nd best course by Golf Australia Magazine, is also not long by modern standards but is always pristine and demands well-shaped shots, particularly on approaches to several elevated greens.
Players from around Australia, plus New Zealand, England, Scotland, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and the United States are expected to compete.
Recent women’s champions include former world No.1 Lydia Ko, world No.8 Minjee and world No.10 Hye-Jin Choi.
Reigning Australian Open champ Cameron Davis and US PGA Tour players Cameron Smith and Greg Chalmers are also former champions, as is major winner Michael Campbell.
Entries open on 16 October, with a handicap limit of 1.0 for men and 2.4 for women.
Click www.golf.org.au/event#/competition/1421842/info for further information.