International field set for Amateur Championship at Carnoustie
Golfers from 30 different countries will compete in The Amateur Championship at Carnoustie and Panmure in Scotland, with a place at this year’s Open at stake.
The tournament will take place from 15-20 June, with the Amateur Champion also earning a place at the 2016 US Open and the Masters Tournament at Augusta.
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More than 30 players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking top 100 feature in the draw, including five of the world’s top 20: the reigning Australian Junior Boys champion, Ryan Ruffels, two-time European Amateur champion Ashley Chesters of England, 2015 Lytham Trophy winner Marcus Kinhult of Sweden, Austin Connelly of Canada and Mario Galiano of Spain.
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The field also includes 16 players from the GB&I Walker Cup squad who will be looking to perform well ahead of final team selection in August for the 45th Walker Cup match at Royal Lytham & St Annes on 12 and 13 September.
With exemptions into two of golf’s Major Championships at stake, the opportunity to watch the talents of some of the world’s finest amateur golfers should not be missed The first two days of The Amateur Championship comprise stroke play qualifying over both courses before the field is cut to 64 and ties, and the match play format finds the champion over the final four days’ play at Carnoustie.
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The R&A’s director of amateur championships, Euan Mordaunt, said: “With exemptions into two of golf’s Major Championships at stake, as well as a traditional invitation to the Masters Tournament, it promises to be an exciting week of golf and the opportunity to watch the talents of some of the world’s finest amateur golfers should not be missed.”
Several Open Champions and Ryder Cup players have played in the Amateur including Jack Nicklaus, José Maria Olazábal, Colin Montgomerie, Sir Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen, Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia.
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