# New Zealand Amateur

The New Zealand Amateur is the national amateur golf championship of New Zealand. It has been played annually since 1893, except for the war years, and is organised by New Zealand Golf.
Currently the event is played over five days and consists of a 36-hole stroke-play qualifying stage after which the leading 32 play five rounds of match-play. The final is over 36 holes.

## History

The first tournament was organised by Otago Golf Club "open to members of any recognised Now Zealand club" held on 30 November and 1 and 2 December 1893, "for the amateur championship of the colony." 16 players entered, primarily from the home club. Two rounds were played on the first day, with the semi-finals on the second morning. The final was played on the third morning between two members of the Otago club, James Somerville and Henry Rose. Somerville won the first four holes but Rose won the next three. Somerville then won five of the next seven to win 6&4. Somerville had only recently arrived in New Zealand, having graduated from Edinburgh University in 1891.
The first championship meeting was held at Christchurch Golf Club in July 1894, with the amateur championship being the main event. The championship was played from 24 to 26 July with two rounds on each of the first two days and the final on the third afternoon. The final was between Hugh MacNeil and James Scott, both from the Otago club, and resulted in an easy win for MacNeil by a score of 7&6.
The 1895 championship meeting was held in the North Island for the first time, at Hutt Golf Club near Wellington, although there were suggestions that it should be played at the newly-opened Wellington Golf Club at Miramar. Until World War I, the venue generally alternated between the north and south islands.
In 1900, Arthur Duncan became the first multiple winner, having also won in 1899. He beat Hugh MacNeil, also a previous winner, in the final. In 1901, Duncan won for the third successive year, winning the final by a score of 9 & 7, the first final to be played over 36 holes. Duncan won again in 1905, while Spencer Gollan became the second multiple winner in 1906, having previously won in 1902. The inaugural New Zealand Open was played in 1907 and the 36-hole event was won by Arthur Duncan who won his fifth Amateur Championship a few days later.
Up to 1907 the event was a pure match-play event. However, with the expansion of the New Zealand Open to 72 holes and the increasing number of entries, a change was made in 1908. The final two rounds of the Open acted as qualifying rounds for the Amateur Championship, after which the leading 32 players played 5 rounds of match-play.
in the period before World War I, Arthur Duncan continued his success in the event, winning in 1909, 1911 and 1914, and he remained undefeated in the final, having won all 8 of those he had reached. He won by a record margin of 11 & 10 in 1911 and repeated the feat in 1914. The other successful player in this period was Bernard Wood who was runner-up in 1910 and then won twice in succession, 1912 and 1913.
Up to 1963, the amateur championship continued as part of the championship meeting, with the New Zealand Open acting as the qualifying event. However, from 1964 the amateur championship, open champion and New Zealand PGA Championship were separated. From 1964, the amateur championship had it own 36-hole qualification stage, the winner receiving the St Andrews Salver. From 1983 until 2011 the qualification was extended to 72 holes and became the New Zealand Stroke Play Championship. From 2012 the New Zealand Stroke Play Championship was run as a separate 72-hole event, while the amateur championship returned to having a 36-hole qualification stage.

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue |
| 2023 | Sebastian May | 6 & 5 | Steven Van Heerden | Hamilton GC |
| 2022 | Jasper Stubbs | 6 & 5 | Mitchell Kale | Otago GC |
| 2021 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020 | James Hydes | 3 & 2 | Charlie Smail | Poverty Bay GC |
| 2019 | Sam Jones | 4 & 3 | Mitchell Kale | Remuera GC |
| 2018 | Charlie Smail | 5 & 4 | Kerry Mountcastle | Wairakei GC |
| 2017 | Daniel Hillier (2) | 10 & 9 | Tom Parker | Russley GC |
| 2016 | Louis Dobbelaar | 2 & 1 | Peter Spearman-Burn | Royal Wellington GC |
| 2015 | Daniel Hillier | 6 & 5 | Sam Vincent | Titirangi GC |
| 2014 | Joshua Munn | 37 holes | Tae Koh | Nelson GC |
| 2013 | Kadin Neho | 3 & 2 | Ryan Chisnall | Manawatu GC |
| 2012 | Vaughan McCall | 6 & 5 | Peter Lee | Mount Maunganui GC |
| 2011 | Mathew Perry | 4 & 2 | Steven Heyes | Russley GC |
| 2010 | Matt Jager (2) | 7 & 6 | Brad Kendall | Hastings GC |
| 2009 | Matt Jager | 6 & 5 | Nicol van Wyk | Titirangi GC |
| 2008 | Thomas Spearman-Burn | 4 & 2 | Kevin Smith | Paraparaumu Beach GC |
| 2007 | Danny Lee | 7 & 5 | Nick Gillespie | Hamilton GC |
| 2006 | Andrew Green | 1 up | Mitchell Brown | Coringa CC |
| 2005 | Mitchell Brown | 1 up | Andrew Dodt | Manawatu GC |
| 2004 | Gavin Flint | 5 & 4 | Jarrod Lyle | Taupo GC |
| 2003 | James Nitties | 3 & 2 | Hamish Robertson | Chisholm Park GC |
| 2002 | Marcus Fraser | 2 & 1 | Eddie Lee | Auckland GC |
| 2001 | Ben Gallie | 37 holes | Matthew Peter | Mount Maunganui GC |
| 2000 | Eddie Burgess | 5 & 3 | Andrew Webster | Christchurch GC |
| 1999 | Andrew Duffin | 8 & 7 | Carl Brooking | Remuera GC |
| 1998 | Bryce MacDonald | 4 & 2 | Trevor Immelman | Paraparaumu Beach GC |
| 1997 | Chris Johns | | Reon Sayers | Harewood GC |
| 1996 | David Somervaille | | Karl Kitchingham | Napier GC |
| 1995 | Simon Bittle | | | Manawatu GC |
| 1994 | Paul Fitzgibbon | 3 & 1 | Richard Best | Hamilton GC |
| 1993 | Phil Tataurangi | 6 & 4 | Rob Elkington | New Plymouth GC |
| 1992 | Richard Lee | | | Otago GC |
| 1991 | Lucas Parsons | 2 & 1 | Grant Moorhead | Poverty Bay GC |
| 1990 | Michael Long | | David Podlich | Nelson GC |
| 1989 | Lester Peterson | 6 & 4 | Tony Christie | Taupo GC |
| 1988 | Bradley Hughes | 2 up | Lester Peterson | North Shore GC |
| 1987 | Owen Kendall | 3 & 2 | Geoff Stephens | Waitikiri GC |
| 1986 | Peter O'Malley | 3 & 1 | Stephen Taylor | Hutt GC |
| 1985 | Gerard Power | 7 & 6 | Michael Barltrop | Mount Maunganui GC |
| 1984 | Jeff Wagner | 2 & 1 | Tony Dight | St. Clair GC |
| 1983 | Colin Taylor | 2 & 1 | Ted McDougall | Titirangi GC |
| 1982 | Ian Peters | 2 & 1 | Roger Mackay | Manawatu GC |
| 1981 | Terry Cochrane | 39 holes | Phil Aickin | Timaru GC |
| 1980 | Paul Hartstone | 38 holes | Colin Taylor | Lochiel GC |
| 1979 | John Durry (4) | 1 up | John Finn | Paraparaumu Beach GC |
| 1978 | Frank Nobilo | 9 & 8 | Peter Maude | Hastings GC |
| 1977 | Terry Pulman (2) | 9 & 8 | Bruce Taylor | Russley GC |
| 1976 | Terry Pulman | 4 & 3 | Stuart Reid | New Plymouth GC |
| 1975 | Stuart Reese | 10 & 9 | Stephen Barron | Nelson GC |
| 1974 | Rodney Barltrop | 3 & 1 | Ken Hankin | Manukau GC |
| 1973 | Mike Nicholson | 7 & 6 | Owen Kendall | Springfield GC |
| 1972 | Ross Murray | 4 & 3 | Michael Barltrop | Waitikiri GC |
| 1971 | Stuart Jones (7) | 38 holes | Ian MacDonald | Hutt GC |
| 1970 | Ted McDougall (2) | 5 & 4 | Robin Dailey | Manawatu GC |
| 1969 | Graham Stevenson | 2 & 1 | Ted McDougall | Nelson GC |
| 1968 | Bruce Stevens | 4 & 3 | A L Day | Titirangi GC |
| 1967 | John Durry (3) | 37 holes | Stuart Jones | Hastings GC |
| 1966 | Stuart Jones (6) | 8 & 7 | Toby Richards | Russley GC |
| 1965 | John Durry (2) | 7 & 5 | Ray Atkinson | Miramar GC |
| 1964 | Stuart Jones (5) | 37 holes | Ted McDougall | Hamilton GC |
| 1963 | John Durry | 6 & 5 | Ross Murray | Wanganui GC |
| 1962 | Stuart Jones (4) | 6 & 4 | John Stern | Titirangi GC |
| 1961 | Stuart Jones (3) | 2 & 1 | Ross Newdick | New Plymouth GC |
| 1960 | Ross Newdick | 8 & 7 | Ian Woodbury | Invercargill GC |
| 1959 | Stuart Jones (2) | 5 & 4 | John Durry | Paraparaumu Beach GC |
| 1958 | Walter Godfrey | 2 & 1 | Guy Horne | Hamilton GC |
| 1957 | Ted McDougall | 5 & 4 | W. W. Smith | Manawatu GC |
| 1956 | Peter Toogood | 3 & 2 | Bob Charles | Christchurch GC |
| 1955 | Stuart Jones | 3 & 2 | Tim Woon | Auckland GC |
| 1954 | Tim Woon (4) | 3 & 2 | Bob Charles | Wellington GC |
| 1953 | Tim Woon (3) | 6 & 4 | Ron Timms | Otago GC |
| 1952 | Harry Berwick | 7 & 6 | Jack Coogan | Wanganui GC |
| 1951 | Tim Woon (2) | 7 & 6 | M J Thornton | Titirangi GC |
| 1950 | Tim Woon | 9 & 7 | Tony Gibbs | Christchurch GC |
| 1949 | Joe Holden | 6 & 5 | Denny Sutherland | Hastings GC |
| 1948 | Tony Gibbs | 2 & 1 | Bob Glading | Otago GC |
| 1947 | Bryan Silk (3) | 2 & 1 | Bill Edgar | New Plymouth GC |
| 1946 | Guy Horne | 4 & 3 | Bert Reilly | Manawatu GC |
| 1940–1945 No tournament due to World War II | 1940–1945 No tournament due to World War II | 1940–1945 No tournament due to World War II | 1940–1945 No tournament due to World War II | 1940–1945 No tournament due to World War II |
| 1939 | John Hornabrook (3) | 2 & 1 | Arthur Kitto | Miramar GC |
| 1938 | Pax Smith | 4 & 3 | Bert Reilly | Otago GC |
| 1937 | Bryan Silk (2) | 9 & 8 | Arthur Kitto | Hamilton GC |
| 1936 | John Hornabrook (2) | 6 & 5 | Leslie Cathro | New Plymouth GC |
| 1935 | John Hornabrook | 5 & 4 | Bryan Silk | Christchurch GC |
| 1934 | Bryan Silk | 5 & 4 | Jack Mortland | Wanganui GC |
| 1933 | Pip Wright | 12 & 11 | Harold Black | Titirangi GC |
| 1932 | Rana Wagg (2) | 37 holes | Bill Horton | Wellington GC |
| 1931 | Rana Wagg | 2 & 1 | Arthur Duncan | Christchurch GC |
| 1930 | Harold Black | 6 & 4 | Jack Black | Manawatu GC |
| 1929 | Sloan Morpeth (3) | 37 holes | Jack Black | Wanganui GC |
| 1928 | Bill Horton (2) | 1 up | Jack Black | Otago GC |
| 1927 | Sloan Morpeth (2) | 6 & 5 | Bill Horton | Hamilton GC |
| 1926 | Arthur Duncan (10) | 6 & 5 | Leo Quin | Miramar GC |
| 1925 | Bill Horton | 9 & 8 | Arthur Duncan | Christchurch GC |
| 1924 | Leo Quin | 8 & 7 | Jack Goss | Auckland GC |
| 1923 | Jack Goss | 1 up | Arthur Duncan | Wanganui GC |
| 1922 | Arthur Duncan (9) | 10 & 9 | Bill Horton | Manawatu GC |
| 1921 | Alex Sime | 5 & 4 | Jack Black | Christchurch GC |
| 1920 | Sloan Morpeth | 8 & 6 | Kenneth Ross | Hamilton GC |
| 1919 | Hugh Crosse | 38 holes | Arthur Duncan | Napier GC |
| 1915–1918 No tournament due to World War I | 1915–1918 No tournament due to World War I | 1915–1918 No tournament due to World War I | 1915–1918 No tournament due to World War I | 1915–1918 No tournament due to World War I |
| 1914 | Arthur Duncan (8) | 11 & 10 | Jack Harold | Auckland GC |
| 1913 | Bernard Wood (2) | 5 & 4 | Kenneth Ross | Otago GC |
| 1912 | Bernard Wood | 6 & 5 | Harold Wright | Wellington GC |
| 1911 | Arthur Duncan (7) | 11 & 10 | Gordon Dodgshun | Wanganui GC |
| 1910 | Harold Lusk | 2 up | Bernard Wood | Christchurch GC |
| 1909 | Arthur Duncan (6) | 3 & 1 | John Burns | Auckland GC |
| 1908 | Hamilton Smith | 3 & 1 | Harold Lusk | Otago GC |
| 1907 | Arthur Duncan (5) | 10 & 9 | Harold Lusk | Napier GC |
| 1906 | Spencer Gollan (2) | 8 & 7 | William Harman | Christchurch GC |
| 1905 | Arthur Duncan (4) | 5 & 4 | Kenneth Duncan | Auckland GC |
| 1904 | Arthur Fisher | 3 & 2 | George MacEwan | Otago GC |
| 1903 | Kurupo Tareha | 3 & 1 | Edward Nicolaus | Napier GC |
| 1902 | Spencer Gollan | 3 & 1 | Charles Gillies | Christchurch GC |
| 1901 | Arthur Duncan (3) | 9 & 7 | Wilfred Colbeck | Auckland GC |
| 1900 | Arthur Duncan (2) | 3 & 1 | Hugh MacNeil | Otago GC |
| 1899 | Arthur Duncan | 5 & 4 | Norman Perston | Wellington GC |
| 1898 | William Pryde | 5 & 4 | Edmond Wilder | Christchurch GC |
| 1897 | David Pryde | 4 & 2 | Ross Gore | Auckland GC |
| 1896 | Stanley Todd | 2 up | Hugh MacNeil | Otago GC |
| 1895 | George Gosset | 5 & 3 | Edmond Wilder | Hutt GC |
| 1894 | Hugh MacNeil | 7 & 6 | James Scott | Christchurch GC |
| 1893 | James Somerville | 6 & 4 | Henry Rose | Otago GC |
Early finals were over 18 holes but all finals since 1901 have been over 36 holes.
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