The NSW Amateur Championship is bound for the Greater Newcastle area next year and will take place at Belmont and Pacific Dunes Golf Clubs from January 30 to February 3rd, 2024.
Dating back to 1898, the Amateur is one of Australia’s oldest and most revered golf championships. The honour rolls boast the names of men and women who have claimed international professional tour victories and Major Championship wins.
Previous Men’s champions include 2022 victor Harrison Crowe, who became the first player since the legendary Jim Ferrier to claim the NSW Amateur and Open Titles in the same year.
Other notable champions include Newcastle local Jake Higginbottom, freshly crowned WA PGA Champion Ben Eccles (VIC) and Western Australian Jarryd Felton. Both are multiple winners on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
A little less recently, Sir Michael Campbell (NZL, 1992 NSW AM – 2005 US Open) and Jim Ferrier (NSW, NSW AM 1931, 34, 37, 38 – 1947 USPGA) both went on to win Major Championships.
The Women’s honour roll is no less impressive; headlined by seven-time Major winner and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame Karrie Webb. The list also includes 2023 LPGA Lotte Championship winner Grace Kim and three-peat winner Nikki Campbell.
Golf NSW General Manager Golf, Olivia Wilson, said 264 golfers should enter the prestigious tournament, and she expects several international competitors will play.
“Both Belmont and Pacific Dunes are coastal-style courses in every sense: The links-style layout and the sea breezes of Belmont will test the competitors shot-making skills, while the tree-lined routing with well-placed challenges on almost every hole at Pacific Dunes will ensure the best rise to the top.”
“No doubt there will be several Kiwi players in the field, and with a strong European contingent here for last year’s championship performing well, we expect a few other international golfing bodies will enquire about sending players as well,” Ms Wilson said.
President of Belmont Golf Club, Mrs Lyn Cooper, said she was thrilled Golf NSW had selected the course to host its first NSW Amateur Championship.
“After hosting the (WAGR-ranked) Lake Macquarie Amateur for 59 years, it’s nice to see elite amateur golf coming back to our wonderful club.”
“Being selected to host a championship of this stature is quite an honour for the course and our members, the dedicated staff, and our handy band of volunteers,” Mrs Cooper said.
Schedule:
Monday, January 29th: (Belmont & Pacific Dunes) – Practice Day
Tuesday, January 30th: (Belmont & Pacific Dunes) – Round One
Wednesday, January 31st: (Belmont & Pacific Dunes) – Round Two
Thursday, February 1st: (Belmont) Matchplay – Men’s Rd of 32 (am) & 16(pm) / Women’s Rd of 16
Friday, February 2nd: (Belmont) Matchplay – Quarter-Finals (am) & Semi-Finals (pm)
Saturday, February 3rd: (Belmont) – Finals ( 36 holes – all day)
*The 2024 NSW Amateur Champions will receive an exemption into the 2024 NSW Open (men’s) at Murray Downs Golf Resort in November and the Co-Sanctioned (WPGA Tour /Ladies European Tour) 2024 Women’s NSW Open at Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club from March 29st to 31st.
