New-look schedules for Hampshire’s elite amateur golfers

All the major men’s – and women’s events – which were traditionally held in May and June, including the Brabazon, were postponed last month.

Hampshire’s Scott Gregory and Harry Ellis claimed the Amateur Championship back to back just three years ago.

The R&A’s blue riband event – which carries an entry into The Masters and The Open for the winner – is being held at Royal Birkdale, but at a later date because of the pandemic.

The Amateur will move from June to the third week to the last week in August, lasting six days.

That is the week after the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship, for the Brabazon Trophy, which moves from late May – but is still being staged at Sherwood Forest in

Nottinghamshire.

Hampshire players won the Brabazon three years in a row from 2010-12 – a first in the competition’s 73-year history.

The English Men’s Amateur will remain at the governing body’s HQ at Lincolnshire’s Woodhall Spa, starting on July 28 and with the final being played on August 1.

They 288 men who will play 36 holes on the Hotchkin and Bracken courses for a place in the 64-strong matchplay draw, will now be joined by the country’s top 66 women players.

Their championship has been moved from Sheringham in Norfolk and will be played alongside the men’s for the first time in the event first held in 1925.

Corhampton’s Gregory lost in the 2014 men’s final while Meon Valley’s Ellis broke Sir Nick Faldo’s record by winning the title aged 16 in 2012.

Hayling’s Jamie Mist was a beaten semi-finalist in 2016 while Lee-on-the-Solent’s Steve Richardson won the trophy at Royal St George’s in 1989.

That was four years after Brokenhurst Manor’s Kevin Weeks became just the second Hampshire winner, after Hayling’s Ian Patey became the first in 1946.