Tournament Overview

The Southwestern Men's Amateur Golf Championship is a prestigious 72-hole stroke play competition open to top national-level amateurs holding a handicap index of 1.4 or better.

Following the first 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 36 players and ties.

Player selection is determined by the Southwestern Golf Association (SWGA) Selection Committee, based on:
- Exemptions
- Competitive playing resumes
- National and international rankings

In addition, the SWGA reserves the right to invite amateurs of significant national or international stature, as well as other players of notable achievement, to participate in the championship.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit detailed golf resumes highlighting accomplishments in major amateur tournaments and other competitive events.

Course

Tournament News

• 
  Kristoffer Kuvaas uses a flurry of birdies late to secure Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 15, 2024 - Kuvaas won on the second playoff hole after birding eight of his last 11 holes to force the playoff at 12-under
• 
  Johnny Walker, Hunter Swanson, Ethan Wilson lead field of chasers at Southwestern Am
  Jun 14, 2024 - Walker made a huge ealge on No. 13 to get back to the top of the leaderboard as 21 golfers are within five shots
• 
  Robison and Walker tied for the lead halfway through the Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 13, 2024 - Eight golfers are within two shots of the lead, making for an intriguing weekend in Scottsdale
• 
  Robison, Enright, and Lewis tied for lead Southwestern Men's Amateur after round one
  Jun 12, 2024 - The three golfers are tied at the top of the leaderboard at 4-under and 26 golfers are within three shots of the lead
• 
  In final-round comeback, Davis Bryant repeats at 108th Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 17, 2023 - The Colorado State golfer goes deep to catch and pass LSU's Luke Haskew, who held the lead for three rounds and 13 holes
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Reagan Zibilski and Luke Haskew will try to go wire-to-wire
  Jun 16, 2023 - For the third straight day, LSU's Haskew and Arkansas’s Reagan Zibilski lead the field at Desert Mountain
• 
  Luke Haskew, Reagan Zibilski lead parade of red numbers at 108th Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 14, 2023 - A comfortable day in the Arizona desert sees low scoring at Desert Mountain in both the men's and women's championships
• 
  Davis Bryant, Camille Boyd return to defend titles at the 108th Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 13, 2023 - The historic event for men and women heads to Desert Mountain in Scottsdale for the 11th straight year
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Comeback victory for Davis Bryant
  Jun 19, 2022 - The Colorado State senior fires a final round 68 to secure the biggest win of his career heading into a packed summer of golf
• 
  Cantafio snags 54-hole lead at Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 17, 2022 - The Washington State junior will have second-round leader Gabe Salvanera breathing down his neck in Saturday's final round
• 
  Salvanera cards 63 to jump into Southwestern Amateur lead
  Jun 16, 2022 - A pair of Pac-12 rising juniors go low on day two at Desert Mountain and are now 1-2 atop the leaderboard
• 
  Historic Southwestern Amateur returns to Desert Mountain
  Jun 13, 2022 - The 107th Southwestern Amateur will mark the 10th straight tournament that Desert Mountain has played host
• 
  James Leow perseveres, pulls away to win the Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 19, 2021 - The Arizona State junior from Singapore briefly lost a lead he had held since day one, but gutted it out for a three-shot win
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Chen rises, Leow defends lead
  Jun 18, 2021 - ASU's James Leow and Oregon's Ching-Tzu Chen soar to 54-hole leads after rounds in the 60s at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale
• 
  Southwestern: Leow takes men's lead; Kozlowski, Whiston top women
  Jun 17, 2021 - James Leow, Ashley Kozlowski and Nicole Whiston are the 36-hole leaders as the field is cut for the final two rounds at Desert Mtn
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Leow, Banke lead Men, Whiston paces Women
  Jun 16, 2021 - The historic tournament is back with a new women's division
• 
  Southwestern Amateur, AmateurGolf.com Announce Alliance
  Nov 25, 2020 - AmateurGolf.com will manage the website and registrations, and assist with marketing, player recruitment
• 
  Southwestern Am to feature men and women, new branding for 2020
  Feb 05, 2020 - One of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious men's tournaments has added a women's division for 2020
• 
  Ostrom flashes his mental toughness in Southwestern Amateur win
  Jun 15, 2019 - Notre Dame senior Hunter Ostrom (Meridian, Idaho) closes with a 65 to win by three shots at the Desert Mountain Club
• 
  In swirling desert winds, Ostrom maintains Southwestern lead
  Jun 14, 2019 - Hunter Ostrom will take a slim one-shot lead into the final round at the Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale
• 
  Hole-in-one sparks Ostrom to Southwestern Amateur lead
  Jun 13, 2019 - Hunter Ostrom shoots a 65 at the Desert Mountain Club, highlighted by an ace at the second hole
• 
  104th Southwestern Amateur: Sedeno takes lead with 64
  Jun 12, 2019 - Joshua Sedeno of Roseville, Calif. shot a 6-under 64 to take the first round lead at the Desert Mountain Club
• 
  Southwestern Am to make a revolutionary format change in 2020
  May 14, 2019 - One of the longest-running majors in amateur golf makes a bold move to expand its reach and impact
• 
  Padgett Tops Defending Champ Sohn in Southwestern Am Playoff
  Jun 16, 2018 - Auburn University sophomore Wells Padgett birdied the second playoff hole to deny Arizona State senior Jino Sohn a repeat
• 
  Southwestern Am: Hahn, Padgett Lead; Defending Champ Lurks
  Jun 15, 2018 - Jordan Hahn and Wells Pagdett co-lead at 10 under, while 2017 champ Jino Sohn sits just two shots back at Desert Mountain
• 
  Jordan Hahn takes Halfway Lead at the Southwestern Am
  Jun 14, 2018 - The University of Wisconsin rising senior rode a hot start to a one-shot lead at the Cochise Course at Desert Mountain GC
• 
  Markham, Dickey Top Crowded Leaderboard at Southwestern Am
  Jun 13, 2018 - Perfect scoring conditions allowed 28 par-or-better rounds at the otherwise difficult Cochise Course at Desert Mountain
• 
  Jino Sohn Pulls Away to Win the Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 17, 2017 - Sun Devil Junior Fires 14-Under-Par 266 to Win by Four Strokes; Becomes First ASU Player to Win Prestigious Tournament Since 1989
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Jino Sohn Leads at 10 Under
  Jun 16, 2017 - ASU junior’s 10-under-par score provides him with one-shot lead over Kansas City’s Chase Hanna entering Saturday’s final round
• 
  Chase Hanna Grabs the 36 Hole Southwestern Am Lead
  Jun 15, 2017
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Quade Cummins Sets Course Record
  Jun 14, 2017 - Quade Cummins shoots a course-record seven-under 63 to take the first-round lead at the Desert Mountain Club
• 
  P.J. Samiere rallies to win Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 18, 2016 - P.J. Samiere shot a final-round three-under- par 67 on Saturday to capture the 101st Southwestern Amateur
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: A 64 gives Nick Heinen 54-hole lead
  Jun 17, 2016 - A 6-under 64 has brought Nick Heinen to the top of the Southwestern Amateur leaderboard
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Dylan Healey birdies final 3 to tie, then wins playoff
  Jun 13, 2015 - Cal State San Marcos golfer from Tennessee brings home his biggest career win after storming back with a final round 66
• 
  Hayden Wood grabs 2-shot lead at Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 12, 2015 - Oklahoma State's Wood fires a back nine 32 to jump on top by 2 strokes
• 
  Dylan Healey continues steady play to lead Southwestern Am at halfway point
  Jun 11, 2015 - Healey finds pleasure at the 7272-yard Desert Mountain Geronimo Course where many felt the pain in the second round
• 
  Arizona Wildcat transfer Jordan Gumberg leads at Southwestern
  Jun 10, 2015 - In the tournament's 100th playing, University of Arizona sophomore Jordan Gumberg of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. posted 64 on day one
• 
  Southwestern Am: Jones rallies for title
  Jun 07, 2014 - Baylor's Kyle Jones battled with LSU's Zach Wright before an eagle on the 18th to win by 2
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Wright maintains lead
  Jun 06, 2014 - LSU's Zach Wright fired a 2-under 68 at Desert Mountain and takes a two-shot advantage into the final round
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Zach Wright takes lead
  Jun 05, 2014 - Zachary Wright of LSU fired a 5-under 65 Thursday to rise out of a flock near the top of the leaderboard
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: 4 share 1st-round lead
  Jun 04, 2014 - All told, there are 14 players within three shots of the lead shared by four. Another six players are just four shots back
• Southwestern Am: Poston rallies for win
  Jun 21, 2013 - Poston jumped six places by firing a 5-under 65 to finish two shots clear of defending champion Kevin Dougherty and Max McGreevy
• Southwestern Am: McGreevy holds lead
  Jun 20, 2013 - Max Mcgreevy of Edmond, Oklahoma, followed his three under par 67 Wednesday with an outstanding 65 (-5) for a three-day total of 206 (-4) to take a three-shot lead
• Southwestern Amateur: Mulvany leads
  Jun 18, 2013 - Ryan Mulvany of Reno, Nevada, took advantage of one of the earliest tee times and shot 66 (-4) to take he first round lead
• 
  Kevin Dougherty completes Southwestern Am run
  Jun 15, 2012 - Dougherty of Murrieta, California, completes a solid round of 74 (+2) under hot and gusty wind conditions to finish at 279 (-9) and capture the 97th Annual Southwestern Amateur
• Kevin Dougherty builds Southwestern Am lead
  Jun 14, 2012 - Dougherty shot a solid 70 (-2) on a day where gusty winds drove an increase in the average score of the field
• 
  Dougherty leads by 3 at Southwestern Am
  Jun 13, 2012 - Kevin Doughtery of Murrieta, CA fires 2nd round 66, leads by 3 at half-way point
• 
  Californians lead at Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 12, 2012 - Loomis's Austin Smotherman and San Diego's Alex Wagner are co-leaders at 5-under-par 67
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Carney wins by four
  Jun 17, 2011 - Carney Eagles the final hole to put an exclamation point on his victory in the 2011 Southwestern Amateur
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Carney leads by seven
  Jun 16, 2011 - Stephen Carney breaks course record with 62 (-10) and leads by seven strokes
• Southwestern Amateur Championship: 3 players tied for the lead
  Jun 15, 2011 - Southwestern Amateur Championship: Three players share the second round lead after 36 holes
• Southwestern Amateur: Estrada Leads with 64
  Jun 14, 2011 - Alex Estrada fires a course record tying 64 to charge into the lead of the 96th Annual Southwestern Amateur Golf Tournament
• 
  Guerrero's 65 Wins the Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 18, 2010 - Estanislao Guerrero from Tijuana, Mexico is the Southwestern Amateur Champion, firing a final-round 65 to come from 2 shots back and winning by 2
• 
  Woolf wins Southwestern Amateur
  Jun 20, 2009 - With a new putter in the bag, Travis Woolf of Ft. Worth Texas wins the Southwestern Amateur at Omni Tucson National Resort
• 
  Southwestern Am: Hoffenberg by 1
  Jun 13, 2008 - San Diego State's Matt Hoffenberg tops local favorite Jesse Barnsley by a stroke
• 
  Southwestern Amateur: Weston in playoff
  Jun 15, 2007 - Aaron Weston beats former Colorado State University teammate Zen Brown in first playoff hole
• Southwestern Amateur: Choi (-13) Tops Strong Field
  Jun 17, 2005 - Jay Choi of California wins by 4 over Jake Grodzinsky of Arizona and a strong amateur field

Origins and Early Years

The Southwestern Amateur was first contested in 1915, making it one of the oldest and most storied amateur golf tournaments in the United States.

Originally founded as a regional match play invitational, it was created to give private golf course members the opportunity to compete against some of the nation's best amateur players.

In its early decades, the tournament rotated across premier courses in Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada, and New Mexico, showcasing a diverse range of layouts and golfing conditions in the American Southwest.

Notably, the event even ventured internationally, being held in Mexico on four occasions — a rare distinction among U.S.-based amateur championships.

Interruptions and Transition

The tournament has been played almost annually, with only one major interruption: a three-year hiatus (1943–1945) due to World War II.

This pause mirrored the broader halt in sporting events across the country as the nation focused on the war effort.

A pivotal moment in the tournament’s history came in 1966, when organizers transitioned from match play to stroke play.

This change reflected larger trends in the game during the Palmer-Nicklaus era, as golf’s popularity exploded and there was a growing demand for more standardized, highly competitive formats.

Reputation and Competitive Legacy

Over the years, the Southwestern Amateur has earned a stellar reputation for its high-caliber competition, consistently attracting top-ranked amateurs from across the country.

It has served as a springboard for players aspiring to professional careers, and many past champions and participants have gone on to achieve significant success on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.

The tournament's legacy is built on:

• Challenging venues across multiple states and countries
• Elite fields featuring future stars
• Adapting to the changing landscape of golf while maintaining tradition

Today, the Southwestern Amateur remains a key event on the national amateur circuit, blending its rich traditions with a forward-looking approach that keeps it relevant to new generations of players.

Key Historical Insights

• First played: 1915
• Format: Match play (1915–1965), Stroke play (1966–present)
• World War II hiatus: 1943–1945
• Geographic reach: Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, and Mexico
• Notable evolution: Shift to stroke play to meet increased player and audience demands
• Alumni success: Numerous former participants have excelled on the PGA and Champions Tours