PREVIEW: Memorial Amateur Championship 2025
π What You Need to Know
- Location: Ancil Hoffman Golf Course, Carmichael, CA
- Dates: Memorial Day Weekend
- Format: 54-hole stroke play
- Key Features: Tree-lined fairways, strategic play, short-game emphasis
- Notable Alumni: Cameron Champ, John Catlin, Derek Ernst
π View Saturday Tee Times (PDF)
Championship Preview
The Memorial Amateur Championship is one of the most respected tournaments in Northern California amateur golf. Set at the challenging Ancil Hoffman Golf Course, this event gives rising stars a stage to test their skills and launch their careers.
Held every Memorial Day Weekend, the Memorial Amateur is more than just a 54-hole test — it’s a battleground for college golfers, mid-ams, and future pros.
What Sets Winners Apart
- βοΈ Consistency over fireworks: Avoiding big mistakes beats flashy scoring.
- βοΈ Early leads pay off: Most champions are inside the top 3 after 36 holes.
- βοΈ Sunday nerves: Final-round pressure and wind challenge nerves.
- βοΈ Short game supremacy: Scrambling and putting are often the difference-makers.
“It’s the one tournament I circle every year. You win here, you’re legit.”
— Aidan Lee, 2023 Champion
π Learn more about what makes this event a PGA Tour pipeline ›
π 2024 Champion Spotlight: Brandon Knight
Brandon Knight, a sophomore standout from the University of Colorado, captured the 2024 Memorial Amateur Championship with a dominant performance at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course, carding rounds of 66-68-69 for a 13-under total of 203.
Originally from Pleasanton, California, Knight’s victory was part of a breakout amateur season that included:
- β
Quarterfinal run in the California Amateur after toppling the No. 1 seed
- β
Medalist honors at U.S. Amateur qualifying with a 10-under 134 at Castlewood CC
- β
A bogey-free 67 to close out the Ka’anapali Classic Collegiate
- β
Top-10 finishes in the Silverado Amateur and Northern California Stroke Play
His strategic precision and mental toughness shined in Carmichael, and with multiple sub-70 rounds already under his belt this spring, Knight enters 2025 as one of the top amateur players to watch.
“Brandon’s performance was textbook: low-risk, high-reward golf under pressure. He’s the real deal.”
— Tournament Official, Memorial Amateur
πΊ Live Leaderboard
Leaderboard updates will be posted here as the tournament progresses.
ποΈβοΈ Ancil Hoffman Course Snapshot
- Architect: William F. Bell (designer of Torrey Pines)
- Rating/Slope: 73.3 / 131
- Course Type: Strategic, firm, tree-lined
- Notable Holes: #6 (most difficult), #12 (most birdies)
- “The Gauntlet”: Holes 14–16 decide Sunday drama
π Final Results
The champion and final stats will be added after the conclusion of the tournament.
π― Want to dive deeper into Memorial Amateur stats?
- βοΈ 3,000+ tournament records and player profiles
- βοΈ Performance insights
- βοΈ Historical scoring trends
- βοΈ Includes FREE 1-year Golfweek subscription
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ABOUT THE
Memorial Amateur
Memorial Amateur insights include 15+ years of scoring trends, past champions like Cameron Champ, and hole-by-hole performance breakdowns at Ancil Hoffman.
The Memorial Amateur Championship, held each Memorial Day Weekend at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course in Carmichael, California, is one of the premier independent amateur events in the U.S.
Founded by Vietnam veteran John Rochelle, the tournament blends patriotic tradition with elite competition. Over 54 holes of stroke play, including a 36-hole cut, the Memorial Amateur consistently attracts a national field of top-tier players ready to test their game on one of Northern Californiaβs most demanding public courses.
But what truly sets this event apart is the depth of data and insight available behind the scenes.
For a tournament entry form, email John Rochelle at memorialamateur@comcast.net.
View Complete Tournament Information