What to Know
The 125th North & South Men’s Amateur Championship runs June 22–28, 2025 at Pinehurst Resort. 120 of the world’s top amateur golfers are battling through two rounds of stroke play on No. 2 and No. 7. Only the top 32 players will advance to the dramatic single-elimination match play bracket, held entirely on the legendary Pinehurst No. 2.
Round 1 Recap
It was a day for precision and composure as Tyler Watts and Eric Doyle emerged as co-leaders after posting matching rounds of 66 (-4) on Pinehurst No. 2. Watts, riding the momentum from his recent record-setting win at the Sunnehanna Amateur, birdied five holes on the back nine alone. Doyle’s round was marked by steady iron play and clutch putting. Luke Colton sits one shot back at 67 (-3), with a large group at -2 tightly packed behind. With a projected cut around even par, Round 2 will bring plenty of pressure.
Round 1 Leaderboard
| Pos | Player | To Par | Score |
|---|
| T1 | Tyler Watts | -4 | 66 |
| T1 | Eric Doyle | -4 | 66 |
| 3 | Luke Colton | -3 | 67 |
| T4 | Mateo Pulcini | -2 | 68 |
| T4 | Connor Brown | -2 | 68 |
| T4 | Will Hartman | -2 | 68 |
| T4 | Johnny Walker | -2 | 68 |
| T4 | Ike Joy | -2 | 68 |
A Championship Rooted in Legacy
The North & South Amateur, founded in 1901, is the longest consecutively run amateur championship in the United States. Hosted at Pinehurst since its inception, the event has crowned some of the greatest names in golf history: Jack Nicklaus (1959), Francis Ouimet (1920), Curtis Strange (1975, 1976), Corey Pavin (1981), and Davis Love III (1984), to name a few.
The Course: Pinehurst No. 2
Designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1907, Pinehurst No. 2 is among the most storied championship venues in the world. Its crowned greens, sandy waste areas, and strategic layout challenge even the most elite amateurs. This course has hosted three U.S. Opens and will welcome a fourth in 2029. Players must be tactical, particularly with approach shots and short-game execution.
Pinehurst No. 7, co-host for stroke play qualifying, provides contrast with a more modern layout that rewards bold play. Together, these courses demand adaptability and consistency.
🏆 Play Pinehurst in 2026: Two Man Links & Father-Son Championship
November 8–11, 2026 — AmateurGolf.com proudly brings its renowned Two Man Links Championship to Pinehurst Resort for the first time ever. Compete with your favorite playing partner—father, son, friend, or fellow competitor—on a dream itinerary that includes rounds at Pinehurst No. 2, No. 4, and No. 10, plus a bonus loop on The Cradle.
- 🏨 3 nights at Pinehurst Resort Hotel
- ⛳ Tournament rounds on three championship courses
- 🎁 $8,000 in tee gifts and prizes
- 🎉 Separate Father & Son Championship divisions (Gross & Net)
- 🍳 Daily breakfast, welcome gifts, awards ceremony & more
Divisions: Open, Senior (50+), Father & Son
Format: Better-Ball (Four-Ball) | Handicap limits apply
🔗 Register or Learn More Stroke Play: The Pressure to Survive
The North & South format makes the opening 36 holes a mental test. The cut to 32 players for match play can fall between -2 and +2 depending on weather, setup, and field strength. Recent years:
- 2024: Cut at +1 — Medalist at -6 (Kelly Chinn)
- 2023: Cut at +2 — Medalist at -8 (Nick Dunlap)
- 2022: Cut at +3 — Medalist at -5
- 2021: Cut at E — Medalist at -4
- 2020: Cut at +2 — Medalist at -6
Stroke play is often where reputations are made or broken. With a tight leaderboard, one shot can be the difference between advancing or heading home.
Match Play Drama
Once in the match play bracket, the format levels the field. Over five rounds on No. 2, players face off one-on-one—bringing strategy, nerves, and short-game under the microscope.
In 2024, Davis Ovard, a 29-seed, stunned the field with four consecutive upsets—culminating in a 2&1 victory over hometown favorite Jackson Van Paris in the championship match.
Why This Championship Matters
More than just another amateur event, the North & South is a proving ground. It's one of seven prestigious tournaments in the Elite Amateur Golf Series, and a win here can boost WAGR rankings, PGA Tour U positioning, and invite doors to global championships.
The combination of historic venue, elite competition, and match play theatrics makes this one of the premier events on the amateur calendar.
Follow Along
AmateurGolf.com will provide round-by-round updates, insight into match play brackets, standout performances, and context that only years of coverage can bring.
Leaderboard
Live scoring will be embedded here as rounds begin.
View results for North & South Amateur
ABOUT THE
North & South Amateur
The North & South Amateur Championship is the
longest consecutively run amateur tournament in
the
United States. Its past winners list includes names
like
Walter
Travis, Francis Ouimet, Billy Joe Patton, Jack
Nicklaus
and Curtis Strange. The field is made up of invited
players as well as open applications. Two rounds of
stroke
play are followed by five rounds of match play
(32
qualifiers) to determine the Champion. All stroke
& match play rounds are contested on
Pinehurst No. 2.
View Complete Tournament Information