What to Know
The 125th North & South Men’s Amateur Championship concluded June 28, 2025 at Pinehurst Resort, delivering one of its most dramatic finishes yet. After two rounds of stroke play on No. 2 and No. 7, 32 players entered the storied match play bracket on Pinehurst No. 2. After five rounds of head-to-head battles, it all came down to a single playoff hole to crown a champion.
🏆 Championship Final Recap
Carlos Astiazaran, the #31 seed, completed an incredible underdog run by defeating Tyler Watts in an 18-hole final that was tied through regulation. On the first playoff hole, Astiazaran buried a clutch birdie putt to win the match 1 up and secure his name on the famed Putter Boy trophy.
Watts, fresh off a dominant summer that included a Sunnehanna Amateur victory, led much of the final but couldn’t shake Astiazaran’s relentless consistency and scrambling. The match offered a perfect Pinehurst No. 2 test—demanding precision, patience, and a champion’s nerve on the final green.
Astiazaran's path included marathon wins (like a 21-hole quarterfinal), high-pressure semifinals, and finally outdueling one of amateur golf’s hottest players to cap an unforgettable championship week at Pinehurst.
Match Play Journey Highlights
The bracket delivered big drama all week. Astiazaran, the 31-seed, knocked off medalists and top seeds with gritty play and steely putting, while Watts steamrolled through the North bracket with a mix of power and touch. Their final was worthy of Pinehurst history, decided only by a single birdie on the first extra hole.
Other standouts included Kihei Akina, who upset medalist William Jennings to reach the semifinals, and Reed Lotter, who fought through three tight matches before falling to Astiazaran in the South final.
Pinehurst No. 2 once again proved why it’s one of the most respected amateur venues in the world—testing every facet of the game and delivering a champion who had to beat the very best to lift the trophy.
🧱 Compact Bracket Summary
North Bracket
- ✅ Champion Finalist: Tyler Watts
- Semifinal: def. Kihei Akina 4 & 3
- Quarterfinal: def. Akina 6 & 5
- Round of 16: def. Gutschewski 4 & 3
- Round of 32: def. Gamboa 7 & 6
South Bracket
- 🏆 Champion: Carlos Astiazaran
- Final: def. Watts (Playoff Birdie)
- Semifinal: def. Lotter 4 & 3
- Quarterfinal: def. Colton (21 Holes)
- Round of 16: def. Sides 4 & 2
- Round of 32: def. Huebner 2 & 1
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Stroke Play Recap
After 36 holes, a four-way tie at the top highlighted the leaderboard. William Jennings, Gabriel Palacios, Jessy Huebner, and Tyler Watts all posted 136 (-5), navigating the challenge of Pinehurst No. 2 with steady ball-striking and timely birdies. Watts opened with a fiery 66 and followed with a composed 70. Jennings, Palacios, and Huebner each delivered matching rounds of 69-67.
The cut line fell at +1, sending a strong group of 32 into match play. Notables included Eric Doyle (-4), Miles Russell (-4), and Jack Wieler (-3).
Final Stroke Play Leaderboard (Top 10)
| Pos | Player | To Par | R1 | R2 | Total |
|---|
| T1 | William Jennings | -5 | 69 | 67 | 136 |
| T1 | Gabriel Palacios | -5 | 69 | 67 | 136 |
| T1 | Jessy Huebner | -5 | 69 | 67 | 136 |
| T1 | Tyler Watts | -5 | 66 | 70 | 136 |
| T5 | William Walsh | -4 | 70 | 67 | 137 |
| T5 | Parker Sands | -4 | 69 | 68 | 137 |
| T5 | Eric Doyle | -4 | 66 | 71 | 137 |
| T5 | Miles Russell | -4 | 69 | 68 | 137 |
| T9 | Jack Wieler | -3 | 68 | 70 | 138 |
| T9 | Ike Joy | -3 | 68 | 70 | 138 |
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.
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