Melbourne, Australia: A field of 312 of the world’s best amateurs is set to contest the time-honoured adidas Australian Amateur in the Melbourne sandbelt this month.
The men’s field of 205 players includes newly-crowned Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) winner Jasper Stubbs, who heads overseas in 2024 to compete at two Majors – the Masters and the Open Championship – as a result of his win at Royal Melbourne in October.
At least two other Australians who competed strongly at AAC – Billy Dowling and Quinnton Croker – are also teeing it up from January 16-19 at Yarra Yarra and Keysborough.
So is Phoenix Campbell, the Yarra Yarra product who has already won a professional tournament – the Queensland PGA Championship – this season, but who has decided to keep his amateur status so he can travel overseas in 2024.
The top-ranked New Zealander Jayden Ford is in the men’s field in an international list that includes players from Japan, India, the Philippines, Korea, England, China, Chinese Taipei and France.
The 2023 British Boys’ Amateur champion, England’s Kris Kim, is another trying to win a first Australian Amateur.
The women’s field of 106 is full of the top Australians as well as some international players who will provide a significant challenge for the likes of dual national amateur runner-up Justice Bosio and South Australian Caitlin Peirce.
Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto, winner of the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific in 2021, will be back to defend her title and the Japanese team also includes World Amateur Golf Ranking number 41 Mamika Shinchi.
Filipina Rianne Mikhaela Milaxi, runner-up in last year’s US Junior, is another top-ranked player who will be one to watch in Melbourne.
Australia will have some of the best young players in the women’s field with 16-year-old Queenslander Sarah Hammett and Victoria’s Jazy Roberts showing outstanding form at the recent Sandbelt Invitational tournament.
The adidas Australian Amateur is 72 holes stroke play for men and women, with both Yarra Yarra and Keysborough hosting on the first two days before the cut is made and the players complete the final two rounds at Yarra Yarra.
The Australian Amateur Championship was first played in 1894.
