R&A Senior Amateur Championship
Frilford Heath Golf Club • Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England
Jul 7–10, 2026
Format
stroke play
Overview
The R&A Senior Amateur Championship is the world’s premier international senior amateur title, staged annually at rotating links and heathland courses across Great Britain and Ireland. Players 55 and over compete in stroke play, and the champion is widely regarded as the top senior amateur in the world.
Format
stroke play
Defending champion
Bryan Hoops
2026
Past winners
Detailed scoring →| Year | Champion | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Bryan Hoops | Frilford Heath Golf Club |
| 2025 | John Kennedy | Walton Heath |
| 2024 | Todd White | Saunton |
| 2023 | Brent Paterson | Woodhall Spa |
| 2022 | Mike McCoy | Royal Dornoch |
| 2021 | Gene Elliot | Ganton |
| 2020 | No championship (COVID-19) | |
| 2019 | Craig Davis | North Berwick |
| 2018 | Trevor Foster | Royal Porthcawl |
| 2017 | Bryan Hughes | Sunningdale (Old Course) |
| 2016 | Chip Lutz | Formby |
| 2015 | Patrick Tallent | Royal County Down |
| 2014 | Brady Exber | Ganton |
| 2013 | George Zahringer | Royal Aberdeen |
| 2012 | Chip Lutz | Machynys Peninsula |
| 2011 | Chip Lutz | Royal Portrush |
| 2010 | Paul Simson | Walton Heath |
| 2009 | Robert Vallis | Prestwick |
| 2008 | Paul Simson | Royal Cinque Ports/Prince's |
| 2007 | Arthur Pierse | Nairn/Nairn Dunbar |
| 2006 | Paul Simson | Saunton (East & West) |
| 2005 | Alan Foster | Woburn (Duke's & Duchess) |
| 2004 | Kemp Richardson | The Berkshire (Red & Blue) |
| 2003 | Roy Smethurst | Blairgowrie (Rosemount & Landsdowne) |
| 2002 | John Baldwin | Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin & Bracken) |
| 2001 | Kemp Richardson | Royal Portrush (Dunluce & Valley) |
| 2000 | Joel Hirsch | Gullane (No.1 & No.2) |
| 1999 | William Shean Jr | Frilford Heath (Red & Blue) |
| 1998 | David Lane | Western Gailes/Glasgow Gailes |
| 1997 | Bud Bradley | Sherwood Forest/Coxmoor |
| 1996 | Joel Hirsch | Blairgowrie (Rosemount & Lansdowne) |
| 1995 | Graham Steel | Hankley Common/Farnham |
| 1994 | Charles W Green | Formby/Southport & Ainsdale |
| 1993 | Charles W Green | Royal Aberdeen/Murcar |
| 1992 | Clifford Hartland | Ipswich Purdis Heath/Woodbridge |
| 1991 | Charles W Green | Prestwick/Prestwick St Nicholas |
| 1990 | Charles W Green | The Berkshire |
| 1989 | Charles W Green | Moortown/Alwoodley |
| 1988 | Charles W Green | Royal Burgess/Bruntsfield |
| 1987 | Bill Soyars | Royal Cinque Ports/Prince's |
| 1986 | Noel Sturrock | Panmure/Carnoustie |
| 1985 | Dale Morey | Hesketh/Southport & Ainsdale |
| 1984 | John Owens | Western Gailes/Glasgow Gailes |
| 1983 | A J Swann | Walton Heath |
| 1982 | R L Glading | Blairgowrie |
| 1981 | T Branton | Royal Liverpool |
| 1980 | J M Cannon | Prestwick St Nicholas |
| 1979 | R J White | Royal St David's |
| 1978 | R J White | Formby |
| 1977 | Dr T E Donaldson | Panmure |
| 1976 | W M Crichton | Berkshire |
| 1975 | H J Roberts | Turnberry |
| 1974 | M A Ivor-Jones | Moortown |
| 1973 | J T Jones | Royal Liverpool |
| 1972 | T C Hartley | St Andrews |
| 1971 | G H Pickard | Royal Cinque Ports/Royal St George's |
| 1970 | K Bamber | Prestwick |
| 1969 | R Pattinson | Formby |
How to play
Open entry via randa.org
Age 55+, Handicap Index of 2.4 or better; exempt categories (past champions, Amateur/Mid-Am/Senior Open players, Walker Cup alumni, etc.) fill first, remaining spots by lowest handicap