Championship Links: Starting Times (Round 1) | Scoring & Results | Championship Website | Southern Amateur Spectator Guide | Club Website | Photo Gallery
This year marks the 120th playing of the Southern Amateur Championship and the second time that the Atlanta Athletic Club has hosted the Southern Amateur Championship.
The Southern Amateur Championship was first played in 1902 at Nashville Golf & Country Club in Nashville, Tenn. A.F. Schwartz of New Orleans, La. defeated Percy Whitling 4 and 2 to win the inaugural event. The Championship was not played in 1918 due to World War I and 1942-1945 due to World War II. The format was changed from match play to stroke play in 1964. John Daly II of Dardanelle, AR won the title in 2025 at Blessings Golf Club in Johnson, AR with a score of 278 (-10).
90 of the top 300 amateurs in the world are set to compete in this year’s Southern Amateur Championship. The field includes fourth ranked Ethan Fang and sixth ranked William Jennings. 2025 Southern Junior Champion Bailey Sutter of Cullman, AL will also tee it up this week. Receiving 1104 entries in 2026, ranging from past champions to first-time players, the field is set for the best amateurs to compete on the Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Andrew Green designed course that was recently redesigned by noted architect Tripp Davis.
2026 also marks the fifth year of the Elite Amateur Golf Series. Designed to challenge “the best of the best” in amateur golf, the Elite Amateur Golf Series (EAGS) aligns the top amateur championship in a collective competition, the Elite Amateur Cup. In addition to the Southern Amateur, the Elite Amateur Golf Series hosts the Sunnehanna Amateur, Northeast Amateur, North & South Amateur, Trans-Mississippi Amateur, Pacific Coast Amateur and Western Amateur. For more information about the Elite Amateur Golf Series, visit the EAGS website.
Exemptions
Players extended a Bobby Jones Invitation by the SGA Amateur Competition Committee are exempt from sectional qualifying.
Eligibility
Entries are open to any male golfer who has a current Handicap Index® not exceeding 3.4 under the World Handicap System as of the close of entries.
Championship Format
- 72 holes of stroke play. The field will be cut to the low 50 players and ties after 36 holes.
- The lowest score for 72 holes will be the Champion.
- In the event of a tie for the Championship, a “sudden-death” hole-by-hole play-off will be held immediately following play. The play-off holes and their order of play will be determined by the Rules Committee.
- Initial groupings will be for the first two rounds; the field will be cut and grouped by score after the second round for the third round; grouped by score after third round for the fourth round.
Championship Facts
Yardage: 7487 yards (Par 35-35–70)
Course/Slope Rating: 77.3/152
Championship Schedule (all times in E.S.T.)
Monday, July 13
9:00 a.m. (Shotgun): On-Site Qualifier.
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Practice facilities open
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Player Registration in Clubhouse
Tuesday, July 14
7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.: Practice Facilities open.
7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Player Registration in Clubhouse
8:00 a.m. - 3:31 p.m.: Practice Round tee times available.
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Hosted Player Lunch.
Wednesday, July 15
6:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.: Hosted Player Breakfast.
6:45 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.: Practice Facilities open.
Round 1: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. off #1 & #10 tees. 18 holes of Stroke Play.
11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Hosted Player Lunch.
Thursday, July 16
6:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.: Hosted Player Breakfast.
6:45 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.: Practice Facilities open.
Round 2: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. off #1 & #10 tees. 18 holes of Stroke Play.
11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Hosted Player Lunch.
Field cut to low 50 scores and ties after 36 holes.
Friday, July 17
6:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.: Hosted Player Breakfast.
6:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. : Practice Facilities open.
Round 3: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. off #1tee. 18 holes of Stroke Play.
11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Hosted Player Lunch.
Field re-grouped according to score.
Saturday, July 18
6:00 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.: Hosted Player Breakfast.
6:00 a.m.: Practice Facilities open.
Round 4: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. off #1tee. 18 holes of Stroke Play
11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Hosted Player Lunch.
Awards ceremony immediately following play at clubhouse (weather permitting).
Exemptions & Rankings Earned
- Champion earns an exemption into the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA from August 10-16, 2026.
- Champion receives a five-year exemption in the Southern Amateur Championship (2027-2031).
- Champion will have his name engraved on the George W. Adair Trophy, which is housed in the Atlanta Athletic Club clubhouse, receives a silver medal and the Calamity Jane Putter.
For more information about the Southern Amateur Championship, visit the Southern Golf Association website.
About the Southern Golf Association (SGA)
The Southern Golf Association, founded in 1902, is one of the oldest golf organizations and serves member clubs over a 15-state area. Recognized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Regional Golf Associations as one of the leaders in the promotion of Amateur Golf, SGA championships are selected for inclusion as criteria for selecting players for USGA and State team competitions. Through the years, SGA Champions have been chosen to represent various state golf associations in selected team competitions, including the Walker Cup and World Amateur. The SGA is host to the Southern Junior Championship as well as the Southern Amateur Championship each year.
For more information about the Southern Golf Association, visit www.southerngolf.org
Media Contact:
Alison Williams
Manager of Media, Marketing & Communications
Southern Golf Association
205-979-1234
/blog/atlanta-athletic-club-to-host-the-120th-southern-amateur-championship
