TEE TIMES
LIVE SCORING – Begins Tuesday
The playing of the 120th North & South Amateur begins Tuesday with the first of two stroke play rounds on Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4. From there, the field will be cut to 32 players for match play with the eventual champion determined on Saturday, July 4. All match play rounds, including the championship, will be played on famed No. 2.
The field is an elite one this year, less than 12 months since the crowning of Andy Ogletree as the 2019 U.S. Amateur Champion, and features many recognizable names not only to Pinehurst, but to the world of amateur golf.
The North & South Amateur is the longest consecutively running national amateur championship in the United States, and has been played every year since 1901. Its list of champions includes some of the greatest to ever play the game – Francis Ouimet, Harvie Ward, Jack Nicklaus, Curtis Strange, Davis Love II, Corey Pavin, Hal Sutton and many more.
As we do every year, we like to try to take a look at who some of the top contenders entering the championship are, with the firm knowledge, as well, that with a field this strong, there’s no real way to predict whom will be hoisting one of the most coveted prizes in amateur golf history – the Putter Boy trophy.
(Note: North & South tournament officials have protocols in place to help ensure the safety and well-being of players and tournament volunteers.)
So, with that, here’s an early look at some of the top names in the field:
Cooper Dossey – The 2019 North & South Champion returns to Pinehurst looking to become the first back-to-back champion since Paul Simson in 1995-96. (Among those who have done that – some guy named Curtis Strange won in 1975-76.) Dossey, though, has been to Pinehurst since that win – he made a spirited run the Round of 32 at the 2019 U.S. Amateur.
William Holcolmb V – All you need to know about William Holcolmb is right here. THE fan favorite of the 2019 U.S. Amateur is back at Pinehurst. We’ll see if caddie Keith Silva is back on his bag.
Jackson Van Paris – The youngest player to win a U.S. Amateur match since Bobby Jones – Van Paris did it at 14 at Pebble Beach in 2018 – Van Paris is local to Pinehurst and is one of the most well-known junior players in the world. His play here will be fun to watch.
Cole Hammer – One of the elite amateur players of the last few years, Hammer is back to Pinehurst after missing out on match play at the U.S. Amateur. Of course, he was back on No. 2 working out with the U.S. Walker Cup team when it practiced for a week at Pinehurst last summer.
Davis Thompson – Ranked 4th in the world, Davis recently won the prestigious 2020 Jones Cup. The accolades only start there for the First Team All-American.
William Nottingham – The 2017 North & South Amateur champ is back. And you can never count out experience on No. 2.
Cohen Trolio – The teenager stunned everyone with his run to the U.S. Amateur semifinals in 2019, where he nearly made the finals at 17 years old. He returns to Pinehurst with plenty of game and even more big stage experience.
The field is so strong this year. A few more to watch:
Maxwell Moldovan – 2019 Rolex Junior Player of the Year, 2019 US Am round of 32…
Peter Fountain – Coming in hot, starts at UNC this fall, 2nd place at N.C. Open and a recent win at The Carolina Amateur…
Luke Potter – No. 4 ranked Jr. golfer…
Ty Strafaci – Quarterfinalist in 2017 N&S, seeking to become the first Grandfather/Grandson set of North & South Champions – his grandfather Frank Strafaci won the 1938-39 North & Souths…
Spencer Ralston – World rank 23, 2019 US Am quarterfinalist…
Phillip Barbaree – 2019 US Am T2 medal play, made round of 64. World rank 61…
Noah Norton – 2019 North & South finalist (runner-up)…
A.J. Beechler – A star and state champion at nearby Pinecrest High School, Beechler fired a 66 on Saturday at Pinehurst No. 8 to qualify for the North & South.
David Perkin – World rank 50, 2020 Jones Cup runner-up…
Austin Hitt – 2019 US Am round of 64. World rank 49…