October 29 – November 2, 2025 · Invercargill Golf Club (New Zealand) · Organized by Golf New Zealand
The New Zealand Amateur Championship returns as the nation’s premier test of elite amateur golf, bringing together the country’s best men’s and women’s players for five days of stroke-play precision and match-play drama. Since 1893, the championship has crowned New Zealand’s top amateur and remains one of the oldest continuously contested national amateur titles in the world.
The 2025 edition features 36 holes of stroke play over the first two days, followed by three days of match-play elimination rounds to determine the national champions on Sunday, November 2.
🏌️♂️ Men’s Championship Format
🔴 Men’s Live Scores
Stroke Play: Wednesday & Thursday (October 29 – 30) — 36 holes of qualifying.Match Play Field: Top 32 players advance based on aggregate stroke-play scores.Round of 32 & Round of 16: Friday (October 31).Quarterfinals & Semifinals: Saturday (November 1).Final: Sunday (November 2) — 36-hole championship match.🏌️♀️ Women’s Championship Format
🔴 Women’s Live Scores
Stroke Play: Wednesday & Thursday (October 29 – 30) — 36 holes of qualifying.Match Play Field: Top 16 players advance based on aggregate stroke-play scores.Round of 16: Friday (October 31).Quarterfinals & Semifinals: Saturday (November 1).Final: Sunday (November 2) — 36-hole championship match.
Both divisions will follow the same week-long rhythm: two days of qualifying precision followed by head-to-head match play, culminating in a Sunday final to determine the 2025 New Zealand Amateur champions.
🏛️ Origins of the New Zealand Amateur (Est. 1893)
The New Zealand Amateur Championship dates back to 1893, making it one of the world’s oldest national amateur golf tournaments. The inaugural event was held at Otago Golf Club in Dunedin, with just 16 entrants. James Somerville defeated Henry Rose in the final — setting the stage for a tournament that would help shape golf in the Southern Hemisphere.
By 1894, the championship had already expanded north to Hutt Golf Club near Wellington, and over the following decades, it rotated between the country’s finest links and parkland courses, alternating between North and South Islands.
🕰️ Evolution of Format and Prestige
The championship began as a pure match-play event, with 36-hole finals introduced as early as 1901. In 1908, the final two rounds of the New Zealand Open even doubled as qualifying rounds for the Amateur, before both tournaments eventually separated in 1964.
Today’s modern format — 36 holes of stroke play followed by match play knockouts — has become a signature of elite amateur competition, testing both consistency and clutch performance across a full week of championship golf.
🏆 Legendary Champions & Record BreakersArthur Duncan — Eight-time champion between 1899–1914, never lost a final; his 11&10 victory in 1909 remains one of the most lopsided in history.Louis Dobbelaar (Australia) — Became the youngest winner in history at age 15 in 2016.Cooper Moore & Eunseo Choi — Captured the 2024 titles at Titirangi Golf Club, adding to a century-long honor roll that includes the nation’s top amateur and international players.
From future touring pros to lifelong amateurs, the NZ Amateur’s roll of champions reads like a timeline of New Zealand golf itself — each era producing its own stars, rivalries, and unforgettable finals.
🌏 The Modern Era & Global Recognition
Now governed by Golf New Zealand, the championship has evolved into a world-ranked amateur event that attracts international entrants and rising Kiwi talent alike. The event continues to rotate among the country’s premier venues — from Titirangi to Royal Wellington — spotlighting the diversity and beauty of New Zealand golf architecture.
Each year’s finalists earn valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points and national recognition, often paving the way to international team selection or professional opportunities.
💡 Quick Facts & TriviaThe NZ Amateur is one of the oldest national amateur championships outside the UK.The event was canceled only during World Wars and the COVID-19 pandemic — a record of remarkable continuity since 1893.Titirangi Golf Club, a classic Alister MacKenzie design, remains one of the most frequent and celebrated host venues.The women’s division mirrors the men’s in format but advances the top 16 from stroke play to match play — creating one of the most competitive amateur brackets in Oceania.Early champions were often members of Scottish-founded clubs, linking the event directly to golf’s ancestral roots.
With over 130 years of history, the New Zealand Amateur is both a national institution and a proving ground for the next generation — where golf’s past and future meet on the same fairways.
