Page 31 - Western Amateur 120th Championship Program 2022, Exmoor Country Club

The Western Amateur Returns to
Exmoor Country Club

The 2022 Western Amateur is bringing
a decorated field of the world’s best
amateur golfers to historic Exmoor
Country Club in Highland Park
this week.
First held in 1899, the Western
Amateur features one of the deepest
and strongest fields in amateur golf, as
well as the game’s most grueling format.
It is the world’s third oldest amateur
championship, behind only the British
Amateur (1885) and the U.S. Amateur
(1895), and attracts top-ranked players
from around the world. Past Western
Amateur champions include Jack View of the clubhouse from the18th hole
Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson,
Stranahan won the 1952 Western The Western Amateur’s combination of
Ben Crenshaw, Justin Leonard, Curtis
Amateur at Exmoor, and Chris Williams stroke play and match play competition
Strange and Chick Evans.
outlasted a field that included Abraham makes it one of the most demanding
With a history dating back to 1896, Ancer, Max Homa and Justin Thomas events in golf. The international field
Exmoor Country Club is one of the in 2012. of 156 players will compete in 72 holes of
most storied clubs in the greater stroke play over three days to determine
“Once again, Exmoor is prepared to put
Chicago area. It was one of 11 charter the “Sweet Sixteen” for match play.
the best amateur players in the world to
clubs that established the Western Golf
the test,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA That group represents the best players
Association in 1899. Since 1903, the club
senior vice president of tournaments. in amateur golf. The collective
has hosted 18 national championships.
“We’re honored to bring the Western accomplishments of the Western
That includes three Western Amateurs, Amateur back to a club that has been Amateur’s Sweet Sixteen include 14
starting with the 1904 championship the site of so many incredible moments PGA TOUR wins during the 2019–20
won by H. Chandler Egan. Frank in the history of this championship.” season, 27 major championships since
2000 and 18 PGA TOUR Player of the
Year Awards since 1990.
In addition to playing a role in the
founding of the WGA, Exmoor Country
Club has been a committed supporter
of the Evans Scholars Foundation.
Established in 1930 by Chick Evans
and the WGA, the Foundation has
awarded full tuition and housing
college scholarships to more than
12,000 caddies, including 1,070 students
who are currently in school.
Seventy-eight of those recipients
caddied at Exmoor Country Club,
including 14 Evans Scholars attending
leading universities nationwide
this year.
Overview of the 11th hole

2022 Western Amateur Championship Western Amateur Championship History 29