The Amateur

Sweden's Albert Hansson hopes for Amateur Championship success at Hillside

The R&A

18 Jun 23

3 mins

Leading golfers will take their place in a truly international line-up for The 128th Amateur Championship over the links of Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale next week, from 19-24 June.

At least 39 different countries will be represented in the 288-strong field for one of the sport’s biggest and most prestigious championships.

South Africa’s Christo Lamprecht, sixth on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), will be among the contenders to win the trophy lifted by his compatriot, Aldrich Potgieter, at Royal Lytham & St Annes 12 months ago.

And there will be plenty of competition, including from last year’s losing semi-finalists – John Gough, the Englishman who has risen to 12th in the world, and Irishman Alex Maguire who recently won the St Andrews Links Trophy. A number of other Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup contenders, for September’s match with the USA in St Andrews, will also hope to shine.

Impressive field

Albert Hansson, the highly-rated Swede, came second at the Links Trophy and is 33rd in the global rankings. While the 19-year-old hopes to mount a challenge of his own, he says Lamprecht, a student at Georgia Tech, will be hard to beat.

“I’m sure he will do well,” says Hansson. “He goes to the college I will be joining next year so I have been following him closely. He is a very solid player, with one of the highest rankings. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be him.”

First contested in 1885, The Amateur Championship is truly historic, with a list of illustrious former winners that includes Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal and Bobby Jones. “It will be a privilege to play in such a prestigious championship,” added Hansson. “And it would be pretty special to have your name on that trophy.”

Albert Hansson - Sweden

"I’ve played well every time I’ve played in a links tournament. You have to think about stuff that you might not think about on courses in the US or back home in Sweden. You can’t just aim for the flag and expect it to stick."

Major chance

But there is another incentive as players prepare to take on one of the amateur game’s most demanding challenges. At the end of a week in which stroke play qualifying is followed by match play, the winner will secure exemptions into The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool next month, the US Open, and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament.

Hansson, 19, is relishing the prospect, not least because he has adapted quickly to links golf. As well as his recent efforts in Scotland, he tied for 13th at the Lytham Trophy and won the R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship at Carnoustie last year.

“I guess it suits me,” he says. “I’ve played well every time I’ve played in a links tournament. It’s a different game really. You have to think about stuff that you might not think about on courses in the US or back home in Sweden. You can’t just aim for the flag and expect it to stick.

“It’s also about staying patient and believing that you’ve got what it takes, firstly to reach the match play stage and then to beat your opponent. In match play, anyone can beat anyone so you have to play every hole like it really matters and not give anything away. If you do, you will be in big trouble against these opponents.”

Pro influence

Hansson hails from Skafto, a small island off the west coast of Sweden. Despite having a population of only 1,400, it has a track record of producing golfers. When Hansson was growing up at his local club, he used to visit the range and watch Marcus Kinhult, who has since gone on to win on the DP World Tour.

Now friends, the two have practised together during the build-up to The Amateur Championship. Kinhult has useful experience of this week’s venue, having won the British Masters at Hillside in 2019. “I’ll maybe ask him for some tips,” said Hansson.

For the second year running, a pre-qualifying event was held for The Amateur Championship today. A total of 72 players competed over 18 holes of stroke play at Southport & Ainsdale to qualify for a minimum of 33 places into the Championship. For live scores please visit www.randa.org.

About the Championship

Hillside, in Southport, is well accustomed to hosting championships. One of many fine links courses on ‘England’s Golf Coast’, it frequently stages Final Qualifying for The Open. In 2022, it held the Cazoo Classic, a DP World Tour event. The last time it played host to The Amateur Championship was in 2011, when Australian Bryden Macpherson lifted the trophy after beating Scotland’s Michael Stewart.

Southport & Ainsdale also has a proud history, which includes being the venue for two Ryder Cups, in 1933 and 1937.

Spectators are welcome to attend The Amateur Championship with tickets available to purchase at www.randa.org. Adult tickets are available from £10, with a four-day ticket just £25.

To encourage children and young people to attend The Amateur Championship, The R&A will continue the successful ‘Kids go Free’ programme which provides children under-16-years-old free entry to the Championship when accompanied by a paying adult. Half-price youth tickets are also available for 16-24-year-olds.

The full field for The Amateur Championship can also be viewed at www.randa.org.

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