Perth, Australia is currently hosting more than 240 of the country’s top amateur golfers, as well as a selection of international contestants, in the much-anticipated men’s and women’s adidas Australian Amateur Championship. This notable event, listed on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, is being held across two of Perth’s top-rated golf courses: The Western Australian Golf Club and Wanneroo Golf Club.
From February 3 to 6, the participants will compete in 72 holes of stroke play to determine the champions of both the men’s and women’s categories. The initial two rounds are set to take place across the two venues, with a mid-way cut facilitating the final two rounds at The Western Australian Golf Club.
The championship, which saw its first game in 1894, has over the years, served as a launchpad for many professional golfing careers. It is a platform that showcases the game’s emerging talents, with an illustrious list of past champions including some of Australia’s most renowned golfers. Among the winners who have transitioned into world-class professionals are Cameron Smith, Jim Ferrier, Grace Kim, Minjee Lee, as well as New Zealand’s Michael Campbell and Lydia Ko.
In the 2025 edition held at Melbourne’s Commonwealth Golf Club, New South Wales’ Jye Halls and Rachel Lee emerged as victors. Halls clinched a striking seven-shot win in the men’s event, while Avondale Golf Club’s Lee won the women’s title by a three-shot margin. This year, while Halls won’t be defending his title, Lee is back on the course, aiming to secure back-to-back titles for the first time since Minjee Lee’s consecutive victories in 2013 and 2014.
The men’s championship is expected to witness stiff competition, with West Australian Ollie Marsh, a recent winner of both the South Australian Junior Amateur and Tasmanian Junior Amateur in 2026, touted as a strong contender. Marsh’s familiarity with Wanneroo, being his home club, could offer him a significant advantage. The promising Coby Carruthers, from Sydney’s Concord Golf Club, along with a seven-member Japanese contingent led by 16-year-old Taisei Nagasaki, are also expected to make their mark on the tournament.
The women’s tournament, on the other hand, is being viewed as a precursor to the upcoming Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP). Seven out of the nine players with the lowest handicaps hail from Japan, making the competition even more thrilling. These include golfers Yurina Hiroyoshi, Anna Iwanaga, and Ai Goto, who are expected to bring their A-game to the championship.
In conclusion, the adidas Australian Amateur Championship remains a prominent event on the amateur golfing calendar, offering participants the chance to showcase their talent on a prestigious platform, while providing spectators with high-quality golfing action. It is a celebration of the future of the sport, where today’s amateurs are transformed into tomorrow’s professionals.