In 1860 Prestwick Golf Club staged an event for leading professionals. Eight players turned up and completed three rounds of the 12-hole course. The following year, in an effort to increase the entry, the event was thrown open to all the world, professionals and amateurs alike. The original winner’s trophy was a wide red leather belt heavily decorated with silver. Under the first rules of the competition it became the property of Young Tom Morris when he won the title three times in a row. No championship was held in 1871, but resumed the following year when Prestwick, the Royal and Ancient and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers combined to provide the claret jug trophy that is still awarded to the champion golfer each year.

Since 1949, the Silver Medal is awarded to the leading amateur, provided that the player completes all 72 holes.

Low Amateur

2025 - None
2024 - Calum Scott
2023 - Christo Lamprecht
2022 – Filippo Celli
2021 – Matthias Schmid
2020 – (tournament cancelled)
2019 – none
2018 – Sam Locke
2017 – Alfie Plant
2016 – none
2015 – Jordan Niebrugge
2014 – none
2013 – Matthew Fitzpatrick
2012 – none
2011 – Tom Lewis
2010 – Jin Jeong
2009 – Matteo Manassero
2008 – Chris Wood
2007 – Rory McIlroy
2006 – Marius Thorp
2005 – Lloyd Saltman
2004 – Stuart Wilson
2003 – none
2002 – none
2001 – David Dixon
2000 – none
1999 – none
1998 – Justin Rose
1997 – Barclay Howard
1996 – Tiger Woods
1995 – Steve Webster
1994 – Warren Bennett
1993 – Iain Pyman
1992 – Daren Lee
1991 – Jim Payne
1990 – none
1989 – Russell Claydon
1988 – Paul Broadhurst
1987 – Paul Mayo
1986 – none
1985 – José María Olazábal
1984 – none
1983 – none
1982 – Malcolm Lewis
1981 – Hal Sutton
1980 – Jay Sigel
1979 – Peter McEvoy
1978 – Peter McEvoy
1977 – none
1976 – none
1975 – none
1974 – none
1973 – Danny Edwards
1972 – none
1971 – Michael Bonallack
1970 – Steve Melnyk
1969 – Peter Tupling
1968 – Michael Bonallack
1967 – none
1966 – Ronnie Shade
1965 – Michael Burgess
1964 – none
1963 – none
1962 – Charlie Green
1961 – Ronnie White
1960 – Guy Wolstenholme
1959 – Reid Jack
1958 – Joe Carr
1957 – Dickson Smith
1956 – Joe Carr
1955 – Joe Conrad
1954 – Peter Toogood
1953 – Frank Stranahan
1952 – Jackie Jones
1951 – Frank Stranahan
1950 – Frank Stranahan
1949 – Frank Stranahan