The 97th playing of the George A. Crump Memorial Tournament, better known as the Crump Cup, is set to tee off this Thursday at Pine Valley (N.J.) Golf Club, long recognized as the top course in the world.
Named for the hotelier and course architect most famous for building Pine Valley, the Crump Cup is arguably the pre-eminent invitational tournament for mid-amateur and senior golfers in the United States and the United Kingdom and some consider it to be the best experience in amateur golf.
Related: Is the Crump Cup the best tournament in amateur golf?
The field is made of USGA champions, former Walker Cup players and other accomplished amateurs from the United States and the UK. The format for the four days is two rounds of stroke play qualifying, followed by four rounds of match play. Players are flighted according to their qualifying position, and a separate Senior flight includes three of those flights.
There is no asking to get into the field and there are no applications or open qualifiers. Entry is by invitation only.
Unlike past tournaments prior to the pandemic, Pine Valley is no longer allowing spectators on the grounds for Sunday's championship matches.
AmateurGolf.com will have daily coverage of the 97th Crump Cup, beginning on Thursday.
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The Format
There will be 36 holes of stroke play qualifying to determine match play brackets of 16 for the mid-amateurs and eight for the seniors. Only those in the championship bracket are eligible for the overall title.
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The Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 22
Round 1 of stroke play qualifying
Friday, Sept. 23
Round 2 of stroke play qualifying
Field flighted according to 36-hole score, with the low 16 in the Championship Flight and low 8 in the Senior Championship
Playoff if necessary for the final spot(s) in the Championship bracket
Saturday, Sept. 24
Match Play Round of 16 (A.M.)
Match Play Quarterfinals (P.M.)
Sunday, Sept. 25
Match Play Semifinals (A.M.)
Match Play Final (P.M.)
**Pine Valley has discontinued the tradition of allowing spectators into the grounds for the Sunday final matches.
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Looking Back on Last Year
Michael Muehr, the No. 8 seed after shooting 6-over 150 for 36 holes in stroke-play qualifying, defeated Stewart Hagestad, 3 and 2 to win the
96th playing of the Crump Cup. It was the fourth Crump Cup title for Muehr following victories in 2008, '14 and '19. Muehr will not be back to defend his title this year as he turned professional and joined PGA Tour Champions. Mike McCoy defeated Matthew Sughrue, 2 and 1, to win the Senior Crump Cup, becoming the sixth player to win both the tournament’s Open and Senior divisions.
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History
Jay Sigel has won the most Crump Cup titles, winning nine times between 1975 and 1993. Longtime Pine Valley Golf Club President O. Gordon Brewer, Jr. won the tournament five times from 1973 to 1989. More recently, Mike McCoy won four times in a seven-year span from 2004 to 2010 and added a senior title last year.
Past champions include giants of the amateur game, going all the way back to Francis Ouimet and Chick Evans, who each won the event in its first five years of existence.
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About George A. Crump
Described by Tom Doak as “the least prolific and most accomplished golf architect of all time”, George A. Crump, architect of Pine Valley Golf Club, possesses an unmatched and unique legacy. To this day, Pine Valley – Crump’s only design – is perennially considered by many to be the No. 1 golf course in the world. Just over 100 years since it’s opening, Pine Valley remains a thriving tribute to Crump’s vision and steadfast commitment to build a premier golf course.
New Jersey State Golf Association
ABOUT THE Crump Cup
The George A. Crump Memorial Tournament --
named
for the
hotelier and course architect most famous for
building
Pine Valley -- is arguably the premier mid-
amateur
event in the United States. The invitational field
is
made of of top players from around the United
States
and the UK. The format for the four days is two
rounds
of stroke play qualifying, followed by four
rounds
of
match play. Players are flighted according to
their
qualifying position, and a separate Senior flight
includes three of those flights. Jay Sigel has won
the
event the most times, with nine victories
between
1975 and 1993.
Normally, the public is invited to attend the Sunday
final matches but that tradition has been suspended.
View Complete Tournament Information