St Andrews, Scotland – June 8, 2025

The 2025 St Andrews Links Trophy delivered a fitting finish to one of amateur golf’s crown jewels, as Cameron Adam of Royal Burgess captured the title in dramatic fashion. Tied with John Doyle of Fota Island at 17-under-par through 72 holes, Adam emerged victorious in a playoff, claiming one of the most prestigious amateur honors in the game.

According to The Scotsman, Adam birdied the final hole in regulation to force a playoff, then sealed victory with a par on the first extra hole—becoming the first Scottish winner of the event since Grant Forrest in 2014. The left-hander from Pattiesmuir also claimed the Ian Forbes Memorial Cup for the best 36-hole aggregate across the first two rounds.

“It feels awesome,” Adam told The Scotsman. “It was a long day starting with the lead, and I knew I had to birdie the last. Thankfully I did. In the playoff I was still in the zone and quietly confident.”

A Storied Championship

Since its founding in 1989, the St Andrews Links Trophy has attracted many of the world’s finest amateurs—players like Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, and Lee Westwood are all past competitors. Held annually in early June, the event’s timing just after the U.S. college season helps ensure a deep and competitive international field.

This year’s edition featured 144 players from 30 countries competing over the Jubilee and Old Courses. Following two rounds, the top 53 advanced to the final 36-hole Sunday test on the Old Course—one of golf’s most storied and demanding links.

How It Unfolded

Adam opened the tournament with a 68 on the Jubilee and followed it with an electric 64 on the Old Course. Despite a third-round 71, he closed with a composed 68. Doyle’s closing 65—tied for the low round of the day—earned him a share of the lead at 271 (-17).

Mark Stockdale (-14) finished solo third, while Harley Smith and Niall Shiels Donegan rounded out the top five at 276 (-12). Donegan birdied the final hole to cap an eye-catching performance for the California-based Scot.

Final Leaderboard (Top 10)

The Course and Conditions

The Old Course played to 7,171 yards with a par of 72. According to tournament stats, the stroke average was 73.15. The par-5 5th played easiest at 2.95 average, while the 11th (525 yards) played the toughest at 4.47. Only 19 eagles were recorded across all rounds, with birdies most common on holes 3, 5, and 12.

Legacy and Outlook

Adam’s win adds his name to a prestigious list of past champions and significantly boosts his WAGR profile heading into summer. With the Open Amateur Series continuing, his strong showing here puts him in prime position for a possible exemption into the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Check back with AmateurGolf.com for full playoff details, photo galleries, and interviews from St Andrews.