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see also: Porter Cup Invitational, Niagara Falls Country Club
Australia’s Blake Phillips surged with a final-round 65 to win the men’s Porter Cup, while Canada’s Nicole Gal went wire-to-wire.
The 2025 Porter Cup wrapped up in dramatic fashion at Niagara Falls Country Club, with Australia’s Blake Phillips and Canada’s Nicole Gal emerging as the men's and women's champions respectively. The historic A.W. Tillinghast layout once again proved a worthy test, and both winners showed poise and scoring firepower across four rounds.
Blake Phillips, a 21-year-old from Sydney, Australia, capped off a steady week with a final round 65 to win the men's title by five strokes. His impressive scoring line of 67-70-70-65 (272) separated him from a tightly packed leaderboard. Already a winner of the 2024 Victorian Amateur and a standout at multiple Aussie events, Phillips added his first U.S. title to an already accomplished amateur resume.
Phillips’ bogey-free back nine on Saturday sealed the deal, showing the same grit he displayed earlier this year when he took control of the Australian Men’s Amateur and helped lead Concord GC to a historic pennants win. With strong finishes this season across elite fields—from the Keperra Bowl to the Rice Planters—Phillips is one of the hottest international players in amateur golf.
Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ontario, delivered a wire-to-wire win in the women’s division with rounds of 66-71-67-70 (274). After opening with a statement 66, she never looked back, holding off Lucy Darr and Abbey Schutte with sharp ball-striking and timely birdies. It’s another feather in the cap for the Canadian standout, who continues to rise through the amateur ranks.
| Pos | Player | To Par | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blake Phillips (AUS) | -8 | 67 | 70 | 70 | 65 | 272 |
| T2 | Reed Greyersman (USA) | -3 | 71 | 72 | 72 | 62 | 277 |
| T2 | Garrett Rank (CAN) | -3 | 70 | 69 | 70 | 68 | 277 |
| 4 | Nikita Gubenko (USA) | -2 | 62 | 74 | 69 | 73 | 278 |
| 5 | Coby Carruthers (AUS) | -1 | 65 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 279 |
| Pos | Player | To Par | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicole Gal (CAN) | -6 | 66 | 71 | 67 | 70 | 274 |
| 2 | Lucy Darr (USA) | E | 71 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 280 |
| 3 | Abbey Schutte (USA) | +2 | 68 | 74 | 66 | 74 | 282 |
| 4 | Kendall Todd (USA) | +4 | 71 | 72 | 72 | 69 | 284 |
| 5 | Bella Dowhey (USA) | +5 | 68 | 74 | 72 | 71 | 285 |
Stay tuned to AmateurGolf.com for player reactions, scoring updates, and final-round insight as both divisions come down to the wire at one of amateur golf’s most cherished venues.
The 66th Porter Cup returns to Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, NY, with the Men’s and Women’s Championships scheduled for July 16–19, 2025, and the Senior Porter Cup set for September 3–5, 2025. For the third consecutive year, both divisions will feature approximately 54 players with alternating tee times, showcasing the world’s best amateur talent in an inclusive and competitive format.
“This really is a gem in a community starved for golf,” says AmateurGolf.com founder Pete Wlodkowski. “It’s one of the most amazingly supported amateur events anywhere, with locals turning out in huge numbers and welcoming players like family.”
One of the premier amateur events in the nation, the Porter Cup is a 72-hole stroke-play invitational that combines elite competition with special traditions. Winners receive the coveted green blazer and an invitation to the Master of the Amateurs tournament in Melbourne, Australia.
The event includes approximately five qualifying spots available through an 18-hole stroke-play qualifier.
Since 2023, the men’s and women’s Porter Cup championships have been run concurrently, creating an electric scene on the par-3 18th hole at Niagara Falls Country Club. “There’s nothing like that scene on 18—players get goosebumps hearing the cheers echo up the slope,” says Pete.
Participants also enjoy local traditions like a ride on the Maid of the Mist boat at Niagara Falls, making the week unforgettable for players and fans alike. “It's those little touches—like the green blazer ceremony and the whole field getting to know Niagara Falls—that make the Porter Cup truly special,” Pete adds.
The 2024 Porter Cup delivered thrilling finishes in both divisions. Chase Nevins captured the Men’s title with a clutch 8-iron to 18 feet on the amphitheater-style par-3 18th, holding off Ryan Edholm in a dramatic final-hole showdown. “Being under the gun for that long, being how tight it was for such a while, I just feel a lot more calm now,” Nevins said after sealing his 269 total with rounds of 62-70-69-68.
In the Women’s Division, Kendall Todd delivered a composed, steady performance to become the 2024 champion, showcasing the depth of the concurrent field format that now defines the modern Porter Cup.
The 2024 Porter Cup Men's Division showcased some of the lowest scoring seen at Niagara Falls Country Club in recent years, led by Chase Nevins' wire-to-wire victory at 269 (-11). Nevins set the tone early with a stunning opening 62—highlighted by clean ball-striking and a bogey-free front nine of 28. That round immediately forced the field into chase mode and proved pivotal in a week where consistency was key.
After his red-hot start, Nevins followed with rounds of 70, 69, and a final 68 to hold off a trio of players who finished just one shot back at 270 (-10): Garrett Engle, Ryan Edholm, and Noah Kent. Engle, in particular, showed remarkable consistency with rounds of 65-69-69-67, demonstrating his ability to attack when opportunities arose but also grind out pars on tough holes like the uphill par-4 13th and the famous par-3 18th.
The final leaderboard told a story of depth in the field. Four players finished at -10, with five more under par between -8 and -4. Even mid-pack finishers managed rounds in the mid-60s, underscoring just how gettable—but also demanding—the course can be when greens are firm and pins are tucked.
Notably, the 18th hole once again played a critical role, with its amphitheater setting drawing large galleries who watched decisive birdies and pressure bogeys. This dynamic finish remains one of the defining elements of the Porter Cup, testing both nerves and shot-making at the moment it matters most.
The 2024 Porter Cup Women's Division delivered a showcase of steady, disciplined play at Niagara Falls Country Club. Kendall Todd claimed the title at 275 (-5), building momentum each day with rounds of 71-68-69-67. Her final-round 67 was a model of controlled aggression, featuring precision approaches that navigated the course’s famous sloped greens and treacherous sand traps.
Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ontario, finished just two shots back at 277 (-3), highlighted by a sparkling second-round 65—the lowest women’s round of the week. Gal's surge tightened the leaderboard heading into the weekend, pushing Todd to maintain focus and execution in the closing rounds.
The leaderboard revealed both low-scoring potential and classic Porter Cup resistance. Beyond the top two, scores quickly spread into the +1 to +6 range among the chasers, with players needing consistent ball-striking and deft short-game touch to stay in red numbers.
Once again, the par-3 18th provided drama and a fitting stage for a champion’s poise, with Todd’s final-day control on the closing stretch sealing her first Porter Cup crown in style.
First played in 1959 as the International Invitational, the Porter Cup began with local businessmen and college players from Western New York and Southern Ontario. The inaugural champion, Purdue senior John Konsek, overcame a three-shot deficit on the back nine to edge Ward Wettlaufer of Buffalo by a single shot.
In 1960, the event expanded to 72 holes and adopted the Porter Cup name in honor of local businessman Alex Porter. Over the decades, the tournament grew under the leadership of Dick Harvey, Dr. William McMahon, and Dr. Edward Rozek, cementing its reputation as one of the premier events in amateur golf.
The par-3 18th hole has become an iconic finishing stage, consistently drawing some of the largest galleries in amateur golf. The amphitheater setting rewards precision and nerve, adding to the drama of every final round.
Today, the Porter Cup proudly counts over 68 Major Championships won by its alumni, with 93 PGA and LIV Tour members and 11 LPGA or Epson Tour players among those who have teed it up at Niagara Falls Country Club.
| Year | Champion | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Chase Nevins | 269 |
| 2023 | Juan Martin Loureiro | 269 |
| 2022 | Carson Bacha | 274 |
| 2021 | Ben Reichert | 269 |
| 2019 | Aiden Didone | 270 |
| 2018 | Thomas Walsh | 269 |
| 2017 | Brandon Wu | 269 |
Other notable champions include Phil Mickelson (1990), David Duval (1992), Scott Verplank (1983, 1985), Jay Sigel (multiple wins), Nathaniel Crosby (1982), and Brian Harman (2007). This rich roll of honor underscores the Porter Cup's status as a launchpad for golf’s greats.
The Porter Cup has long been a proving ground for future stars. Participants include:
Tournament Records:
Brian Harman (2007) – 22-under par
Brooke Henderson (2014) – 8-under par
Bill Haas (2003) – single-round 60
Bookmark this page for continuous updates, interviews, and analysis as the 2025 Porter Cup crowns its next champion.
One of the premier amateur events in the nation, this 72-hole stroke play invitational has lots of extra activities that give this event a special flavor. The winning player receives a green blazer, as well as an invitation to the Master of the Amate...
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