Championship Preview · Elite Amateur Golf Series
What to Know
The North & South Amateur, founded in 1901, has been contested at Pinehurst Resort since its inception, making it among the most tradition-rich events on the amateur calendar. The women's championship followed in 1903 and stands as one of the oldest and most prestigious events in women's amateur golf. Both 2026 championships run June 30 – July 4 at Pinehurst, North Carolina, and both crown their winners on the famed Pinehurst No. 2 — though the men's and women's formats differ in the details.
At a Glance
Dates: June 30 – July 4, 2026
Venue: Pinehurst No. 2 (Donald Ross, 1907)
Men's format: 36 holes stroke play → 32-player bracket → five match play rounds
Women's format: Stroke play → 16-player bracket → four match play rounds
Series: Both are Elite Amateur Golf Series events
Defending champions: Carlos Astiazaran (men) · Mackenzie Lee (women)
The Men's Championship
Format & Defending Champion
The men's field plays two rounds of stroke play to set the bracket, after which 32 qualifiers advance to five rounds of match play, every match contested on Pinehurst No. 2. Carlos Astiazaran arrives as the man to chase. In 2025, the No. 31 seed authored one of the championship's great underdog runs, surviving a 21-hole quarterfinal and a string of high-pressure matches before defeating Tyler Watts in an 18-hole final that was level through regulation. Astiazaran buried a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to take the match 1 up and his name onto the Putter Boy.
Men's Stroke Play: The Pressure to Survive
The opening 36 holes are as much a mental test as a physical one. Only 32 players advance, and the cut line typically settles between -2 and +2 depending on weather, course setup, and field strength. A look at recent years shows how thin the margin can be:
| Year | Cut Line | Medalist |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +1 | Kelly Chinn (-6) |
| 2023 | +2 | Nick Dunlap (-8) |
| 2022 | +3 | -5 |
| 2021 | E | -4 |
| 2020 | +2 | -6 |
Men's Match Play Drama
Once the bracket forms, the format levels the field. Over five rounds on No. 2, players meet one-on-one and seedings stop mattering. The recent past proves it: in 2025 the No. 31 seed went all the way, and in 2024 Davis Ovard, a No. 29 seed, ran off four consecutive upsets before a 2&1 win over hometown favorite Jackson Van Paris in the final. On greens this severe, a single putt can swing a match — and a week.
Men's Legacy
The winner's list reads like a tour of the game's history: Jack Nicklaus (1959), Francis Ouimet (1920), Curtis Strange (1975, 1976), Corey Pavin (1981), and Davis Love III (1984), among many others. Love has called it the crowning achievement of his amateur career — "my U.S. Amateur," in his words. A win here can solidify WAGR standing, strengthen PGA Tour U positioning, and open doors to global championships.
The Women's Championship
Format & Defending Champion
The women's championship splits its stroke play across Pinehurst No. 2 and the bold, Gil Hanse–redesigned No. 4, then sends 16 players into four knockout rounds of match play on No. 2. Mackenzie Lee enters as the reigning champion. In 2025, the No. 19 seed survived two early 20-hole marathons before a clinical 2&1 win over Jazy Roberts in the final, closing it out on the 17th green to claim the 123rd title and the Putter Boy trophy.
Women's Stroke Play: Survive and Advance
The pressure is even sharper on the women's side, where only 16 players earn the right to compete in match play. Two rounds on No. 2 and No. 4 determine whether a week continues, and the cut line has historically hovered between +2 and +3. Recent years:
| Year | Cut Line | Medalist |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +3 | Macy Pate (-6) |
| 2023 | +3 | Ashley Menne (-5) |
| 2022 | +2 | Hannah Levi (-7) |
| 2021 | +2 | Abbey Daniel (-3) |
| 2020 | +2 | Heck & Shepherd (-5) |
Women's Match Play Brilliance
Match play at Pinehurst rewards players who can execute under pressure. In 2024, Catie Craig, the No. 3 seed, stormed through the bracket and capped a dominant week with a 4&3 victory over top-seeded Macy Pate in the final — winning her first four holes and never looking back. A student of golf course architecture, Craig credited her understanding of Ross's subtle slopes for helping her manage No. 2.
Women's Legacy
First played in 1903, the women's championship has crowned legends including Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs, Carol Semple Thompson, Danielle Kang, Yani Tseng, and Gabriela Ruffels. The pipeline to the professional ranks is striking: nine of the last twelve champions have gone on to draw paychecks on the LPGA Tour. With WAGR points, major invites, and a spot on a century-old trophy at stake, the equation is near perfect — win the North & South, then chase success at the highest level.
The Common Ground: Pinehurst No. 2
Designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1907, Pinehurst No. 2 ranks among the most respected championship venues in the world. Its crowned greens, sandy waste areas, and strategic demands punish imprecise approach play and reward short-game creativity above raw power. The course has hosted three U.S. Opens and is slated to welcome both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open in 2029. For both fields, it is a complete examination — players will leave knowing they had to hit every shot.
Why It Matters
For everyone assembling at Pinehurst, the appeal is the one Richard Tufts described generations ago — an annual gathering of those who love the game, on hallowed ground. Add elite competition, match play theatrics, and a venue that demands every facet of the game, and the North & South remains one of the premier weeks on the amateur schedule. AmateurGolf.com will provide round-by-round updates, bracket coverage, and the context only years of following these championships can bring.
North & South Men's & Women's Amateur Championships · June 30 – July 4, 2026 · Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst, NC