Another one bites the dust.
In a world of booming rounds and rising dues and initiation fees at private golf clubs in the United States and internationally, it should come as no surprise that those same clubs are seeing pushback from members about giving up their clubs for a full week. No matter how much history there is -- and in this case, it would have been the 68th playing -- tournaments like the Eastern Amateur are always at risk of cancellation.
Jake Albert won the final playing of the tournament, after setting the course record at Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club in the first round with a 60. It may last for a while, with the best collegiate players in the region no longer returning to play there each year.
That cancellation was announced in February in the press release taken from the Eastern Amateur website:
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Portsmouth, VA — The Eastern Amateur Championship announced today that the 2026 edition of the tournament will not be played. There are no current plans in place for the tournament to return in future years.
After careful evaluation, Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club, host of the Eastern Amateur since 1957, has determined that continuing the event no longer aligns with the club’s long-term objectives. The tournament’s founder, George Skinner, envisioned establishing a premier national amateur event and that dream was realized for many decades. While the championship has a proud tradition, the club has concluded that the tournament no longer serves its original purpose as a member and promotional event for Elizabeth Manor.
In addition, hosting the Eastern Amateur requires the golf course to be closed to members for a full week during the prime summer season and places significant demands on the club’s staff. As the scope and complexity of the event have grown, so too have the operational challenges associated with staging the championship.
Recent changes within elite amateur golf have also impacted the event. The formation of an Elite Amateur Series has significantly affected the availability of many of the nation’s top-ranked amateurs, altering the composition and depth of the Eastern Amateur field.
Finally, the championship has long relied on a dedicated group of volunteers whose commitment has been instrumental to its success. However, as this group continues to age, it has become increasingly difficult to recruit and sustain the level of volunteer support required to operate the event at the standard it deserves. Dave Whitener, who passed away after the 2025 Eastern Amateur, announced his retirement from volunteering in 2025 after serving as a tournament director and committee member for all 68 tournaments.
“We are incredibly proud of the Eastern Amateur’s history and grateful to the players, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who have contributed to its success over the years,” said Jack Stone, General Manager. “This decision was not made lightly, but it reflects the current realities facing the championship and our host club.”
The tournament boasts an impressive list of winners and participants over the years that include Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange, Lanny Wadkins, Deane Beman, Tom Kite, Matt Kuchar and many others. The last 3 winners were all high school graduates heading to play at some of the top college programs in the country. They were the youngest in the event’s history, reflecting the strength today in junior and college golf.
The Eastern Amateur Championship and Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club extend their sincere appreciation to everyone who has been part of the event’s legacy and wish continued success to amateur golf competitions nationwide.