[PHOTO: Gary Lisbon]
Commonwealth Golf Club gets a chance to show off its much-trumpeted restoration, Cranbourne Golf Club goes on display in its final year of operation at the current site, and the best amateurs in Australia and from across the world have congregated as the adidas Australian Amateur begins today.
The total 312-player field for the separate men’s and women’s championships begins at 7:30am today, alternating on the two courses for the first two days before returning to the magnificent Commonwealth layout for the final two rounds.
The Australian Amateur Championship dates to 1894, making it one of the oldest championships in the world as well as being among the most prestigious. The winners receive a start in the next edition of the ISPS Handa Australian Open to go with the honour of victory.
In beautiful sunshine yesterday, Commonwealth came up a treat. Cranbourne, which hosts today and Wednesday, is closing later this year as part of its merger with Huntingdale Golf Club, so it is one last chance to shine.
Commonwealth has undergone a huge transformation under the guidance of Renaissance Golf, with the restoration completed last year and open to members and having earned huge plaudits already.
Yarra Yarra’s Amelia Harris, the 16-year-old Melburnian hopes to go one better than the runner-up finish she achieved in 2024. Another Yarra member, Jazy Roberts, will be among the women’s favourites along with the likes of Raegan Denton (SA), South Korea’s Hyojin Yang who won the Master of the Amateurs title and New South Wales stars Annika Rathbone, Michelle Bang and Ella Scaysbrook. Queensland left-hander Shyla Singh, the reigning Australian Junior champion, also could be prominent in the women’s draw.
Harris did not even bother hiding from the fact that last year is somewhat on her mind. She led by six shots going into the final day at Yarra in 2024 only to be overtaken by Japan’s Mamika Shinchi.
“It would mean a lot to me because I was second last year,” Harris said. “I do still think about it but in a positive way. It taught me a lot. I use it to put myself in those situations because I will do that again.
“Obviously the way it ended was a bit stinging, but I came away thinking there wasn’t much I could do about it.”
Queensland has a strong representation in the men’s championship with Kai Komulainen, Harry Takis and Billy Dowling among the favourites.
Internationals expected to perform well include England’s Harry Crockett and Daniel Hayes along with Scotland’s Dominic McGlinchey.
Komulainen, who is on a scholarship at the University of Tennessee, liked what he saw at Commonwealth on Monday; last time he was there eight months ago, the restoration was not quite complete.
Hailing from Emerald Lakes Golf Club on the Gold Coast, the conditions are vastly different, but agreeable to him all the same. “It’s completely different to what I’m used to playing,” said Komulainen. “Coming from Queensland, I really like the Sandbelt. The conditioning is really good and I enjoy that. They are championship venues and they are way different.”
THE ADIDAS AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR 2025
CHAMPIONS IN 2024: Quinnton Croker (Qld), Mamika Shimchi (Japan)
THE FORMAT:
Four rounds of stroke for each championship, with the players alternating on the two courses on days one and two. First tee times are 7:30am today.
THE COURSES:
Rounds one and two are spread across both Commonwealth and Cranbourne, with the final two rounds to be played only at Commonwealth.
Commonwealth recently opened its restoration by Renaissance Golf, which has won widespread acclaim. The players will certainly appreciate the Pure Distinction greens, and the general excellence of a traditional Melbourne Sandbelt course.
Cranbourne has been an understated star of the scene for many years, albeit it is closing at the end of 2025.
HEADLINERS:
Women
Jazy Roberts (Vic): National team representative who was tied-14th finish at the 2023 Australian Open in Sydney.
Haruhi Nakatini (Qld): Reigning Queensland Junior champion from the Gold Coast who is always thereabouts.
Raegan Denton (SA): Royal Adelaide product who won the Queensland Amateur and the Jack Newton Invitational in 2024.
Yuki Takada (Japan): Based on the Gold Coast, she won the Queensland Junior Amateur in 2023.
Hyojin Yang (South Korea): Last week’s Master of the Amateurs winner, going for back-to-back titles.
Annika Rathbone (NSW): Another national team member and prolific strong finisher in amateur golf.
Michelle Bang (NSW): Concord’s reigning Victorian Junior champion and adidas Junior champion who has been a big-time winner.
Ella Scaysbrook (NSW): Runner-up at the Master of Amateurs last week, and emerging quickly.
Shyla Singh (Qld): Left-hander who is the reigning Australian Junior Amateur champion.
Amelia Harris (Vic): Was runner-up last year at just 15 years of age, and will be keen for redemption.
Sarah Hammett (Qld): Multiple junior state amateur winner who almost won a Ladies European Tour event at Bonville aged 15 and also has a top-20 at the Australian Open in 2023.
Men:
Harry Takis (Qld): Third placegetter in the Master of the Amateurs and winner of a tournament in the US in 2023.
Billy Dowling (Qld): National team member who won the Queensland Amateur 2023, Keperra Bowl 2023, Gary Player Classic 2023, Queensland Boys’ Amateur 2021.
Mathew Lever (Vic): English-born player from The National who won the Victorian Juniors Masters in 2019.
Kai Komulainen (Qld): Now at University of Tennessee and was unlucky to fall to runner-up at the Master of the Amateurs last week. Has been a prolific winner.
Dominic McGlinchey (Scotland): Four-time winner in the UK in 2023-2024 who is on his second consecutive trip Down Under.
Declan O’Donovan (NSW): Won both the NSW Amateur and the Avondale Amateur in 2024.
Kipp Popert (England): All Abilities superstar who is trying his luck in open company again.
Chase Oberle (Qld): Regular winner at home in 2024 including the Gary Player Classic, the Queensland Junior Amateur and the Greg Norman Junior Masters.
Harry Crockett (England): Nebraska University player who won the Surrey Amateur in 2023.
Daniel Hayes (England): English junior strokeplay champion in 2024 and signed for a college career in the US.
