Western Amateur Preview: Skokie Hosts Prestigious Field from July 28 to August 2, 2025
The 2025 Western Amateur returns to Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Illinois. Founded in 1899, the Western Amateur is among the world’s oldest amateur championships and has been won by legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Justin Leonard. The format begins with 72 holes of stroke play followed by match play for the top 16 competitors.
2024 Champion
Ian Gilligan of the University of Florida captured the 2024 title in a marathon 29‑hole final against teammate Jack Turner at Moraine Country Club in Dayton, Ohio. The final match included 48 holes of play over one day, concluding with Gilligan’s winning birdie on the 11th sudden‑death hole, setting a record for the longest final in Western Amateur history.
Top Contenders in 2025
Benjamin James of Virginia leads the field. Ranked No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, he reached the quarterfinals here in 2024, earned PING First Team All‑American honors and was a finalist for the Fred Haskins Award and semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award in his junior season. He also competed in the 2025 U.S. Open and the John Deere Classic
Other top‑10 WAGR players in the field include:
Ethan Fang (No. 3, Oklahoma State)
Preston Stout (No. 4, Oklahoma State)
Tommy Morrison (No. 5, Texas)
Jase Summy (No. 9, Oklahoma)
Jack Turner (No. 10, Florida)
International Field & Format
The tournament field features competitors from 27 countries, including 64 players ranked inside the top 100 in the WAGR. Skokie Country Club returns as host for the first time since 2017, offering tournament setups that favor precision and competitive depth.
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