Master of the Amateurs

THE NEC MASTER OF THE AMATEURS CHAMPIONSHIP IS A WORLD AMATEUR GOLF RANKING COUNTING EVENT AS LISTED BY THE R&A CHAMPIONSHIPS LIMITED - ST. ANDREWS.

THE 2009 NEC MASTER OF THE AMATEURS GREEN JACKET CHAMPION WILL LIVE THE DREAM IN AMERICA
The 2009 NEC Master of the Amateurs Championship will be played at the Yarra Yarra Golf Club, on Melbourne's famous sandbelt from Monday 12th - Thursday 15th January 2009. Player registration and the NEC Master of the Amateurs Welcome Dinner will be on Sunday 11th January 2009.

NEC Master of the Amateurs has confirmed a very exciting relationship with two of the most prestigious Amateur Championships in America - the Porter Cup and the Players Amateur. The 2009 NEC Master of the Amateurs Green Jacket Champion will receive an exemption in to the 2009 Porter Cup and the 2009 Players Amateur.

The 2008 Porter Cup Champion and the 2008 Players Amateur Champion will receive exemptions into the 2009 NEC Master of the Amateurs Championship, and whilst playing for the coveted Master of the Amateurs Green Jacket, will also form Team America in the NEC Master of the Amateurs World Cup.

Congratulations to Mark Anderson from Beaufort USA, the 2008 Players Amateur Champion, who with a sizzling 10 under par final round of 60 and a total Gross Score of 258, defeated Matt Jager from WA Australia by 5 shots. We look forward to welcoming Mark into the 2009 NEC Master of the Amateurs Championship.

The Porter Cup is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, and with past players such as Ben Crenshaw, Scott Verplank, Jay Sigel, David Duval, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, this event is steeped in history. The Porter Cup attracts the finest of amateur golfers in the world.

The inaugural Players Amateur was played in the summer of 2000, with the former British Open Champion Ben Curtis winning the event. In 2004 control of the Players Amateur was given to the Heritage Classic Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, who serves as the operational and finacial oversight group for the Verizon Heritage, a PGA TOUR event on Hilton Head Island. The 2008 winner of the Players Amateur will receive a playing spot in the 2009 Verizon Heritage.

Both the Porter Cup and The Players Amateur are held with great respect within the amateur ranks, with both events providing elite amateur fields on the world stage of golf.

The Porter Cup	The Players Amateur
TOBY WILCOX - 2008 CHAMPION Congratulations to TOBY WILCOX from Yarra Yarra Golf Club, the 2008 NEC Master of the Amateurs Champion. With rounds of 73, 70, 74 and 69, Toby finished two shots clear of Josh Younger. Previous Master of the Amateurs “Green Jacket” winners including Brendan JONES (1999), Ben MEYERS (2002), Andrew TAMPION, (2004) Ashley HALL (2005) and Jason DAY (2006) have all turned professional. “It was certainly the best field we've assembled in the 11-year history of this event …the best Australian amateurs and a good mix of top players from overseas”, tournament Director Peter MANN said. “Toby was a model of consistency over the four days. After five attempts to win the Master of the Amateurs Green Jacket, it is great that it has finally paid off for him”. “This innovative championship now has official recognition as an R&A World amateur golf ranking event so it is the perfect testing ground for players with high ambitions in their sport“, Mr Mann said.	2009 and 2010 NEC Master of the Amateurs SRIXON AM-PRO Invitational The support and commitment to golf in Australia by SRIXON, to both the amateur and professional golfers was once again shown by the announcements made by Martin Wright, Managing Director, Srixon Sports Australasia, at the Opening Dinner for the 2008 NEC Master of the Amateurs Championship. The 2009 and 2010 NEC Master of the Amateurs world's only Srixon AM-PRO Invitational will have a prize purse of $50,000.00 for one day's play, with a further commitment to continue to grow this event to be the richest one day event in Australia.



Caddies return to the NEC Master of the Amateurs Championship The 2008 NEC Master of the Amateurs will again play host to students from Carey Baptist Grammar School as caddies for select players in the Championship. These students have been selectively chosen from Carey to assist players in the Championship and have been groomed into their roles at a special Caddie School. The students have commented on how eager they are to take part in the NEC Master of the Amateurs Championship and experience Championship golf up close. Tournament Director Peter Mann says as well as helping the players, this is a great opportunity for young people to experience tournament golf up close.	Visit this website for all updates and announcements as we plan to assist another group of golfers to LIVE THE DREAM.
Click here to view the World Amateur Golf Ranking on the R&A web site. Then click on EVENTS - NEC Master of the Amateurs is listed alphabetically - Week 2008 / 03