Opening Golf to the World
The Amateur
Wilhelm Ryding tops stroke play qualifying at The 131st Amateur Championship
16 Jun 26
7 mins
Wilhelm Ryding of Sweden topped the stroke play qualifying standings and plotted a successful path into the match play stages of The 131st Amateur Championship.
After an opening four-under-par 68 at Royal Liverpool, which left him just one shot off the pace, Ryding fortified his position and moved to the summit with a five-under-par 67 at West Lancashire. The 21-year-old’s nine-under-par aggregate left him a stroke clear of his compatriot, Edwin Askerfors, and the English trio of Ben Bolton, Edward Featherstone and Joshua McCartain. Ryding became the first Swede to win the stroke play qualifying phase since Daniel Jennevret triumphed at Royal Troon in 2012. His considered approach brought plenty of rewards and his 2-iron has been a useful weapon in the armoury as he played for position off the tee and negotiated his way through the numerous perils and pitfalls of two exacting links courses. Over 36-holes, Ryding has managed 14 birdies with seven of them arriving during a purposeful push between the fifth and 16th in round two which hoisted him to the head of the order. "The key to success has been playing smart," he said. "I’ve not hit a lot of drivers. I’ve mostly been hitting 2-irons off the tee just to avoid the bunkers. I think I’ve been in only one bunker and that was a greenside bunker. "In this type of golf, if you hit all the fairways then you’ll have plenty of opportunities. I’ve been good out of the rough when I did miss a fairway and my putting has been good. It’s all added up to a good couple of days. I’m just going to stick to my game and believe in myself." Bolton, who finished stroke play qualifying in a tie for second, may be based in Staffordshire but he is also a member at Royal Liverpool and was more than comfortable in this golfing home from home. In a neatly assembled, bogey-free round, the 18-year-old, a former Spanish Boys’ Champion, conjured six birdies including four in six holes on the back-nine as he breezed into the match play rounds.
Ben Bolton performed strongly on a course he knows well.
"It was just really stress free," he said. "I know the course quite well, being a member here, and it rewards good shots. The local knowledge certainly helped me.
"I’m so comfortable with it. When you step up to tee shots, you're not second guessing yourself.
"I feel like I’ve had a lot of top-fives and top-10s over the season. I’m looking for that little break through and just have to let it happen.
"My game is going in a positive direction. You've just got to play golf and see how far you get. There's no point forcing anything, especially on a links course."
Royal Liverpool will always be associated with Roberto De Vicenzo, the decorated Argentinian who won The Open here in 1967.
In 2026, another impressive golfer from Argentina, Segundo Oliva Pinto, is hoping to write his own chapter in the Royal Liverpool story after overcoming the qualifying hurdle.
On a relatively benign day on England’s Golf Coast, Pinto, who enjoyed back-to-back top-10 finishes among the professionals on the Korn Ferry Tour earlier this season, posted a six-under-par 66 to ease through on a six-under-par tally.
Pinto was joined on that mark by Welshman, Tomi Bowen, who barged his way into the qualifying places with an eventful eight-under-par 64 at Royal Liverpool.
The 23-year-old chipped in for a birdie from an awkward spot to the side of the 14th and then finished with a flourish by holing his wedge approach from 65 yards on the 18th for an eagle-two.
The round of the day was produced by the highly talented South African, Malan Potgieter, who secured his match play berth with a rousing nine-under-par 63 at Royal Liverpool.
Potgieter had been facing an early exit after a first round 76 at West Lancashire left him playing catch-up.
A bold drive on the first hole of round two, which led to an opening birdie, provided the catalyst for a thrilling assault and eight more gains would follow as the 23-year-old equalled the Royal Liverpool amateur course record.
Malan Potgieter carded a sensational nine-under-par round of 63.
"I knew I had to play some good golf today to get into the cut line," Potgieter said. "I started the day five outside the cut, so I had more of an aggressive mentality and gave myself a lot of birdie chances.
"It's up there as one of my best rounds. I'm very proud of myself. I was under some pressure to perform because I really wanted to make the cut. It's my first time playing The Amateur Championship. I like match play a lot, so I really wanted to keep competing.
"On the first tee, I decided to hit driver and go it right down there. That set the tone for the day of being aggressive. The whole day was just solid and I made putts when I needed to."
Scotland’s Connor Graham, who topped the qualifying standings in both 2025 and 2024, comfortably progressed on a five-under-par total after a 67 at Royal Liverpool.
Graham’s GB&I Walker Cup team-mates, Niall Sheils Donegan and Stuart Grehan, also overcame the qualifying hurdle.
All 21 players tied on two-under par after the stroke play qualifying round will compete in a play-off at Royal Liverpool on Wednesday morning. Here ten players will progress through to the match play rounds.
The following players will compete in the play-off, starting at 7am: Tim Wiedemeyer; Miles Wennestam; Sebastian Cave; Jaden Huggins; Andre Zhu; Emil Riegger; Toby Wilt; Noah Kent; Kuan Zhou; Wesley Hinton; Parker Severs; Drew Sykes; Nils-Levi Bock; Frazer Jones; Jack Lee; Jack Crousore; Max Hopkins; Luke Poulter; Loran Appel; Veigar Heiðarsson; Gavin Tiernan.
The winner of Saturday’s 36-hole Final will secure exemptions into The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale next month, the US Open, and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament.
The Amateur Championship is one of the biggest and most prestigious amateur championships in the world and features a starting line-up of 288 players.
The first Amateur was held at Hoylake in 1885 where 44 players from 12 clubs competed. Some of golf’s greatest names have triumphed in the event, including Bobby Jones, José María Olazábal and Sergio Garcia.
Spectators are welcome and can attend free of charge or people can watch the final two days live at home on R&A TV and YouTube.
Results from stroke play qualifying can be found here.