West of Ireland Men's Amateur Open Championship

The West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship is one of Ireland’s most historic and prestigious amateur golf tournaments, traditionally held at County Sligo Golf Club (Rosses Point) on the famed Harry Colt-designed links. golfingireland.ie +2 irishgolfer.ie +2 The event is organized under the auspices of Golf Ireland, with support from a regional “West of Ireland Committee.” Irish Golf Desk The format features 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying over two days, after which the top 64 players advance into a match-play knockout. County Sligo Golf Club +2 irishgolfer.ie +2 Notably, Golf Ireland reverted in 2024 to the traditional 36‑64 format, having trialled a different stroke‑play/match‑play combination in prior years. irishgolfer.ie The match-play stage typically culminates in a final, making the event a multi-round, week-long championship. First played in 1923, the West of Ireland has a very rich history. County Sligo Golf Club Over the decades, many top names have won or competed in it — including Rory McIlroy, who captured this title as a teenager. County Sligo Golf Club The event is sponsored (as of recent editions) by Connolly Motor Group, which highlights its status and continued prominence in the amateur circuit. connollys.ie In recent iterations, the field has been about 138 players (for example, in 2025) and includes a pre-championship qualifier to fill some spots. Irish Golf Desk The course itself is challenging, with strong links characteristics, coastal winds, and strategic bunkering, especially following recent renovation work undertaken by County Sligo Golf Club. Irish Golf Desk The 2025 championship (the 102nd edition) was held from April 18–22. irishgolfer.ie +1 That year, Dylan Holmes, aged 18, became the youngest winner since McIlroy, beating Colm Campbell 2&1 in a rain-affected final.