a day ago
2025 Open Championship: Amateurs To Watch
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Richard Teder of Estonia poses with a pin flag after qualifying for ... More the Open during Final Qualifying for the Open at The West Lancashire Golf Club on July 01, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
UNC Charlotte had a strong showing, sending two amateur players through qualifying to the Open Championship. Englishman Frazer Jones, a UNC Charlotte player, qualified after shooting 73–70 at Burnham & Berrow. Jones birdied four holes on his final nine to secure a spot.
Fellow Englishman and UNC Charlotte standout Sebastian Cave also qualified, carding rounds of 67–72 at Royal Cinque Ports.
Estonian player Richard Teder had perhaps the most dramatic qualification story. Teder had his spot nearly secured going into the final hole but double-bogeyed after pulling his drive into the native area. His misstep on the 18th put him into a 4-for-2 playoff, which quickly became a 3-for-1. Teder found the fairway with his drive and then holed out for eagle from 80 yards to clinch his spot at The Open. He is the first Estonian ever to qualify for the championship.
DONEGAL, IRELAND - JUNE 19: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was altered with digital filters.) Connor Graham of ... More Scotland tees off the 13th hole during day three of The Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin Golf Club on June 19, 2024 in Donegal, Ireland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
At Dundonald Links, world No. 47 amateur Connor Graham birdied the first playoff hole to earn his place. The Texas Tech standout won the British Amateur in both 2024 and 2025 and finished 37th at the 2025 European Amateur. His 2025 British Amateur win came at Open Championship rota course Royal St. George's. Graham appears to be the strongest amateur contender in the field.
With only four amateur players in this year's Open Championship, their odds of winning appear slim. However, Graham, Cave, and Jones all have notable experience and success on links courses, while Teder enters as a true Cinderella story and the first-ever Estonian to play in The Open.
