The Lothians Championship is the Lothians Golf Association's flagship event and was first held in 1947 when the local evening newspaper presented the magnificent Evening News Championship Trophy, one of the most impressive trophies in golf. The Evening News sponsored the event for almost 50 years.

The Stuart Cup, which was first used for individual winners in the Team Tournament, has, since 1965, been used as the trophy for the leading qualifying score in the Amateur Championship.

The first winner of the Championship was A S Flockhart, of Royal Musselburgh. He went on to represent Scotland in the Home Internationals in 1948/49, a feat that has since been achieved by 15 other Lothians champions.

Winners have included former Ryder Cup and Walker Cup captains in Bernard Gallacher (1967) and George Macgregor (1968) respectively.

Duddingston has produced the most winners in the event, including five-time Scottish champion Ronnie Shade and Stuart Smith, who shares the record for the most wins - four - with Haddington's Keith Nicholson.

Before 2018, Smith, Nicholson, Gullane’s W C D Hare and Ratho Park's Callum MacPhail were the only players to have successfully defended the title, the former having chalked up a hat-trick of wins from 1993-1995 however they are now joined by Jamie Morris of Glencorse.

Only J Burnside has successfully defended the Stuart Cup (1957/58) and only Stuart Middleton (Glencorse), Lee Morgan (Dunbar) and now Connor Wilson (Castle Park) have won both the stroke play and the match play trophies in the same year (1990, 2016 & 2020 respectively) but 10 others have won both trophies in different years.

The format for the event was reviewed for 2016 and having been successfully completed over the last four years, and the changes, supported by the players, will remain in the revised format for 2021.

There will be a 36-hole stroke-play qualifying played over two rounds on   Sunday, 11 July 2021 at   Mortonhall Golf Club. Mortonhall have hosted the event on 6 previous occasions and we are looking forward to returning here in our Centenary year. The leading 16 qualifiers will go forward to the match play phase at the same venue with the match play rounds being held on    Tuesday, 13 July for the round of 16 players, Thursday 15 July for the Quarter Finals and the semi-finals and final on Saturday, 17 July 2021.

2021

Congratulations go to Allyn Dick from Kingsfield for his excellent performance in the final at Mortonhall. Allyn, followed last years winner Connor Wilson, in breaking the Lothians 'curse' by maintaining his form by becoming the leading qualifier and going on to win the Championship Trophy. Allyn is only the fourth person to ever achieve such a feat.

His victory today over Scott McCandless by 2 Holes was another first class performance with two good rounds at qualifying followed by three quality rounds in the match play stages. Allyn maintained his form throughout the week pipping last years winner in the Semi Finals.

Allyn is pictured here with the very impressive Evening News Trophy.

Allyn was aware of the Lothian curse and that he had put it to the back of his mind. He was glad to get over the finishing line.

The Association wish to thank Mortonhall for their continued support in hosting our top event of the year. The course and facilities were provided to us in fantastic condition and everyone at the Club have been welcoming.

The results from semi finals in the Lothians Championship were

Allyn Dick (Kingsfield) beat Connor Wilson (Castle Park) 4&2

Scott McCandless (Bathgate) beat Craig Davidson (Craigielaw) 3&2

As the leading quailifier Allyn Dick was also presented with the Stuart Cup his score of 139 was 4 less than the rest of the field. 

Allyn now hailes as the four time winner when he won the Stuart Cup as the leading qualifier with a 5 under par score of 139 (73 + 66). This betters the record he held with Keith Nicholson (Haddington) of three Stuart Cup victories. He finished four ahead of Benn McLeod (Musselburgh) with Thomas Simmonds (Gullane) in third with 144. The cut for the match play was 152 with four players being eliminated due to being unable to make the matchplay event.

Allyn is seen here receiving the Stuart Cup from President Jean Macnab

2020

Congratulations go to Connor Wilson from Castle Park for his excellent performance in the final at Prestonfield. Connor has broken the Lothians 'curse' by maintaining his form by becoming the leading qualifier and going on to win the Championship Trophy. Connor is only the third person to ever achieve such a feat.

His victory today over Andrew Benson (West Lothian) by 3&2 was another first class performance with two good rounds at qualifying followed by three quality rounds in the match play stages. Connor maintained his form throughout the week.

This a first win for the Castle Park Club in a Lothians Tournament. 

Connor is pictured here with the very impressive Evening News Trophy.

Connor indicated that he had heard of the Lothian curse and that he tried to put it to the back of his mind. He was glad to get over the finishing line and looks forward to improving his golf going forward.

The Association wish to thank Prestonfield for their continued support in hosting our top event of the year. The course and facilities were provided to us in fantastic condition and everyone at the Club have been welcoming.

The results from semi finals in the Lothians Championship were
Connor Wilson (Castle Park) beat Scott McCandless (Bathgate) by 2 Holes
Andrew Benson (West Lothian) beat Stuart Thurlow (Murrayfield) 4/3

Connor was approx 5 under par for his round. He was 3 up through 10, lost 11, 12, and 13. They halved 14 in pars and Connor won the next 2 holes to go 2 up with 2 to play. Scott had a par 4 at 17, to win that hole and Connor holed from 6 feet for a birdie at 18 to win by 2 holes.

In the second match Andrew was 4 up through 9 and approx 2 under par. He lost 10 to a birdie 3 from Stuart, however Andrew won the short 13 with a par and sealed victory on the 15th with a par 4.

As the leading quailifier Connor Wilson was also presented with the Stuart Cup his score of ??? was ?? less than the rest of the field. 

Lothian Amateur Championship - Champion

Lothians Amateur Championship
Leading Qualifier Winner presented with Stuart Cup since 1965