Southern Amateur golf tournament in Lexington for first time ever

The winner receives the George W. Adair Trophy

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- For the first time ever in Lexington, the George W. Adair Trophy will be presented to the winner of the Southern Amateur.

This year’s competition is taking place at Idle Hour Country Club off of Richmond Road.

One of golf’s best amateur tournaments its debut in the Bluegrass after being in Kentucky for three times before this year.

“This is such a prestigious amateur tournament,” said Bobby Owens, the Second Vice President of the Southern Golf Association. “We have many of the top ten (amateur golfers) in the world. It’s an honor for Idle Hour Country Club to host this.”

This is the fourth time in 118 years that the Commonwealth has hosted the prestigious tournament, but since 1930 the event has been held in the Bluegrass State twice.

Owens is a native Lexingtonian and helped bring the tournament to his hometown.

“It’s important,” said Owens. “The club wanted to host. We hosted the Southern Junior Amateur about five years ago. The board was so happy that they wanted to bring the tournament here in 2024.”

The tournament will conclude on Saturday July 20. The Southern Amateur returns to Kentucky in 2028 when it takes place in Bowling Green.