Today marks the beginning of the 2023 St Andrews Boys’ Open and the Junior Ladies’ Open, which take place Monday 31 July to Thursday 3 August.

Established in 1948, the St Andrews Boys’ Open has a long tradition of providing a high level of competition for aspiring young players by giving them the opportunity to play competitively in the Home of Golf across two of St Andrews Links’ championship courses, the Eden Course and the Old Course. 

The tournament is open to boys under the age of 18 with a handicap index not exceeding 12 and features 150 places. This year saw competitors from 18 countries entering the tournament.

The Merchants’ Cup, presented by the St Andrews Merchants’ Association, is awarded to the scratch winner of the 18-hole qualifying and match play competition, with the Murray Mitchell Trophy, presented by a well-renowned local golfing family, is awarded to the handicap winner.

The St Andrews Boys’ Open has been won by Chris Wood and David Ravetto, now professional golfers playing on the DP World Tour, as well as Matt Fitzpatrick, winner of the 2022 U.S. Open.

The St Andrews Junior Ladies’ Open was established in 1989 to complement the St Andrews Boys’ Open and to recognise the increasing level of interest in competitive golf for junior ladies. As with the Boys’ Open, the Junior Ladies’ Open provides a high level of competition for young players. It takes place on the Strathtyrum Course and the Eden Course with the scratch semi-finals and the finals played over the Old Course.

The tournament is open to young ladies under the age of 23 with a handicap not exceeding 28. It features 80 competitors from 13 countries.

The scratch winner of the 18-hole qualifying and match play competition is awarded the Golf Monthly Trophy and the handicap winner is presented with the Girls’ Open Quaich.

Many competitors have gone on to become professional golfers. The St Andrews Ladies’ Open has been won by Carly Booth, now a successful professional golfer and the youngest Scot to qualify for the Ladies European Tour, along with Holly Reddick (née Aitchison), now on the Ladies European Tour, and Whitney Hillier, who plays on both the Ladies European Tour and the ALPG Tour.

Many competitors in the St Andrews Boys’ Open and Junior Ladies’ Open go on to compete in other notable events, within and without St Andrews. For example, Jennifer Saxton, winner of the 2017 St Andrews Junior Ladies’ Open, also lifted the coveted St Rule Trophy five years later.

We look forward to welcoming the competitors to the Home of Golf, where they will have the opportunity to write their own names in the storied history of St Andrews.

Follow the live scores of the St Andrews Boys' Open here and the St Andrews Junior Ladies' Open here.