Nigel Smith and Rachel Bates will represent BMW UK & Ireland at the BMW Golf Cup World Final in South Africa next March, after qualifying at the UK & Ireland National Final at The K Club in Ireland.
Smith and Bates emerged as the leading men’s and women’s players after competing against 36 fellow amateur golfers, earning their places at the World Final at Fancourt from 15 to 20 March 2027.
The BMW Golf Cup is the world’s largest international tournament series for amateur golfers, with more than 100,000 players taking part each year. National competitions are held in around 40 countries, with the leading players progressing to the World Final.
Located along South Africa’s renowned Garden Route, Fancourt is home to three championship golf courses and will provide the setting for the 2027 World Final.
A total of 196 amateur golfers from across the UK and Ireland participated in four regional qualifying events, held at Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links in Ireland, Little Aston Golf Club in the Midlands, St George’s Hill in Surrey and the Craigtoun Course in St Andrews, Scotland.
Competitors contested three handicap divisions: Men’s Category A (up to 12.4 handicap), Men’s Category B (12.5 to 28.4 handicap) and the Women’s Category (up to 28.4 handicap).
The leading three players from each category at each regional event progressed to the National Final at The K Club. The leading player across the two men’s categories, alongside the winner of the women’s category, qualified to represent Team BMW UK & Ireland at the World Final.
Since its inception in 1982, the BMW Golf Cup has grown into the world’s largest international amateur golf tournament series. To learn more about the BMW Golf Cup, please click here or visit BMW-Golfsport.com.
