THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

June 16, 2026

Ben Bolton

Quick Quotes

Q. Ben, 66. That's a nice way just to confirm your place in the knockout stages. Just sum up that day today.

BEN BOLTON: It was just really stress free. Obviously I know the course quite well, away member -- well, probably be home member.

It's a lovely golf course, and obviously it rewards good shots. The bad shots, the rough is high at the moment, obviously you've got to be careful of that. It's a very nice calm day to get a low score.

Q. There was the chances there today. Any that stand out, birdies?

BEN BOLTON: The par-5s really. I didn't birdie the first three par-5s, which was a bit annoying. I think I just played the rest of the course pretty simple. Just kept it in play, kept calm.

Yeah, there's a couple of birdieable holes just on wind direction. But if it flipped, it's the opposite.

Q. You talked about being an away member or a home member. Just explain that Hoylake connection.

BEN BOLTON: I'm quite close with the people up there actually. I'm really well with pretty much everyone. The pros, bar staff, they're just really friendly to you. Even though I don't come up often, it's still two hours away, it's so friendly up here. So it's really good to be a part of it.

Q. What was the spark, was it the previous experience of playing here?

BEN BOLTON: I just like links in a way. You go two hours up, you can usually stay right by it, and you've got two days up here. It's perfect.

Q. That local knowledge is obviously a huge asset to going forward.

BEN BOLTON: Definitely. There's a couple of shots out there that obviously you want to hit the fairways, and that fairway is so key around here at the moment in this rough.

Q. It's nice when a showpiece occasion like this comes to your course that you maybe know like the back of your hand. Does that give you just that little added spring in the step when it comes around?

BEN BOLTON: Yeah, you're comfortable with it. So like when you step up to tee shots, you're not second guessing yourself. I know there's a couple of tees out there that no one can play off, to be honest. Yeah, you can't play off of them. Maybe that was a bit of a weight on some who played off the backs. So it was a good test.

Q. You'll have plenty of support going forward presumably at the match play stages?

BEN BOLTON: I hope so. It was good today. There was quite a bit of support out there, which was nice.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about your match play pedigree.

BEN BOLTON: It's getting better. It's positive. It's going in a positive direction. You've just got to play golf and see how far you get. If you get through to the final, you get through to the final, but as long as you feel like you're playing well, what you can do is what you can do. There's no point forcing anything, especially on links.

Q. It's a format you obviously enjoy, is it, the head to head?

BEN BOLTON: Yeah, it's fun, but obviously you've still got to have that kind of spring in your step really. Yeah, it would be nice. A very good weight, I think.

Q. Your best you won, was it the Spanish Amateur, Spanish Boys?

BEN BOLTON: Spanish Boys, yeah.

Q. Notable successes, you've had a few obviously. Just a few reminders.

BEN BOLTON: Young Masters. I was 16, so it was a bit ago. Spanish Boys.

Q. Berkhamsted trophy in there?

BEN BOLTON: Yes, Berkhamsted.

Q. Too many to mention?

BEN BOLTON: A lot of top 5s at the moment, top 10s. Definitely looking for that little break through. Definitely have to just let it happen.

Q. The Amateur is the one you can pinpoint on the calendar?

BEN BOLTON: Definitely one this year in Europe, this one will be definitely at the top of the list.

Q. Long way to go, but that's the first hurdle?

BEN BOLTON: Every day, day by day now.