PRESS RELEASE: Charlie Hickling (Wildernesse) wins the 2024 Kent Men's Order of Merit
The Order of Merit is a season-long competition for elite male golfers in Kent and encompasses 15 different events at various clubs across the county. Venues include the three Kent courses that have held The Open Championship - Prince's, Royal Cinque Ports and Royal St. George's. The top twenty finishers in each individual event earn points towards the Order of Merit, and whoever is top of the table after the Teise Trophy at Lamberhurst in September is crowned Kent Golf Order of Merit Champion.
12 January - Hinge Trophy Rd 2 - Prince's
30 January - Hinge Trophy Final - Royal St George's
13 April - Romer Bowl - Littlestone
25 May - Bearsted Open - Bearsted
26 May - Prince of Wales - Prince's
30 May - 1 June - Kent Amateur Championship - Chart Hills
5 June - Brice Bowl - Rochester & Cobham Park
8 June - Darwin Plate - West Kent
22 June - Channel Cup - Sene Valley
6 July - Pilgrim's Plate - Canterbury
26 July - Waterford Trophy - Sundridge Park
28-30 August - South-East Links Championship - Royal Cinque Ports and Royal St George's
6 September - Kent Cob - Knole Park
7 September - Bishop's Bowl - Wildernesse
14 September - Teise Trophy - Lamberhurst
The County Order of Merit commences with the Hinge Trophy (formerly the Winter Trials) and finishes with the last qualifying Order of Merit event shown in the County fixture list (being in September or October of the following year). Please note the County Order of Merit includes certain men's events that are not run by Kent Golf.
In County Order of Merit events, points are awarded to eligible Kent players, starting at 24 for the best placed Kent player, 20 for the second placed Kent player, 18 for the third placed Kent player and reducing to 1 point for each place thereafter. Placings achieved by ineligible players will be disregarded. If there is a tie by score for a particular place, points shall be awarded by count-back.
The points from the best 7 events plus the County Championship shall decide the final placings. In the event of a tie the winner of the Order of Merit will be awarded to the player gaining the highest number of top places, going to 2nd, 3rd placings etc. if required.
For the Kent Amateur Championship, points are awarded as below:
Stroke Play Qualifier - The top 20 players will receive points for finishing in the top 20.
1st will receive 24 points, 2nd 20 points, 18 for third place reducing by 1 point for each place thereafter. Places to be determined by count-back.
Match Play - The 16 players will receive 5 points for each round they win, with the County Champion being awarded 15 points for winning the Championship.
County Vouchers will be awarded to the winner, runner up and third placed player.