The 118th staging of The Amateur Championship tees-off next week (17-22 June 2013) at Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s in Kent.

For the second year running all 288 competitors, from 29 countries, are ranked players on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

The Amateur Champion will earn a place in this year’s Open Championship at Muirfield and next year’s US Open at Pinehurst, North Carolina. Traditionally, an invitation is also extended to The Amateur Champion to play in the following year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta.

Leading the field and world ranked 3, 5 and 7 respectively on WAGR (Week 22) are Australia’s Brady Watt, Cheng-Tsung Pan from Chinese Taipei and Julien Brun from France.

Corhampton’s Neil Raymond, winner of last week’s St Andrews Links Trophy, will be hoping to take his good form forward into The Amateur alongside fellow Englishmen, Max Orrin (North Foreland) and Nathan Kimsey (Woodhall Spa), who tied second in the same event.

Kimsey is the highest ranked British player in the starting lineup ranked 16 on WAGR, while Orrin will attract strong spectator support in his home county of Kent.

Commenting on the quality of the field, The R&A’s Director – Amateur Events, Euan Mordaunt said, “288 of the world’s best amateur golfers will be competing over two of Kent’s most challenging links courses for the prestigious title of Amateur Champion and exemptions into at least two of golf’s Majors.”

“With this in mind there is a great deal at stake and the opportunity to watch the talents of some of the world’s finest amateur golfers should not be missed particularly as admission is free and full spectator facilities are available.”

Former Major Champions and Ryder Cup team members including Jack Nicklaus, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen and the reigning Open Champion, Ernie Els, have all played in the Amateur Championship.

Admission and parking is free at Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s and public catering is available.

The stroke play stage of The Amateur Championship is played over the first two days of competition at both courses before the field is cut to 64 and ties. The match play stage is played over the final four days at Royal Cinque Ports.

Full details including the championship draw can be found at RandA.org and television highlights will be broadcast on Thursday through Saturday, 20 to 22 June 2013 on Sky Sports.