GLENVIEW, Ill. – The Western Golf Association announced today a one-year partnership with Inspire11, establishing the award-winning business and technology consulting firm as the exclusive presenting sponsor of the 2026 Western Amateur Championship.
The Western Amateur presented by Inspire11 will be played July 27-Aug. 1, 2026, at historic Beverly Country Club on Chicago’s South Side.
“We’re excited to partner with Inspire11 as we bring the future stars of golf to one of the most revered venues in Chicago,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA senior vice president of tournaments. “With Inspire11, we’re fortunate to have a presenting sponsor who matches our passion for competitive excellence as well as our commitment to give back through the game of golf.”
The Western Amateur is the world’s third-oldest amateur championship and widely acknowledged as one of the most demanding tests in golf. An elite international field of 156 players will compete in 72 holes of stroke play over three days to determine the Sweet Sixteen, who advance to match play in hopes of having their name etched on the George R. Thorne Trophy.
Legends like Chick Evans, Francis Ouimet, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have won the championship, but just making the Sweet Sixteen is enough to mark a player as one of the best in amateur golf. Since 2006, Sweet Sixteen qualifiers have included PGA TOUR stars Scottie Scheffler, Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa.
All proceeds from the event benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, which awards full tuition and housing college scholarships to high-achieving youth caddies with limited financial means.
The championship is a natural fit for Inspire11 and founder Alban Mehmeti, an Evans Scholar Alum who graduated from Indiana University. With more than 300 employees worldwide and hubs in Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Dallas and Detroit, Inspire11 was founded to challenge complacent business models, industries and ways of working.
“We are honored to sponsor the Western Amateur and its mission,” said Mehmeti, who is also serving as tournament chairman. “Becoming an Evans Scholar changed both my life as well as my brother Luke’s. It gave us access to education, community and a feeling of belonging when it mattered most. Inspire11 is proud to support an organization that doesn’t just award scholarships — it transforms lives for generations. Our goal is to help change as many lives as possible.”
This marks the third time the Western Amateur will be contested at The Beverly Country Club, which hosted the 2014 championship won by Beau Hossler and the 1930 event claimed by John Lehman.
Located just 10 miles from downtown Chicago, The Beverly Country Club was established in 1908 and has long been recognized as a championship-caliber test. Originally laid out by George O’Neil with input from Tom Bendelow, the course was later elevated by legendary architect Donald Ross. The golf course will have a vastly different look from 2014 in the wake of an extensive restoration project led by Ron Prichard and Tyler Rae in 2019. Prichard and Rae removed trees to open playing corridors, expanded green complexes and restored bunkers and fairways to their original designs.
The Beverly Country Club has also hosted four Western Opens, the 1930 Western Amateur, the 1931 U.S. Amateur, the 2009 U.S. Senior Amateur and 2011 Western Junior. The club holds a proud tradition of supporting the Evans Scholars Foundation, boasting more Evans Scholars recipients than any club in the nation.