119th Amateur Championship | Spyglass Hill GC | August 16-19, 2022

 

2022 champion Ian Gilligan

The oldest of the NCGA’s major events, the Amateur Championship, dates back to 1903 when it was first played at San Rafael GC.

The antique sterling silver trophy reveals a who’s who of historical Northern California amateur golfers including Pebble Beach course designer Douglas Grant, Charlie Seaver, Lawson Little Jr., as well as current and past PGA Tour players Kevin Sutherland, Arron Olberholser, Spencer Levin, Maverick McNealy, Matt Bettencourt, Roger Maltbie and Ray Leach.

Varying formats have been used over the 106 years of competition but today the tournament is 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying, followed by a 32-person seeded match play bracket. The one-day final match is a 36-hole test of stamina and concentration after a week of golf at Spyglass Hill. The event has been played at Spyglass Hill every year since 1966, with the exception of 1996 when the course was closed due to renovations.

The largest winning margin was in 1930 when Herbert Schultz beat Hugh Ditzler by 11 & 10 at Castlewood GC, this was equaled in 2004 when Spencer Levin claimed the title. The longest final match was seen in 2007 when Ryan Hallisey triumphed on the 39th hole over Jeremy Gearhart, equaling the record set in 1947. Notable runner-up finishers include Ken Venturi and Johnny Miller, with Jack Neville having finished runner-up more than any other player, five times.

At the 2015 championship, Stanford junior and No.2 world-ranked amateur Maverick McNealy set a championship record for low round during stroke play qualifying with a 7-under 65. The 65 was a low for any NCGA event held at Spyglass Hill. Blake Hathcoat matched the 65 in 2018.The two-day, 36-hole scoring record for stroke play qualifying is 10-under 134, set by Finigan Tilly in 2017. Tilly’s stroke play total of 10-under 134 is the low 36-hole total for any NCGA event that’s been held at Spyglass Hill.

The event often determines the NCGA’s Player of the Year award with 700 points awarded to the winner. Multiple-time Player of the Year winners Casey Boyns and Randy Haag have both claimed the championship twice. Over 300 players attempt to qualify for the championship each year and the event is open to anyone with a handicap index of 5.4 or less.

 

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Tournament Recaps

When his pitch shot from the rough on the green of what was the 34th hole dropped in for birdie and a 2-up lead, Reno resident Ian Gilligan let loose with a Tiger-esque fist pump. For Gilligan, the celebratory moment was somewhat symbolic of his journey over the last seven years. 2022 Recap | 2022 Bracket

When the last putt fell in, Sam Sommerhauser and his caddie, his dad Dave, exchanged a high-five and a long hug. A marathon week had ended in victory. Sommerhauser, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Arizona, got his first amateur win in a big way, capturing the 118th NCGA Amateur Championship at Spyglass Hill after defeating runner-up Michael Slesinski, 3 and 2, in Friday’s 36-hole final. 2021 Recap | 2021 Bracket 

Having already competed each of the four previous weeks, UC Davis sophomore Lucas Carper wasn’t sure he had enough gas in the tank for the grind that is the NCGA Amateur Championship. The 19-year-old former Junior Tour of Northern California standout and No.26 seed not only hung in there, but ended up taking home the biggest amateur prize in Northern California, defeating No.12 seed Weston Payne, 5 and 4, in Friday’s 36-hole final at Spyglass Hill. Full 2020 Recap | 2020 Bracket 

While progressing through the ranks, including winning Junior Tour of Northern California Player of the Year honors in 2014, Danville resident Josh McCarthy has always had his eyes on the NCGA’s biggest prize. It’s now his. McCarthy, now a 22-year-old senior at Pepperdine University, captured the 116th NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship on a suddenly chilly Friday at par-71 Spyglass Hill after defeating runner-up Toby Briggs, 7 and 5, in the 36-hole finale. Full 2019 Recap | 2019 Bracket

Just prior to the formal presentation, 18-year-old San Jose resident Thomas Hutchison took a good look at some of the engraved names on the trophy. The list includes the likes of amateur legends Lawson Little Jr. and Charlie Seaver as well as current or past PGA Tour members Kevin Sutherland, Arron Oberholser and Spencer Levin. Hutchison’s name will soon be engraved as well.The UC Davis sophomore, who was seeded No.31, completed a marathon week Friday at par-72 Spyglass Hill, defeating No.32 Ned Jensen 3 and 1 to win the 115th annual NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship. Full 2018 Recap | 2018 Bracket 

As he scanned the names on the sterling silver trophy, Stanford junior Isaiah Salinda slowly began shaking his head in realizing what he’d accomplished. “There’s a lot of history on here,” Salinda said. “It’s awesome. It’s an honor.” The 20-year-old South San Francisco resident will be the latest to his name engraved on the trophy—joining the likes of Charlie Seaver, Lawson Little, Jr, and Roger Maltbie—following a dramatic 1-up victory over friend and defending champion Shintaro Ban in Friday’s 36-hole final of the 2017 NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship at Spyglass Hill. Full 2017 Recap | 2017 Bracket

bans90x90In a span of over a century, only 10 players had ever won the California Amateur Championship and the NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship in the same year. San Jose resident Shintaro Ban is the latest to join the list. The No.2 seeded UNLV junior came scorching out of the gates and never let up, defeating Bellarmine High senior Eddy Lai, 10 and 9, in Friday’s 36-hole finale at Spyglass Hill. Read Full 2016 Recap | 2016 Bracket

Maverick McNealy’s plan was to use the NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship as a warm up for next week’s U.S. Amateur. The Stanford junior did just that, mav90x90and walked away with yet another trophy in the process. Recently named to the 2015 U.S. Walker Cup squad, the No.1 seeded McNealy lived up to all the expectations—and tossed in some history—in winning the 112th NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship Friday at par-72 Spyglass Hill. In the 36-hole finale, McNealy defeated San Francisco’s Matt Cohn, 6 and 5. Read Full 2015 Recap | 2015 Bracket 

seramin902Matthew Seramin’s self-proclaimed slump is officially over. Seramin more than snapped out of his funk Friday at par-72 Spyglass Hill, draining a tough 13-foot putt for birdie on the 36th hole to defeat No.1 seed Aaron Beverly 1-up in the finals of the 111th NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship. Just last summer, Seramin was so unsure of his golf future that he began contemplating a temporary divorce from the game. The last time the finals came down to the 36th hole was in 2009, when George Gandranata defeated Casey Boyns 1-up. Read Full 2014 Recap | 2014 Bracket Results

Ben Geyer just keeps making history. A month after becoming the first player in 54 years to win back-to-back titles in the NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Geyer became the first player in 51 years to win the NCGA Amateur Stroke Play and Match Play championships in the same year. He accomplished that by winning the110th NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship at Spyglass Hill on Friday beating Andrew Morgan 5-and-4 in the 36-hole final. Read Full 2013 Recap | 2013 Bracket Results

Given the spectacular nature of Spyglass Hill’s first five holes, it might come as a surprise that NCGA Amateur Match Play Champion Jake Yount now has a special affinity for the iconic course’s back nine. The champion made do this week by playing his best golf on Spyglass Hill’s final nine. In his four matches leading up to the 36-hole final, Yount trailed early in three of the four before making a move on the back nine to finish off his opponents. Friday told a different story, though, as Yount got off to a quick start and cruised to the finish line, winning 6 & 4 over Eric Ash. Read Full 2012 Recap | 2012 Bracket Results

Past Champions

 

 

Year Course Champion Runner-Up Score Medalist (score)
1903* San Rafael GC A.Guthrie Harvey (187) W.P. Johnson (189)
1904* San Rafael GC A.Guthrie Harvey (182) W.P. Johnson (194)
1905 No Championship
1906 San Francisco GC Frank C. Newton Frank Kales 5 & 4 John Lawson 83
1907 San Francisco GC Frank C. Newton B.D. Adamson 10 & 9 Frank Newton 83
1908 San Francisco GC Frank C. Newton Frank Kales 3 & 2 Campbell Whyte 83
1909 San Francisco GC Douglas Grant Jack Neville 4 & 3 Douglas Grant 82
1910 San Francisco GC D.P. Fredericks A.A. Cuthbertson 10 & 9 Campbell Whyte 80-73-153
1911 San Francisco GC Frank Kales Jack Neville 7 & 6 Robin Y. Hayne 79
1912 Claremont CC Campbell Whyte D.P. Fredericks 3 & 2 Frank Kales 72
1913 San Francisco GC John F. Neville Frank Kales 2 & 1 Vincent Whitney 77
1914 Presidio GC H.K.B. Davis Jr. Jack Neville 1 up Fletcher Elliot 76
1915 Claremont CC Robin Y. Hayne Warner Sherwood 6 & 4 Robin Y. Hayne 75
1916 Menlo CC Douglas Grant Roger Lapham 37 holes H.K.B. Davis Jr. 77
1917 San Francisco GC Douglas Grant Jack Neville 1 up Douglas Grant 71
1918 Beresford CC D.P. Fredericks Vincent Whitney 3 & 2 F.W. Von Schrader 77
1919 Burlingame CC R.K. Coleman Jr. Vincent Whitney 6 & 5 Douglas Grant 69
1920 California CC Sam L. Conlan Jr. Jack Neville 5 & 4 Russell Smith 78-77-155
1921 San Francisco GC Norman MacBeth Vincent Whitney 3 & 2 Russell Smith 78-77-155
1922 Olympic Club C.H. Walter John McHugh 3 & 1 John McHugh 77-77-154
1923 Berkeley CC George Ritchie John J. McHugh 6 & 5 John J. McHugh 155
1924 Lake Merced GCC John J. McHugh Capt. A. Bullock-Webster 1 up Francis Brown 156
1925 San Francisco GC George Von Elm Randolph Wilhelm 3 & 2 George Von Elm 76
1926 Beresford CC Capt. A. Bullock-Webster Claire Griswold 2 & 1 Oscar Willing 73
1927 Del Paso CC George Ritchie C.H. Walter 3 & 2 John McHugh 74
1928 Orinda CC Lawson Little Jr. Dr. Jack Wolf 1 up Claire Griswold 72
1929 Olympic Club John McHugh George Ritchie 4 & 2 Dr. Jack Wolf 73
1930 Castlewood CC Herbert Schultz Hugh Ditzler 11 & 10 G. Schwartz, J.Ritchie 73
1931 Lake Merced CC Lawson Little Jr. Mel Thompson 8 & 6 Dr. Jack Wolf 73
1932 San Jose CC Charlie Seaver Charlie Ferrera 1 up Lawson Little 74
1933 California Golf Club Charlie Seaver James “Babe” Ritchie 7 & 6 Ernest Pieper 73
1934 Orinda CC Stuart Hawley Jr. Jim Ritchie 1 up Vern “Spec” Stewart 72
1935 San Francisco CC Frank Dolp Jim Molinari 1 up Ernest Pieper 73
1936 Del Paso CC Frank Shelden Charley Swanston 3 & 2 Tommy Dwyer 70
1937 Lake Merced CC Don Edwards Mat Palacio 6 & 5 Mat Palacio 72
1938 Pasatiempo GC Mat Palacio Ernest Pieper 2 up Mat Palacio and Ernie Carli 73
1939 Claremont CC Mel MacNaughton Walter Myers 11 & 9 G.C. Ehmann 66
1940 Harding Park GC William Fritz Jim Molinari 1 up (36 H) Don Kennedy 70
1941 Orinda CC Bud Brownell Dee Replogle 4 & 3 Walter Gilliam 69
1942 Del Paso CC Jim Molinari Phil Gordon 3 & 2 (36 H) Eddie Frye 69
1943 Harding Park GC Jack McChesney Pat Casey 2 & 1 W.M. Higgins 72
1944 Olympic CC Ralph Hall Richard McCreary 3 & 1 no medalist – “war restrictions”
1945 California GC Ralph Hall Nelson Cullenward 6 & 5 Bill McCallum 72
1946 San Jose CC Ralph Hall E.O. Pieper, Jr. 2 & 1 Joe Diaz, Ernie Pieper 68
1947 Del Paso CC Capt. F.J. Moseley Paul Millett 39th hole Elmer Clites 68
1948 San Francisco CC Bob Silvestri E.E. Lowery 9 & 8 Robert Rosburg 70
1949 Meadow Club Talbert Smith Kenneth Venturi 8 & 7 Martin Stanovich 68
1950 Pasatiempo GC Robert Rosburg Kenneth Venturi 38th hole Robert A. Roos 67
1951 Olympic Club James Molinari Ernest Pieper 4 & 3 James Molinari 70
1952 Sequoia-Sunnyside Ed Castagnetto Cy Donaldson 8 & 6 Tom Beck 68
1953 Orinda CC Talbert Smith Eli Bariteau 6 & 5 Eli Bariteau 69
1954 California GC Daniel “Bob” Silvestri Paul Millett 9 & 8 Phil Getchell 68
1955 Del Paso CC Scotty McBeath Dennis Hession 3 & 2 Frank Mogey 70
1956 Silverado CC Robert Cardinal Ed Castagnetto 8 & 7 Ed Castagnetto 65
1957 Green Hills CC Bill Shook Ed Castagnetto 3 & 1 Nelson Cullenward 68
1958 Belmont CC John Brodie Tom Beck 5 & 4 John Spinola 69
1959 North Ridge CC Verne Callison David Bohannon 1 up Ron Luceti 68
1960 Del Rio GCC Richard J. Giddings Lloyd Rossi 4 & 3 Cliff Davis 69
1961 Stanford University John Lotz Kent Winton 1 up George Archer 67
1962 Silverado CC John Lotz Kent Winton 2 & 1 (36 H) Ron Cerrudo 68
1963 Valley Hi CC John Lotz Steve Oppermann 6 & 5 Steve Oppermann 66
1964 Silverado CC Ron Cerrudo Guy Bill 2 & 1 Guy Bill 66
1965 Olympic Club Ron Cerrudo Jack Chapman 7 & 6 Johnny Miller 69
1966 Spyglass Hill GC Vic Loustalot Bernard Magnusson 3 & 2 (36 H) Robert E. Smith 72-73—145
1967 Spyglass Hill GC Ross Randall Tom Culligan 4 & 2 (36 H) John Yelland 73-73—146
1968 Spyglass Hill GC Ray Leach Forrest Fezler 4 & 3 Forrest Fezler 78-70—148
1969 Spyglass Hill GC Lee Cook Greg Bean 2 & 1 (36 H) Ray Leach 151
1970 Spyglass Hill GC Steve Bohn Sandy Galbraith 1 up Jim Lathum, Jim Boer 74
1971 Spyglass Hill GC Doug Nelson Roger Maltbie 2 & 1 Sandy McCall 74
1972 Spyglass Hill GC Roger Maltbie Dallan Ragland 7 & 6 Bruce Robertson 71
1973 Spyglass Hill GC Chuck Van Linge Dean Prince 2 up no qualifying round
1974 Spyglass Hill GC Tom Culligan, III Dean Prince 3 & 2 no qualifying round
1975 Spyglass Hill GC Scott Hoyt Ray Pellegrini 10 & 9 no qualifying round
1976 Spyglass Hill GC Michael Brannan Scott Hoyt 3 & 1 no qualifying round
1977 Spyglass Hill GC Bryan Pini Rick Gordon 3 & 2 no qualifying round
1978 Spyglass Hill GC Bryan Pini Dennis Trixler 8 & 6 no qualifying round
1979 Spyglass Hill GC Jim Kane Chris Gutilla 3 & 2 no qualifying round
1980 Spyglass Hill GC Mike Rubio Gary Vandeweghe 5 & 3 no qualifying round
1981 Spyglass Hill GC Neil Robinson Mark Morgan 1 up no qualifying round
1982 Spyglass Hill GC Bill Malley Terry Foreman 4 & 3 no qualifying round
1983 Spyglass Hill GC Michael Allen Casey Boyns 6 & 5 no qualifying round
1984 Spyglass Hill GC Tom Silva Tim Loustalot 4 & 2 no qualifying round
1985 Spyglass Hill GC Tim Robinson Dana Banke 10 & 9 Dana Banke 217
1986 Spyglass Hill GC Kevin Sutherland John Childs 37th hole Terrence Miskell 215
1987 Spyglass Hill GC Casey Boyns Frank Schiro Jr. 1 up John Kennaday 68-74-75—217
1988 Spyglass Hill GC Steve Sear Frank Schiro Jr. 2 & 1 Steve Sear 74-76-74—224
1989 Spyglass Hill GC Mike Foster Ron Ewing 7 & 5 Pat Lay 72-74-71—217
1990 Spyglass Hill GC Terrence Miskell Brian Pemberton 3 & 2 Casey Boyns 72-74-72—218
1991 Spyglass Hill GC Mike Lane Jason Larson 6 & 5 Casey Boyns 74-73-74—221
1992 Spyglass Hill GC Randy Haag Darren Dragovich 7 & 6 Dennis Mitchell 74-74-72—216
1993 Spyglass Hill GC Randy Haag Joey Ferrari 3 & 2 Randy Haag 74-70-74—218
1994 Spyglass Hill GC Rod Souza Jon Bettencourt 2 & 1 Casey Boyns 70-71-74—215
1995 Spyglass Hill GC Jeff Gilchrist Randy Haag 3 & 2 B. Nottingham 72-73-73—218
1996 Poppy Hills GC & Rancho Canada GC Casey Boyns Arron Oberholser 5 & 4 Darren Slackman 70-71—141
1997 Spyglass Hill GC Gary Vanier Casey Boyns 3 & 2 Justin Russo 67-73—140
1998 Spyglass Hill GC Matt Christensen Ray Otis 37th hole Jim Wilson 73-75—148
1999 Spyglass Hill GC Darryl Donovan Bob Niger 3 & 2 Tom Johnson 80-68—148
2000 Spyglass Hill GC James Hay Randy Haag 2 up Tim Tipton 74-73—147
2001 Spyglass Hill GC Matt Bettencourt Scott Hardy 6 & 5 Jonathan Echols 71-70—141
2002 Spyglass Hill GC Spencer Levin Jason Higton 6 & 4 Matt Bettencourt 74-69—143
2003 Spyglass Hill GC Patrick Nagle Darryl Donovan 7 & 6 Randy Haag 73-67—140
2004 Spyglass Hill GC Spencer Levin Terry Foreman 11 & 10 Travis Esway 70-69—139
2005 Spyglass Hill GC Eddie Olson Eric Lillibridge 4 & 3 Eddie Olson 68-70—138
2006 Spyglass Hill GC Ryan Thornberry Eddie Olson 2 & 1 R. Thornberry, Kaz Hoffman 139
2007 Spyglass Hill GC Ryan Hallisey Jeremy Gearhart 39th hole Scott Hardy, 70-70—140
2008 Spyglass Hill GC Matthew Marshall Chris Marin 3 & 2 Matthew Hollinsead, 70-73—143
2009 Spyglass Hill GC George Gandranata Casey Boyns 1 up Mat Montez, 77-70—147
2010 Spyglass Hill GC John Catlin Scott Hardy 3 & 2 Randy Haag, 70-69—139
2011 Spyglass Hill GC John Catlin Michael Weaver 5 & 3 Kevin Wentworth, 68-71—139
2012 Spyglass Hill GC Jake Yount Eric Ash 6 & 4 Jay Myers, Austin Roberts 66-75—141
2013 Spyglass Hill GC Ben Geyer Andrew Morgan 5 & 4 Alex Franklin 71-69—140
2014 Spyglass Hill GC Matthew Seramin Aaron Beverly 1-up Aaron Beverly 72-69—141
2015 Spyglass Hill GC Maverick McNealy Matt Cohn 6 & 5 Maverick McNealy 65-71—136
2016 Spyglass Hill GC Shintaro Ban Eddy Lai 10 & 9 Eddy Lai 68-69—137
2017 Spyglass Hill GC Isaiah Salinda Shintaro Ban 1-up Finigan Tilly 66-68—134
2018 Spyglass Hill GC Thomas Hutchison Ned Jensen 3 & 1 Blake Hathcoat 70-65—135
2019 Spyglass Hill GC Josh McCarthy Toby Briggs 7 & 5 Josh McCarthy 67-70—137
2020 Spyglass Hill GC Lucas Carper Weston Payne 5 & 4 Griffin Pace 69-71—140
2021 Spyglass Hill GC Sam Sommerhauser Michael Slesinski 3 & 2 Ian Dahl 75-70—145
2022 Spyglass Hill GC Ian Gilligan Bobby Bucey 2 & 1 AJ Fitzgerald 68-73—141

* Championship was 36-hole stroke play in 1903 and 1904