California Amateur Championship Information

110th California Amateur Championship | The Preserve GC | June 21-26, 2021

Player Handbook/Pairings/Results

2020 champion Joey Vrzich

The California Amateur Championship is one of the nation’s oldest state amateur golf championships and dates back to 1912 when the California Golf Association was founded. The California Amateur Championship was originally held at Del Monte GC but shifted to Pebble Beach Golf Links when it was built in 1919. The championship remained at Pebble Beach through 2006, with the exception of 2000 when it was played at Bayonet and Blackhorse GCs due to the U.S. Open being hosted at Pebble Beach. In 2006, the championship began a new tradition of rotating to courses around the state, alternating between Northern California and Southern California. The tournament has seen many top names including Ken Venturi in 1951, Johnny Miller in 1968, Bobby Clampett in 1978/1980, Duffy Waldorf in 1984 and Mark O’Meara in 1979. Standout golfers who have tried to win the title and failed, include Craig Stadler, Corey Pavin, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. Woods reached the semifinals in 1994 before falling to Ed Cuff. The oldest champion remains Vern Callison, who won in 1967 at the age of 47. Mac Hunter is the youngest champion, having won in 1972 at the age of 16.

Qualifying Is Available Statewide for Both NCGA and SCGA Players

ENTRIES CLOSE: April 25, 2021 (Entries Open January 4).

ELIGIBILITY: This championship is open to amateur golfers who have an established current index of 4.4 or below as of the time of registration and are members in good standing of the Northern California Golf Association and/or Southern California Golf Association. PLAYERS MAY ONLY ATTEMPT TO QUALIFY ONCE.

ENTRY FEE: $150. There is no additional championship fee.

REFUND POLICY: Full Refund less $10.00 processing fee if requested prior to closing date. 50% refund after the closing date and 48 hours prior to the event. No refunds will be honored within 48 hours of the event.

FORMAT: One 18-hole qualifying round will determine the championship qualifiers. 156 players, including exempts, will advance to the championship. If necessary, a playoff will determine the final position(s) at each qualifying site. The championship field will play 36 holes of stroke play. The top 32 players will advance from stroke play to single elimination Match Play beginning Wednesday and concluding with the 36-hole final match on Saturday. Note: Carts are not permitted for the championship proper. The CGA will use United States Golf Association guidelines in determining cart exemptions for ADA-approved disabilities.

***Northern California Qualifying Sites and Dates: San Jose CC (May 10) | Merced GCC (May 17) | Baylands GL (May 18) | Peach Tree GCC (May 24) | Riverside GC (June 1)

EXEMPTIONS: All exempt players must still meet eligibility requirements and register online for the championship prior to the entry closing date. 2021 California Amateur Exemptions

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Tournament Recaps

There were a number of perils at the 109th California Amateur Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course.A set up that at times stretched the course to a championship record 7,802-plus yards. An opening Round of 32 where just about every top seed found themselves heading home. Through it all, the hometown guy, Joey Vrzich of La Jolla, emerged as the champion, winning the title with a 3 and 2 victory over Charlie Reiter in the 36-hole final on the South Course. Read Full 2020 Recap

Chino resident William Mouw entered the 108th California Amateur Championship as the highest ranked player in the field in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. The 18-year-old Pepperdine freshman-to-be lived up to the billing, and will soon be making a quick ascent up from what will be a former No.58 ranking.The No.24 seeded Mouw became one of the youngest California Amateur winners ever…Read Full 2019 Recap

Concord resident Bobby Bucey reached the pinnacle of amateur golf in the Golden State. Bucey, a three-time NCGA champion and the No.11 seed, won the coveted California Amateur Championship on Saturday, defeating runner-up and No. 4 seed Hidetoshi Yoshihara, 1-up, in the 36 hole final at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad… Read Full 2018 Recap

Six days, two rounds of stroke play, and six rounds of match play – and it all came down to a pair of putts on the historic 18th green of San Francisco’s Olympic Club. One dropped, one didn’t, and that made all the pj90x90 difference in who hoisted the trophy as the champion in the 106th California Amateur Championship. With a clutch birdie on he 36th hole, PJ Samiere of San Diego State won the title… Read Full 2017 Recap

ban90x90 In its 105-year existence, the prestigious California Amateur Championship had never seen a pair of brothers both hoist the Edward B. Tufts Trophy, let alone in back to back years. But Shintaro Ban of San Jose made that happen Saturday, surviving a grueling week of golf at Valencia CC to win the tournament just one year after his older brother Shotaro did. “It’s absolutely a dream come true,” said Ban. “To forever have my name under his on that trophy, I can’t believe this really happened.”… Read Full 2016 Recap

Moments after clinching the title, Shotaro Ban saw his mom and the two happily exchanged hugs. After a long and emotional week, the 21-year-old was finally a Ban90x90 champion. Ban, a senior at Cal, defeated 17-year-old Roseville resident Joshua Sedeno, 5 and 4, on a breezy Saturday at Lake Merced Golf Club to win the 104th California Amateur Championship. With the victory, he’ll join the likes of Johnny Miller, Mark O’Meara and Ken Venturi as players who have their names etched on the prestigious Edward B. Tufts Trophy...Read Full 2015 Recap

Xander1 San Diego resident Xander Schauffele reached the pinnacle of amateur golf in the Golden State. Schauffele, a senior-to-be at San Diego State and the No.8 seed, won the prestigious California Amateur Championship on Saturday at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, knocking off No.2 seed Beau Hossler of Mission Viejo, 2-up. With the win, Schauffele joins an illustrious list of former winners of the event including Johnny Miller, Mark O’Meara and John Cook. In both Friday’s quarterfinals and semifinals, Schauffele, 20, also won 2-up… Read Full 2014 Recap

Last Saturday Cory McElyea was finishing up his weather-delayed second round at the 113th U.S. Open at Merion GC in Ardmore, Penn. This Saturday McElyea wrapped up a weeklong spectacular display of golf at Monterey Peninsula CC in Pebble Beach, Calif. to win the 102nd California Amateur Championship 3-and-2 over Bryson DeChambeau. While McElyea had a hectic week—which included flying across the country this past Sunday to California to play in this year’s championship—there’s no doubt that his experience playing on the biggest stage in golf helped him ultimately prevail as the latest California amateur champion… Read Full 2013 Recap

Past Champions

Year	Champion	Runner-Up	Margin	Medalist
1912	Jack F. Neville	D.P. Fredericks	2 & 1	Robin Y. Hayne, 78-74 – 152
1913	Jack F. Neville	E.S. Armstrong	5 & 3	E.S. Armstrong, 74-76 – 150
1914	H.K.B. Davis	Heine Schmidt	5 & 4	Heine Schmidt, 70-72 – 142
1915	E.S. Armstrong	Heine Schmidt	6 & 5	Heine Schmidt, 72-72 – 144
1916	Larry Cowing	R.Y. Hayne	5 & 4	Robin Y. Hayne, 75-74 – 149
1917	Chas. H. Walter	Douglas Grant	1-up	Douglas Grant, 70-74 – 144
1918	Douglas Grant	J.K. Wadley	8 & 7	Douglas Grant, 74-74 – 148
1919	Jack F. Neville	Dr. C.H. Walter	5 & 4	Douglas Grant, 74-74 – 148
1920	Dr. Paul M. Hunter	E.S. Armstrong	6 & 4	Robert Hunter, 76-73 – 149
1921	Dr. Paul M. Hunter	Gerald Marx	6 & 5	Paul Hunter, 78-75 – 153
1922	Jack F. Neville	Robert Hunter	11 & 9	E.S. Armstrong, 71-74 – 145
1923	J.J. McHugh	Fred Wright	9 & 8	Willie Hunter, 72-72 – 144
1924	Capt. A. Bullock-Webster	Rudie Wilhelm	7 & 5	Frank Godchaux, 78-72 – 150
1925	George Von Elm	Frank Dolp	2 & 1	H. Chandler Egan, 73-71 – 144
1926	H. Chandler Egan	J.J. McHugh	2 & 1	Donald Moe, 75-68 – 143, Oswald Carlton, 73-70 – 143
1927	J.J. McHugh	Paul Hunter	8 & 7	George Von Elm, 68-72 – 140
1928	J.J. McHugh	Chandler Egan	6 & 5	Jack Gaines, 75-75 – 150
1929	Jack F. Neville	F.C. Stevens, Jr.	3 & 1	J.J. McHugh, 80-73-153, Fay Coleman, 77-76-153
1930	Francis H.I. Brown	Fay Coleman	10 & 9	Lawson Little, 73-75 – 148
1931	David Martin	Ernie Pieper, Jr.	10 & 9	No qualifying
1932	Neil White	H. Thompson	3 & 2	No qualifying
1933	Charles Seaver Dr.	Cliff Baker	2-up	No qualifying
1934	Stuart Hawley	Don Edwards	1-up	John Robbins, 71-71-142, Jack Nounman, 71-71-142
1935	Jack Gaines	Stuart Hawle	2 & 1	Ernie Pieper Jr., 76-72 – 148
1936	Mat Palacio, Jr.	J.M. Rea	1 up	Roger Kelly, 72-71 – 143
1937	Roger Kelly	Mat Palacio	12 & 10	Ernest Combs, 73-70-143, Frank Flixon, 71-72-143
1938	Roger Kelly	Bob McGlashen	8 & 7	Roger Kelly, 74-70 – 144
1939	Jack Gage	Walt Gilliam	3 & 2	Roger Kelly, 72-72 – 144
1940	Ed Monaghan	Jack Gage	7 & 5	Rennie Kelly, 73-72 – 145
1941	Ernie Pieper Jr	Bob Gardner	4 & 2	Ralph Lomelli, 72-74 – 146
1942	John Dawson	Bob Gardner	3 & 1	Bud Brownell, 66-73 – 139
1943	Elmer Clites	Bob Rosburg	8 & 6	Henry Suico, 70
1944	Ernie Pieper Jr.	Bob Rosburg	5 & 4	Bob Rosburg, 72
1945	Bruce McCormick	Jack Nounnan	4 & 3	John Dawson, 69-75 – 144
1946	Bruce McCormick	Ernie Pieper Jr .	2 & 1	Eli Bariteau, 71
1947	Bob Gardner	Smiley Quick	2 & 1	Morgan Fottrell, 71
1948	Eli Bariteau	Bob Rosburg	37th hole	Russell York & Bob Silvestri, 72
1949	Mac Hunter	Gene Littler	39th hole	Tal Smith, John Dawson, Gene Littler 69
1950	Bob Gardner	Willie Barber	7 & 5	Fred Jordan, 72
1951	Ken Venturi	Dr. Frank Taylor	7 & 6	Bud Holscher, 74-68 – 142
1952	Bob Silvestri	Bruce McCormick	1-up	Gene Littler, 71-71 – 142
1953	Gene Littler	Dr. Frank Taylor	5 & 4	Ken Venturi, 68-71 – 139
1954	Dr. Frank Taylor	Walt Gilliam	3 & 2	Dr. Wm. O’Neal, 68-72 – 140
1955	Dr. Frank Taylor	Jack Lovegren	3 & 1	Tom Draper, 74-67 – 141
1956	Ken Venturi	Dr. Frank Taylor	2 & 1	Bob Silvestri, 72-70-142, Ken Venturi, 72-70-142
1957	Tal Smith	Dick Giddings	7 & 6	Dr. Wm. O’Neal, 69-73 – 142
1958	Eli Bariteau	Dan Morgan	1-up	Dan Morgan, 73-69 – 142
1959	Vern Callison	Dick Runkle	6 & 4	Dan Morgan, 73-72-145, Bob Roos, 69-76-145
1960	Larry Bouchey	George Gallios	7 & 5	Dr. Art Butter, 72-73 – 145
1961	John Richardson	John Lotz	2 & 1	No Qualifying
1962	Dick Lotz	Ron Cerrudo	5 & 3	John Lotz, 71-70 – 141
1963	Dr. Paul Travis	Dick Runkle	3 & 2	Peter Choate, 75-66 – 141
1964	Steve Opperman	Guy Bill	37th hole	Ron Cerruclo, 76-79 -155
1965	Vern Callison Dr.	Art Butler	5 & 4	Dr. Art Butler, 72-71 – 143
1966	Bob Eastwood	Vic Loustalot	3 & 2	B. Eastwood, C. Sanudo, J. Bariteau (149)
1967	Bob E. Smith	Jim Rheim	7 & 5	Arne Dokka, 71-73 – 144
1968	Johnny Miller	Les Peterson	12 & 10	Les Peterson, 72-72 – 144
1969	Forrest Fezler	Steve Stimac	8 & 6	Ted Lyford, 73-73 – 146
1970	Bob Risch	Vic Loustalot	39th hole	Tom Smith, 75-72 – 147
1971	Doug Nelson	Sandy Galbraith	8 & 7	Sandy Galbraith, 72-73 – 145
1972	Mac Hunter	Bob Roos	2 up	Mark Pfeil, 73-73 – 146
1973	Mike Brannan	Dick Runkle	37th hole	Mike Brannan, 70-71 – 141
1974	Curtis Worley	Mike Brannan	2 & 1	Craig Stadler, 73-73-78 – 224
1975	John Cook	Bob Blomberg	2 & 1	C. Richardson 74-77-77-228, C. Worley 77-73-78-228
1976	Mike Brannan	Ron Commans	3 & 2	Scott Simpson, 72-70-76 – 218
1977	Lee Mikles	Ted Lyford	2 & 1	Tom Culligan, 74-74-74 – 222
1978	Bobby Clampett	Ray Pellegrini	5 & 4	Don Levin, 70-71-78 – 219
1979	Mark O’Meara	Lennie Clements	8 & 7	Lennie Clements, 72-74-68 – 214
1980	Bobby Clampett	Jim Kane	6 & 4	Bobby Clampett, 69-70-71 – 210
1981	Joe Tamburino	Brian Lindley	4 & 2	Mike Bamblatt, 72-73-72 – 217
1982	Gary Vanier	Bob Blomberg	3 & 2	Corey Pavin, 70-74-71 – 215
1983	Kris Moe	Tracy Nakazaki	8 & 6	Gregg Twiggs, 68-77-72 – 217
1984	Duffy Waldorf	Mark Phillips	2 & 1	Duffy Waldorf, 70-76-68 – 214
1985	Sam Randolph	Brad Greer	5 & 4	Sam Randolph, 69-70-73 – 212
1986	Terrence Miskell	Mike Blewett	5 & 4	Dana Banke, 70-70-74 – 214
1987	Mike Springer	Bob May	4 & 3	B. Lasken, T. Loustalot, S. Bogan (219)
1988	Don Parsons	Randy Haag	5 & 4	Aaron Meeks, 75-72-68 – 215
1989	Casey Boyns	D. Stockton Jr.	3 & 1	Jerry Michals, 69-72-141, Gary Vanier,70-71-141
1990	Charlie Wi	Gary Vanier	3 & 2	Mark Johnson, 73-69-142, Paul Stankowski, 73-69-142
1991	Harry Rudolph III	Sandy Galbraith	3 & 2	Sandy Galbraith, 70-75 – 145
1992	Todd Demsey	D. Berganio Jr.	5 & 4	Harry Rudolph, III, 74-69 – 143
1993	Casey Boyns	Joey Ferrari	2 & 1	Casey Boyns, 73-70 – 143
1994	Steve Woods	Ed Cuff	5 & 3	Steve Woods, 69-73 – 142
1995	Jeff Sanday	John Pate	1-up	Mark Johnson, 72-72 – 144
1996	Mark Johnson	Brian Crocker	8 & 7	Jeff Gilchrist, 69-73 – 142
1997	Jason Gore	Scott Watson	6 & 5	Tim Hogarth, 71-67 – 138
1998	Ed Cuff	Bobby Rodger	5 & 4	Craig Steinberg, 73-68 – 141
1999	Tim Hogarth	Gary Vanier	38th hole	Ed Cuff, 72-70-142, Steve Conway, 73-69-142
2000	Nick Jones (Bayonet/Blackhorse)	Troy McKinley	2-up	James Stewart, 71-72-143, Todd Miller, 73-70-143
2001	Darryl Donovan	Travis Johnson	4 & 3	Jeff Wilson, 69-72 – 141
2002	Eddie Heinen	Jonathan Echols	1-up	Don Dubois, 75-71 – 146
2003	Patrick Nagle	Spencer Levin	4 & 3	Roy Moon, 71-70 – 141
2004	Spencer Levin	Buzz Peel	4 & 3	Mark Sear, 75-67-68 – 210
2005	Don DuBois	Joe Bramlett	2 & 1	Jordon Cox, 71-69-72 – 212
2006	Jordan Nasser	Jeff Gilchrist	3 & 2	Steve Woods, 71-70-66 – 207
2007	Josh Anderson (Monterey Peninsula CC )	Joseph Greiner	4 & 3	Blake Trimble, 67-74 – 141
2008	Nick Delio (Lakeside GC)	Austin Roberts	7 & 5	A. Kim 71-69-140, M. Hoffenberg, 68-72-140, S. McGihon 73-67-140
2009	Geoff Gonzalez (Lake Merced GC)	Jeff Wilson	3 & 2	Geoff Gonzalez, 71-64 – 135, Nick Delio 69-66 – 135
2010	Scott Travers (Rancho Santa Fe GC)	Harry Rudolph	4 & 3	Scott Almquist, Kevin Fitzgerald 70-71–141
2011	Bhavik Patel (The Olympic Club)	Kevin Wentworth	8 & 6	Philip Chian, 67-69-136
2012	Kevin Marsh (La Cumbre CC)	Ben Geyer	4 & 3	Bhavik Patel, 64-65-129
2013	Cory McElyea (Monterey Peninsula CC)	Bryson DeChambeau	3 & 2	Corey Pereira 70-72-142, Xander Schauffele 68-74-142
2014	Xander Schauffele (La Costa Resort)	Beau Hossler	2-up	Jason Anthony 69-71-140
2015	Shotaro Ban (Lake Merced GC)	Joshua Sedeno	5 & 4	Satch Herrmann 70-66-136
2016	Shintaro Ban (Valencia CC)	Hidetoshi Yoshihara	5 & 4	Bryan Baumgarten 71-69-140, Andrew Levitt 68-72-140
2017	PJ Samiere (Olympic Club)	Noah Norton	1-up	Eddy Lai 67-70-137
2018	Bobby Bucey (La Costa Resort)	Hidetoshi Yoshihara	1-up	Cody Hall 73-66-139
2019	William Mouw (Monterey Peninsula CC)	Christian Banke	4 & 2	Sean Yu 68-66-134
2020	Joey Vrzich (Torrey Pines GC)	Charlie Reiter	3 & 2	Stephen Hale 66-71-137

	MULTIPLE CHAMPIONS		MULTIPLE MEDALISTS
5	Jack Neville (1912-13, 1919, 1922, 1929)	3	Douglas Grant (1917, 1918, 1919)
3	J.J.McHugh (1923, 27-28)	3	Roger Kelly (1936, 1938-39)
2	Dr. Paul Hunter (1920-21)	3	John W. Dawson (1945, 1949, 1955)
2	Roger Kelly (1937-38)	2	Robin Y. Hayne (1912, 1916)
2	Ernie Pieper Jr . (1941, 1944)	2	E. Scotty Armstrong (1913, 1922)
2	Bruce McCormick (1945-46)	2	Heinrich Schmidt (1914, 1915)
2	Bob Gardner (1947,1950)	2	Gene Littler (1949,1952)
2	Eli Bariteau (1948, 1958)	2	Ken Venturi (1953,1956)
2	Ken Venturi (1951, 1956)	2	Dr. Wm. O’Neal (1954, 1957)
2	Dr. Frank Taylor (1954-55)	2	Dan Morgan (1958, 1959)
2	Mike Brannan (1973, 1976)	2	Dr. Art Butler (1960,1965)
2	Bobby Clampett (1978, 1980)	2	Sandy Galbraith (1971,1991)
2	Casey Boyns (1989, 1993)	2	Mark Johnson (1990, 1995)
2	Vern Callison (1959, 1965)	2	Steve Woods (1994, 2006)

	MEDALIST-CHAMPION SAME YEAR			BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS
	Douglas Grant (1918)			Jack F. Neville (1912-1913)
	Paul Hunter (1921)			Dr. Paul Hunter (1920-21)
	Roger Kelly (1938)			J.J. McHugh (1927-28)
	Ken Venturi (1956)			Roger Kelly (1937-38)
	Bob Eastwood (1966)			Bruce McCormick (1945-46)
	Mike Brannan (1973)			Dr. Frank Taylor (1954-55)
	Bobby Clampett (1980)
	Duffy Waldorf (1984)
	Sam Randolph (1985)
	Casey Boyns (1993)
	Steve Woods (1994)
	Geoff Gonzalez (2009)