54th NCGA Public Links Championship | Poppy Hills GC | July 22-23, 2019
2018 champion Ben Peters
The NCGA Public Links Championship began in 1966, and is the premier event for public-course players.
The 36-hole stroke play Championship is contested by a field of 32 players. It coincides with the NCGA Public Links Net Championship (see below).
Contestants must be public course players who do not hold playing privileges in any course from which the general public is excluded.
Ryan King holds the scoring record set in 1999 of six-under-par 138. Only three players have managed back-to-back victories, Mike Powers in 1972 and 1973, Mitch Thomas in 1978 and 1979, and Scott Hardy in 2010 and 2011. Four-time NCGA Player of the Year Casey Boyns still reigns with the most NCGA Public Links wins, having claimed the trophy four times.
Qualifying Information
ENTRIES CLOSE: June 2, 2019
ENTRY FEE: $135 per player. Exempt players pay an additional $30 per player.
FORMAT: 18 holes qualifying. 32 players, including exempts, will will advance to the Championship, which will be 36 holes of stroke play (18 holes per day). Non-exempt players will be required to go to sectional qualifying.
All players must qualify except the following: . Public Links Exemptions
QUALIFYING LOCATIONS: for the 2019 Public Links and Public Links Net Championships take place June 19-July 7 at the following courses:
Eagle Vines June 19 | Metropolitan June 20 | Callippe Preserve June 21 | Del Monte June 22 | Haggin Oaks June 22 | Crystal Springs June 26 | Castle Oaks June 28 | Peacock Gap June 28 | Paso Robles June 29
Public Links Net Championship
2018 Champions Andy Nordhoff (Golden Gate Flight) and Patrick Tam (Yosemite Flight)
The Public Links Net Championship was founded as an event for male and female net players during the annual NCGA Public Links Championship. The 36-hole stroke play Championship is contested by a field of 64 players that advance from qualifying rounds.
ENTRIES CLOSE: June 2, 2019
ENTRY FEE: $135 per player.
FORMAT: 18 holes qualifying. 64 players will advance to the Championship, which will be 36-hole stroke play, 18 holes per day. Play will be 100% of the course handicap. Course handicaps for women will be adjusted accordingly.
FLIGHTS: Players will be divided equally into 2 handicap flights at the Championship.
RULES OF PLAY: The USGA Rules of Golf as of January 1, 2019 are in effect and are supplemented by the NCGA rules card. The Committee will provide any additional Local Rules needed at the championship site. It is the individual player’s responsibility to know the Rules of Golf and the Conditions of the Competition.
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About Poppy Hills
Poppy Hills, which is owned by the NCGA, underwent an extensive renovation beginning in March of 2013 centered around water conservation, primarily by improving irrigation and drainage. Architect Robert Trent Jones II returned with his design firm, this time creating a firm, fast and fun course that unfolds seamlessly through the stunning Del Monte Forest.
No. 11 Poppy Hills
Jones reinvented the course architecturally, restoring each hole to its natural elevation along the forest floor, softening doglegs and contours, rebuilding all 18 greens with bentgrass, eliminating rough and introducing native waste areas that reduce irrigated turf by nearly 25%.
Course Tour | Get driving directions
Tournament Recaps
Ben Peters had already proven that he was one of Northern California’s elite amateurs. On more than one occasion, he’s helped represent the NCGA in the annual Hanna-Wehrman Cup Matches against the Northern California PGA. But the 33-year-old’s resume had lacked an NCGA championship. At least, until now. Read Full 2018 Recap | View 2018 Photo Gallery
Nick Moore has established himself as a guy who can close things out. The 34-year-old Monterey resident is also now one of the top NCGA men’s players of all-time.A day after taking the lead at Poppy Hills Golf Course 
with a 1-over 72, Moore shot a 3-over 75 at Bayonet Golf Course and defeated three other players in a tight sudden-death playoff to capture his third NCGA Public Links Championship title. Read Full 2017 Recap | View 2017 Photo Gallery
After a few years of watching cohorts Bobby Bucey, Robby Salomon and pal Nick Moore win, San Francisco resident Matt Cohn kept wondering when his turn would come. “It wasn’t on the back of my mind. It was on the front of my mind,” Cohn said. “I consider those guys my peers.” For the 35-year-old Cohn, the wait is over. Read Full Story | View 2016 Photo Gallery
Following a self-described disappointing year where he went winless, Seaside resident Nick Moore has been eagerly waiting for the 2015 season to really kick in. “I didn’t feel like I was playing to my potential last year, and taking time off doesn’t help,” Moore said. “I’m 
really focused this year.” On Monday at par-72 Spyglass Hill, a re-energized Moore showed that he’s back, shooting a 1-under 71 to win the 50th NCGA Public Links Championship by two strokes over co-runner-ups Scott Hardy and Wes Sandroni. Read Full 2015 Recap | View 2015 Photo Gallery
Monterey resident Austin Roberts was clutch when it mattered the most. Roberts stuck his 65-yard approach shot on the par-5 18th hole at par-72 Bayonet Golf Course to within three feet of the flagstick and sank the putt for birdie for a final round 73, leading to a one 
stroke victory over Hayden Shieh in the 49th annual NCGA Public Links Championship.“This is a big win for me,” said Roberts, who finished the weather battered event with a two-day total of 2-over 146 (73-73). “I feel like all the hard work I’ve done the last few weeks has paid off.” Read Full 2014 Recap | View 2014 Photo Gallery | Net Recap
Par proved to be paramount at the 48th Annual Public Links Championship, just ask winner Nick Moore. The 30-year-old Monterey resident feasted on pars over the 36-hole competition, converting 30 total pars, 15 each day. “[Pars] were the key, just 
keeping the ball in play and getting the ball on the green giving myself a chance for birdie,” he said. Moore, who had two bogeys and one birdie in his first round at Bayonet GC yesterday, did the opposite today at Spyglass making two birdies and one bogey. Read Full 2013 Recap | View 2013 Photo Gallery | Net Recap
Past Champions
(All played at Spyglass Hill GC, unless otherwise noted)
| 1966 | Robert Heaton | N/A |
| 1967 | Ross Randall | 151 |
| 1968 | Jim McMurtrey | 76-73-149 |
| 1969 | Forrest Fezler | 75-74-149 |
| 1970 | Larry Cram | 74-77-151 |
| 1971 | Dick Dallagiacomo | 73-78-151 |
| 1972 | Mike Powers | 77-74-151 |
| 1973 | Mike Powers | 76-74-150 |
| 1974 | Jeff Burda | 71-74-145 |
| 1975 | Kim Flint | 73-76-149 |
| 1976 | Mike Pouey | 76-76-152 |
| 1977 | Terry Foreman | 78-76-154 |
| 1978 | Mitch Thomas | 73-73-146 |
| 1979 | Mitch Thomas | 78-74-152 |
| 1980 | John Munro | 80-72-152 |
| 1981 | Casey Boyns | 76-74-150 |
| 1982 | Jim Knoll | 79-72-151 |
| 1983 | Casey Boyns | 74-75-149 |
| 1984 | Bill Malley | 76-74-150 |
| 1985 | Aly Trompas | 77-73-150 |
| 1986 | Terrence Miskell | 77-72-149 |
| 1987 | Casey Boyns | 76-72-148 |
| 1988 | Randy Bridge | 72-73-145 |
| 1989 | Jeffrey Thomas | 78-74-152 |
| 1990 | Bob Eberle | 73-73-146 |
| 1991 | Bill Sendell | 79-70-149 |
| 1992 | Lou Alvarez at Poppy Hills | 74-74-148 |
| 1993 | Tyler Williamson | 76-75-151 |
| 1994 | Yasu Amaya | 70-76-146 |
| 1995 | Arron Oberholser | 72-74-146 |
| 1996 | Casey Boyns at Poppy Hills | 72-69-141 |
| 1997 | Dennis Mitchell at Poppy Hills and Spanish Bay | 75-68-143 |
| 1998 | Matt Christensen | 73-74-147 |
| 1999 | Ryan King | 70-68-138 |
| 2000 | J.J. Jakovac | 75-73-148 |
| 2001 | William Moore | 70-73-143 |
| 2002 | Logan Goettsch | 71-69-140 |
| 2003 | James Hay | 72-73-145 |
| 2004 | Gary Young | 72-71-143 |
| 2005 | Michael Ostrich | 71-70-141 |
| 2006 | Arvo Voip | 73-73-146 |
| 2007 | Scott Hardy | 71-69-140 |
| 2008 | Kyle Prolo | 69-71-140 |
| 2009 | William Moore | 72-72-144 |
| 2010 | Scott Hardy | 74-73-147 |
| 2011 | Scott Hardy | 73-71-144 |
| 2012 | Trent Tessler | 76-73-149 |
| 2013 | Nick Moore at Bayonet and Spyglass Hill | 73-71-144 |
| 2014 | Austin Roberts at Spyglass Hill and Bayonet | 73-73-146 |
| 2015 | Nick Moore at Poppy Hills and Spyglass Hill | 71-71-142 |
| 2016 | Matt Cohn at Bayonet and Poppy Hills | 73-74-147 |
| 2017 | Nick Moore at Poppy Hills and Bayonet | 72-75-147 |
| 2018 | Ben Peters at Poppy Hills | 70-69-139 |
Past Net Champions
| 2013 | President: James Pogue | 68-71–139 |
| Director: David Foord | 74-69–143 | |
| Secretary: Brian McClintock | 74-65–139 | |
| 2014 | Chardonnay: Jason Marks | 70-73–143 |
| Merlot: Robert Freitas | 75-64–139 | |
| Zinfandel: Eddie Zahariades | 68-67–135 | |
| 2015 | Chardonnay: Ken Gosselin | 70-71–141 |
| Merlot: Manuel Herrera | 71-72–143 | |
| Zinfandel: Jeff Benrey | 71-68–139 | |
| 2016 | Big Sur: Jon Swift | 74-67–141 |
| Golden Gate: Carl Thoreson | 74-71–145 | |
| Yosemite: Clint Jones | 71-67–138 | |
| 2017 | Big Sur: Jarrett Jern | 71-69–140 |
| Golden Gate: Paul Gamez | 75-65–140 | |
| Yosemite: Stephen Ackley | 67-66–133 | |
| 2018 | Golden Gate: Andy Nordhoff | 65-71–136 |
| Yosemite: Patrick Tam | 71-68–139 |