State Amateur Preview
The Olympic Club to Host 100th California State Amateur
Defending champion Scott Travers
June 20-25, 2011
A total of 156 players coming from 15 qualifying sites across the state will converge on The Olympic Club’s Lake and Ocean courses for 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying. The top 32 players will advance from stroke play to single-elimination match play on the Lake, with the scheduled 36-hole final set for Saturday, June 25 to determine the champion.
- Participants will get a first-hand look at The Olympic Club’s extensive renovation in advance of the ’12 U.S. Open. Several holes have new tees, most notably the par-4 seventh and the formerly short par-3 eighth holes and the entire course now boasts bentgrass greens.
- Handicap Requirement – 4.4 or lower
- Players to watch – Besides past champions Casey Boyns (’89, ’93), Nick Delio (’08), Darryl Donovan (’01), Don DuBois (’05), Josh Anderson (’07), Geoff Gonzalez (’09), Jordan Nasser (’06), Steve Woods (’94) and defending champion Scott Travers, NCGA stalwarts Jeff Wilson and Olympic Club member Randy Haag will be looking to add a State Amateur championship to their celebrated careers.
- The 100 years of the State Amateur have produced great champions, but the difficulty in winning the event might best be illustrated by the two native born Californians who never won it – Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
- The Olympic Club has hosted four U.S. Opens (’55,’66,’87 and ’98) and will host its fifth in 2012. After that championship, the club will have staged 10 total USGA national championships.
Defending champion Scott Travers of Trabuco Canyon was on hand at the annual California Amateur Media Day held at Olympic June 2. The 23-year-old had just completed his eligibility at Santa Clara, where he was WCC player of the year in 2010, and spoke eloquently of the special feeling the San Francisco club evokes in those privileged to play it. Other speakers at the Media Day, including Olympic Club GM Greg DeRosa and Superintendent Pat Finlen, spoke of the pride the club feels in hosting the 100th edition of the storied championship.
Schedule:
- Monday June 20 – 18 holes of stroke play with 78 players starting at 7:30 a.m. off tee #1 on The Lake and Ocean Courses
- Tuesday June 21 – 18 holes of stroke play with 78 players starting at 7:30 a.m. off of #1 on The Lake and Ocean Courses
PLAYOFF: Following play, a playoff will take place for the 32nd spot beginning on hole #9 of the Lake Course, continuing on to #18 if necessary. This rotation will continue until all final spots are determined. - Wednesday June 22 – First round of match play will take place with 32 players starting at 7:30 a.m. in groups of two off tee #1 on the Lake Course
- Thursday June 23 – Second round of match play will take place with 16 players starting at 7:30 a.m. in groups of two off tee #1 on the Lake Course
- Friday June 24 – Quarter-finals of match play will take place with eight players starting at 7:30 a.m. in groups of two off tee #1 on the Lake Course
- Friday June 24 – Semi-finals of match play will take place with four players starting at 1:00 p.m. in groups of two off tee #1 on the Lake Course.
- Saturday June 25 – 36-hole final of match play will take place starting at 7:30a.m. and 12:00 p.m. off tee #1 on the Lake Course.
North/South Challenge Matches
The North/South Challenge is a two day competition between the Northern California Golf Association and the Southern California Golf Association which take place during stroke play qualifying on Monday and Tuesday. The winning team will hold the rights to the Roger Lapham Trophy. Each team is selected by their respective association. The final results are based on the best five scores out of six for each of the teams for a two day total score.