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California State Amateur

102nd California State Amateur Championship | Monterey Peninsula CC | June 17-22, 2013

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 championship does not require qualifying at the club level to enter. NCGA and SCGA players with a handicap index of 4.4 or less are eligible to enter. NCGA/SCGA members can qualify at any site in the north or south.

Online Registration – Paper Registration

ENTRIES CLOSE: April 7, 2013* & April 17, 2013**

ENTRY FEE: $85. Players qualifying for the championship proper will pay an additional $200. Exempt players pay only $200.

***Northern California Qualifying Sites and Dates: *Stevinson Ranch (April 22) | *Fountaingrove (April 29) | *Olympic Club – Ocean Course (April 29) |  **Roddy Ranch (May  2) | Pasadera (May 14) | Rancho Murieta (May 20)

***Southern California Qualifying Sites and Dates: **Rustic Canyon (May 9) | **Marabella (May 13) | **Shadowridge (May 13) | **Brookside (May 15) | **Rancho San Marcos (May 20) | **Victoria (May 20) | **Avondale (May 22)

***Qualifying is available statewide for both NCGA and SCGA Players.

Format: 18 holes qualifying. 156 players including exemptions will advance to the championship. Championship: 36 holes (18 holes per day) of stroke play at The Olympic Club. The top 32 players will advance from stroke play to single-elimination match play.

All players must qualify except the following: 2012 CGA round of 32 match play qualifiers, the following current SCGA/NCGA champions: 2012 NCGA Amateur Match Play, 2012 NCGA Amateur Stroke Play, 2012 NCGA Junior, 2013 NCGA Public Links, 2012 SCGA Amateur, 2012 SCGA Match Play, 2012 SCGA Public Links, 2013 SCGA Mid-Amateur. Exemptions are also granted to the 2013 CIF State Champion, 2012 US Amateur Match Play qualifiers, top 200 players on the Golfweek World Amateur Rankings as of March 1, 2013 and special exemptions as selected by the CGA Board of Directors. Past champions prior to 2003 are exempt for life. Champions after 2003 are exempt for 10 years. Each exempt player is required to meet eligibilty requirements and submit an entry prior to the closing date.

California State Amateur Championship Exemptions

Tournament Recaps

Kevin Marsh won the 101st California State Amateur Championship at La Cumbre CC in Santa Barbara on Saturday, beating Ben Geyer 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final. Marsh, a Santa Barbara resident, turned the match into his favor on the par-5 12th hole on the opening 18 as he birdied and Geyer parred to take a 1 up lead. Marsh would never allow Geyer to square the match from that point forward and played some great golf allowing Geyer to only win three holes the rest of the way, while he won six… Read Full 2012 Recap

The third time was the charm for Bhavik Patel of Bakersfield,who captured the 100th playing of the California State Amateur at storied Olympic Club. The Bakersfield resident failed to qualify for match play in the two previous championships, but rode a hot putter to an 8-and-6 victory over Kevin Wentworth of Arnold in the final.  Read Full 2011 Recap

After five days of battling over the 99th California State Amateur trophy, youth overcame experience as 22-year-old Scott Travers of  Trabuco Canyon defeated La Jolla’s Harry Rudolph, 40 and the 1991 champion, 4 and 3 for the state amateur crown at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. Read Full 2010 Recap

Geoff Gonzalez captured the State Amateur at Lake Merced GC, becoming the first player in 15 years and only the 12th overall to win the championship and medalist honors. The champion defeated 46-year-old Jeff Wilson of Fairfield who was seeking to enhance an already glittering competitive resume. The all Northern California final was initially a Wilson show, as the Green Valley CC member took a 3-up lead into the 8th hole of the match… Read Full 2009 Recap | 2009 Stroke Play Qualifying Results | 2009 Match Play Bracket | View 2009 Photo Gallery

You had to feel for Austin Roberts’ caddie. You watched all week as the caddie huffed and puffed and tried to keep up with his 15-year-old boss as he stalked the fairways of Lakeside in pursuit of a championship that had never been won by someone so young. But you also observed that Roberts’ opponent, Nick Delio of Valencia, drove the ball prodigious distances, and that with his strength, the rough didn’t mitigate a deft short game… Read Full 2008 Recap | 2008 Stroke Play Qualifying Results | 2008 Match Play Bracket | View 2008 Photo Gallery

It’s never over until it’s over is the perfect mantra for Josh Anderson. Pushed to the brink to qualify for match play and needing extra holes on two occasions throughout the week, the recent Murrieta Valley high school graduate used grit and perseverance to defeat Joseph Greiner 4 and 3 and capture the 96th California Amateur Championship at Monterey Peninsula Country Club… Read Full 2007 Recap | 2007 Stroke Play Qualifying Results | 2007 Match Play Bracket | View 2007 Photo Gallery

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 Vic Loustalot 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
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)