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California State Amateur

98th California State Amateur Championship | Lake Merced GC | June 22-27, 2009

California State Amateur Website 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.

Qualifying Information

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. 2009 Qualifying Results: April 20 – Castlewood | Corral de Teirra | San Jose April 27 – El Macero | Oakdale | Olympic Club May 7 – Rustic Canyon (South) May 11 – The SCGA GC (South) May 18 – Shadowridge (South) | El Camino (South) May 20 – Oak Valley (South) | Old Ranch (South) | Empire Lakes (South) May 21 – Cypress Ridge (South) Format: 18 holes qualifying. 156 players including exemptions will advance to the championship. Championship: 36 holes (18 holes per day) of stroke play at Lake Merced GC. The top 32 players will advance from stroke play to single-elimination match play. All players must qualify except the following: 2008 CGA round of 32 match play qualifiers, the following current SCGA/NCGA champions: 2008 NCGA Amateur Match Play, 2008 NCGA Amateur Stroke Play, 2008 NCGA Junior, 2008 SCGA Amateur, 2008 SCGA Match Play, 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur. Exemptions are also granted to the 2009 CIF State Champion, 2008 US Amateur Match Play qualifiers, top 200 players on the Golfweek World Amateur Rankings as of March 1, 2009 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. GCA Exemptions From Qualifying.

Tournament Recaps

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 Dr. Paul M. Hunter 8 & 7 George Von Elm, 68-72 – 140
1928 J.J. McHugh H. 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 Harold 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 75-74-149, C. Sanudo 76-73-149, J. Bariteau 79-70-149
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 70-72-77-219, T. Loustalot 77-69-73-219, S. Bogan 75-70-74-219
1988 Don Parsons Randy Haag 5 & 4 Aaron Meeks, 75-72-68 – 215
1989 Casey Boyns Dave 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 David 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 and 3 Roy Moon, 71-70 – 141
2004 Spencer Levin Buzz Peel 4 and 3 Mark Sear, 75-67-68 – 210
2005 Don DuBois Joe Bramlett 2 and 1 Jordon Cox, 71-69-72 – 212
2006 Jordan Nasser Jeff Gilchrist 3 and 2 Steve Woods, 71-70-66 – 207
2007 Josh Anderson (Monterey Pen. CC ) Joseph Greiner 4 and 3 Blake Trimble, 67-74 – 141
2008 Nick Delio (Lakeside GC) Austin Roberts 7 and 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 and 2 Geoff Gonzalez, 71-64 – 135, Nick Delio 69-66 – 135
Year State Senior  
1992 Chuck Weil at Ojai 71-71– 142
1993 Paul Ladin at Ojai 73-69 –142
1994 Jim McMurtrey at Poppy Hills 71-75-72 – 218
1995 Jim McMurtrey at Poppy Hills 72-74-73 – 219
1996 Paul Spengler at Poppy Hills 74-75-75 – 224
1997 Cliff Davis at Poppy Hills 77-70-71 – 218
1998 Jim McMurtrey at Poppy Hills 71-74-74 – 219
1999 Tom Eastlack at Poppy Hills 74-75-71 – 220
2000 Mike Riley at Poppy Hills 73-76-72 – 221
2001 Roly Lamontagne at Poppy Hills 69-75-70 – 214
2002 Ted Lyford at Poppy Hills 72-67-72 – 211
2003 Joe Dudley at Poppy Hills 73-72-75 – 220
2004 Rob Thompson at Poppy Hills 74-73-71 – 218
2005 Bob Olds at Poppy Hills 73-71-75 – 219
2006 Steve Bogan at Poppy Hills 75-74-75 – 224
2007 Gary Vanier at Poppy Hills 73-75-73 – 221
2008 Jeff Burda at Poppy Hills 74-70-65 – 209
  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)      

About Lake Merced GC

Originally designed by Willie Lock in 1922, Lake Merced was redesigned in 1929 under the guidance of Dr. Alister MacKenzie and more recently by Rees Jones. The undulating par-72 layout boasts 6,863 yards from the black tees, with a course rating and slope of 74.1/136. Lake Merced has hosted numerous Collegiate, NCGA and USGA events, including the 1990 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Lake Merced has hosted the NCGA Junior Championship for 66 of the 79-years and regularly hosts sectional qualifying for both the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open. Located in the heart of Daly City, the course is a stone’s throw from San Francisco, The Olympic Club and Harding Park golf courses.

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