96th California State Amateur Championship
Monterey Peninsula CC June 18 – 23

June 19, 2007

PEBBLE BEACH – The University of Nevada Las Vegas recruiting class of 2005 has
made a lasting impression on the 96th State Amateur Championship at Monterey
Peninsula Country Club.

CGA President Dick Skavdahl and medalist Blake Trimble.

After two rounds of stroke-play qualifying, the top three seeds all matriculated to UNLV in the fall of 2005. Though top seed and medalist Blake Trimble is transferring to the University of San Diego in the fall, the competition inherent in the Running Rebel golf program undoubtedly drove Trimble, second-seed Brett Kanda and 2005 NCGA Amateur champion and third-seed Eddie Olson to become players capable of capturing one of the most prestigious state amateur titles in the country.

Trimble followed his opening-round 67 on the 6,762-yard Dunes Course with an impressive 74 on the 6,886-yard Shore Course (host track for match play). The Rancho Santa Fe resident approached the event, which was contested in very high, variable winds throughout, with a U.S. open-like mentality: “You have to keep fighting. Par is a good score in this weather.” The Torrey Pines High School alum produced the only under-par total and was five shots clear of second place. Never making more than a bogey and only three-putting three times certainly aided his final score, but a grittiness not usually found in a 20-year-old was perhaps the ultimate factor. “I really stuck to my game plan for both rounds,” said the first-time state amateur competitor. “Just keep hitting fairways and greens. I am really happy with my score in this wind.” Trimble will face 32nd-seed John McClure, who chipped in for par on third playoff hole to secure the last qualifying spot.

Ten players tied at 154, and after a three-hole playoff, five players qualified for the last seeds in match play.

Fourth-seed Tim Honeycutt

The round of the day and the second-best of the tournament came from an unheralded rising high school senior – Tim Honeycutt. The Union Mine High School student, playing in his first state amateur, captured the fourth seed with an impressive three-under 69 on the Dunes Course. “I made almost every putt today,” the Cold Springs GC member said. “I didn’t put myself in bad positions.” The 10-shot improvement over the Placerville resident’s first-round score was also testament to better mastery of his ball flight. Honeycutt is looking to attend college in either Southern California or Arizona. A 69 in weather conditions witnessed today will have him on speed dial of many college golf coaches.

Defending champion Jordan Nasser failed to qualify for match play, turning in an 83 in the second round at the Shore Course to miss the playoff by two shots. Two-time champion Casey Boyns is the only former champion to qualify, his 152 good for the 23rd seed.

In the North-South team competition (the Roger Lapham Challenge Cup), where the best five of six scores of selected players count toward the team total, the defending champion South won its second consecutive title, edging the North team 778-780, despite playing with one less player due to Scott McGihon’s withdrawal after the first round.

Match Play Bracket
Stroke Play Qualifying Scorecards

CGA North Team: NCGA President Dean Bartee, Arvo Voip, Scott Hardy, Randy Haag, Erick Justesen, Garett Wagner, Eddie Olson and captain Mark House.

The Monterey Peninsula CC dress code applies to spectators as well as competitors: Shorts, jeans and cell phones are prohibited on the property.

Stroke Play Qualifying Results

*North/South team members