Despite having one player withdraw and another shoot 88, the South held on to defeat the North 778-780 to retain the Roger Lapham Challenge Cup for the second consecutive year.  The event was held in conjunction with the two stroke-play rounds in the 96th California Amateur Championship at Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach.

The South began the day with a five-shot lead, but suffered an immediate blow when Scott McGihon was called home because of a family emergency.  However, scores for nearly everyone soared because of the fierce winds howling over Monterey Peninsula CC.  John Pate had the best SCGA score, a 4-over-par 76, on the Shore Course, while Robert Funk posted 78, Brian Edick, 79, Jordan Nasser, 83 and David Bartman, 88.

Eddie Olson’s 3-over-par 75 led the Northern contingent; Arvo Voip, with 76, was the only other Northerner to break 80.

RESULTS:

96th California Amateur Championship
Roger Lapham Challenge Cup
at Monterey Peninsula CC (Dunes Course); Pebble Beach, Calif.
6,762 yards; par 72
FINAL 36-hole results (best 5 of 6 scores each day count for team total):

778 — South (David Bartman, 76-88; Brian Edick, 82-79; Robert Funk, 76-78; Scott McGihon, 74-WD; Jordan Nasser, 73-83; John Pate, 75-76), 374-404.

780 — Randy Haag, 78-83; Scott Hardy, 78-85; Eric Justesen, 78-82; Eddie Olson, 72-75; Avro Voip, 82-76; Garrett Wagner, 73-86).

South team leads Roger Lapham Challenge Cup after first round

Balanced scoring enabled the South took a five-shot lead after the first round of the Roger Lapham Challenge Cup, held in conjunction with the first round of stroke play in the 96th California Amateur Championship at Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach.

With the best five of six scores in each of the two stroke-play rounds counting for the team total, the South posted 374 on MPCC’s Dunes Course, while the North had 379. 

Defending California Amateur champion Jordan Nasser of Anaheim Hills led the way for the South with a 1-over par 73, while two-time defending champion Scott McGihon of Bermuda Dunes shot 2-over-par 74.  John Pate of Santa Barbara posted a 75, while Robert Funk of Canyon Lake and David Bartman of Los Angeles each had 76 today.

Eddie Olson of Aptos, the 2005 California State High School boys champion shot even-par 72 to pace the North, followed by Garrett Wagner of Brentwood (the Northern California version, who posted 73.  Randy Haag of Burlingame, Scott Hardy of Pleasant Hill and Eric Justesen of Turlock each shot 78.

The team competition concludes Tuesday with the 12 players competing on the Shore Course.  The South is the defending champion, having held on to win last year by five shots.

RESULTS:

96th California Amateur Championship
Roger Lapham Challenge Cup
at Monterey Peninsula CC (Dunes Course); Pebble Beach, Calif.
6,762 yards; par 72
18-hole results (best 5 of 6 scores count for team total):

374 — South (David Bartman, 76; Brian Edick, 82; Robert Funk, 76; Scott McGihon, 74; Jordan Nasser, 73; John Pate, 75).

379 — Randy Haag, 78; Scott Hardy, 78; Eric Justesen, 78; Eddie Olson, 72; Avro Voip, 82; Garrett Wagner, 73).