110th California Amateur Championship
June 21-26, 2021, The Preserve GC
This is one of the nation’s oldest state amateur golf championships. The championship originated in 1912 and was held at Pebble Beach Golf Links from 1919 until 2006. In 2007 the CGA broadened the scope of this prestigious championship by rotating the weeklong event to selected courses throughout the state, alternating between Northern California and Southern California every other year. Players must have an index of 4.4 or less, qualifying is available statewide for both NCGA and SCGA players, players may only attempt to qualify once. The Championship consists of 156 players who will play 36-holes of individual stroke play to determine the 32 player match play field. The final match is played over 36 holes. During the stroke play portion of the tournament a simultaneous team competition takes place between the NCGA vs. SCGA competing for the Roger Latham Cup.
Pepperdine's Joey Vrzich Outlasts Charlie Reiter in Epic Showdown
When the dust settled at the Golden State’s toughest test of golf endurance, on the hallowed grounds of Torrey Pines GC, it was a fitting finish for Joey Vrzich. The Pepperdine standout bounced back from the disappointment of having his season cut short by defeating Charlie Reiter 3&2 to be crowned champion in the 109th California Amateur Championship.
Both players battled their way through two rounds of Stroke Play before picking off their Match Play opponents one-by-one, in what would amount to eight rounds of golf in six days under the most strenuous of circumstances. Playing a course setup which is virtually a preview of the 2021 U.S. Open, Torrey Pines GC continually challenged the state’s best amateurs with behemoth yardages and cavernous rough. In fact, Wednesday’s Match Play setup of 7,802 yards was the longest in California Amateur Championship history.
Vrzich (11-seed) finished T-7 in Stroke Play, posting a 5-under total before breezing through the Match Play portion of the bracket, with his closest match ending 1up against Brad Reeves of Arizona in the Round of 16. Otherwise, the Nevada transfer disposed of his opponents to the tune of 4&3, 5&3 and 4&3.
Reiter (25-seed) made the Match Play cut on the number, posting a 2-under total and earning a date against UCLA superstar Devon Bling in the Round of 32. Bling, who made the cut at the 2019 Masters and was the 2018 U.S. Amateur runner-up, posed a stern test but Reiter persevered 2&1 before motoring through his next three matches en route to the finals.
The first 18 holes of the finals were filled with fireworks. Vrzich came out on fire, posting three birdies in his first three holes for an early 3up lead. With his back against the wall, Reiter chipped in for par on the monstrous No. 4 to a halve, gaining some much-needed positive momentum. The Palm Desert product snatched the next two holes with a par on No. 6 and an impressive birdie on No. 7 before Vrzich bounced back with a birdie on No. 9 to go 1up at the turn. The two heavyweights traded blows on the back-nine, totaling 13 birdies between the two. After the dust settled, Vrzich held a 1up lead with 18 holes left to play.
Vrzich jumped out to an early lead again in the final 18, taking three of the first four holes to establish a commanding lead at 4up. Reiter battled hard all week, clawing himself back to 2up with 11 holes to play. But, at the end of the day, Vrzich was too steady and didn’t waver. The La Jolla native finished the deal with a 10-foot sliding putt on No. 16.
Past winners of the California Amateur title include Johnny Miller, Ken Venturi, Mark O’Meara, John Cook and current PGA Tour star Xander Schauffele.
Stephen Hale, one half of the 2019 SCGA Four-Ball Championship team, earned medalist honors with a total of 7-under 137. The ex-professional from Bakersfield smoothly navigated the treacherous conditions during the first two days of stroke play, narrowly earning the honors over five competitors at 6-under. Hale opened the championship with a blazing hot 6-under 66 on the North Course, before grinding his way to a 1-under 71 on the more difficult South Course.
Past Winners
Year | Winner | Medalist | Team | Site |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Joey Vrzich | Stephen Hale | Southern California | Torrey Pines GC |
2019 |
William Mouw |
Sean Yu | Southern California | Monterey Peninsula CC |
2018 |
Bobby Bucey |
Cody Hall |
Northern California | Omni La Costa Resort & Spa |
2017 |
PJ Samiere |
Eddy Lai |
Southern California | The Olympic Club |
2016 |
Shintaro Ban |
Bryan Baumgarten and Andrew Levitt | Northern California | Valencia CC |
2015 |
Shotaro Ban |
Satch Herrmann |
Southern California |
Lake Merced GC |
2014 |
Xander Schauffele |
Jason Anthony | Southern California | Omni La Costa Resort & Spa |
2013 | Cory McElyea | Corey Pereira and Xander Schauffele | Northern California | Monterey Peninsula GC |
2012 | Kevin Marsh | Bhavik Patel | Southern California | La Cumbre CC |
2011 | Bhavik Patel | Philip Chian | Northern California | The Olympic Club |
2010 |
Scott Travers |
Scott Almquist Kevin Fitzgerald |
Southern California |
Rancho Santa Fe GC and La Jolla GC |
2009 |
Geoff Gonzalez |
Geoff Gonzalez | Southern California | Lake Merced GC |
2008 |
Nick Delio |
Matt Hoffenbers Alex Kim Scott McGihon |
Northern California | Lakeside GC and Oakmont CC |
2007 |
Josh Anderson |
Blake Trimble | Southern California | Monterey Peninsula CC |
2006 |
Jordan Nasser |
Steve Woods | Southern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
2005 |
Don DuBois |
Jordan Cox | Northern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
2004 |
Spencer Levin |
Mark Sear | Northern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
2003 |
Patrick Nagle |
Roy Moon | Northern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
2002 |
Eddie Heinen |
Don DuBois | Southern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
2001 |
Darryl Donovan |
Jeff Wilson | Northern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
2000 |
Nick Jones |
James Stewart Todd Miller |
Southern California | Bayonet and Blackhorse GC |
1999 |
Tim Hogarth |
Ed Cuff, Jr. Steve Conway |
Southern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
1998 | Ed Cuff, Jr. | Craig Steinberg | Southern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
1997 | Jason Gore | Tim Hogarth | Southern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
1996 | Mark Johnson | Jeff Gilchrist | Northern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
1995 | Jeff Sanday | Mark Johnson | Southern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
1994 | Steve Woods | Steve Woods | Southern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
1993 | Casey Boyns | Gary Vanier | Northern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
1992 | Todd Demsey | Harry Rudolph, III | Southern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
1991 | Harry Rudolph III | Sandy Galbraith | Southern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
1990 | Charlie Wi |
Mark Johnson Paul Stankowski |
Southern California | Pebble Beach Golf Links |
1989 | Casey Boyns | Jerry Michaels | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1988 | Don Parsons | Aaron Meeks | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1987 | Mike Springer |
Bob Lasken Tim Loustalot Steve Bogan |
Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1986 | Terrence Miskell | Dana Banke | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1985 | Sam Randolph | Sam Randolph | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1984 | Duffy Waldorf | Duffy Waldorf | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1983 | Kris Moe | Gregg Twiggs | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1982 | Gary Vanier | Corey Pavin | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1981 | Joe Tamburino | Mike Barnblatt | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1980 | Bobby Clampett | Bobby Clampett | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1979 | Mark O’Meara | Lennie Clements | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1978 | Bobby Clampett | Don Levin | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1977 | Lee Mikles | Tom Culligan | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1976 | Mike Brannan | Scott Simpson | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1975 | John Cook |
C. Richardson Curtis Worley |
Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1974 | Curtis Worley | Craig Stadler | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1973 | Mike Brannan | Mike Brannan | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1972 | Mac Hunter | Mark Pfeil | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1971 | Doug Nelson | Sandy Galbraith | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1970 | Bob Risch | Tom Smith | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1969 | Forrest Fezler | Ted Lyford | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1968 | Johnny Miller | Les Peterson | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1967 | Bob E. Smith | Arne Dokka | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1966 | Bob Eastwood |
Bob Eastwood Cesar Sanudo Jack Bariteau |
Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1965 | Vern Callison | Dr. Art Butler | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1964 | Steve Opperman | Ron Cerrudo | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1963 | Dr. Paul Travis | Peter Choate | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1962 | Dick Lotz | John Lotz | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1961 | John Richardson | No qualifying | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1960 | Larry Bouchey | Dr. Art Butler | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1959 | Vern Callison |
Dan Morgan Bob Roos |
Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1958 | Eli Bariteau | Dan Morgan | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1957 | Tal Smith | Dr. William O’Neal | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1956 | Ken Venturi |
Bob Silvestri Ken Venturi |
Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1955 | Dr. Frank Taylor | Tom Draper | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1954 | Dr. Frank Taylor | Dr. William O’Neal | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1953 | Gene Littler | Ken Venturi | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1952 | Bob Silvestri | Gene Littler | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1951 | Ken Venturi | Bud Holscher | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1950 | Bob Gardner | Fred Jordan | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1949 | Mac Hunter |
Gene Littler Tal Smith John Dawson |
Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1948 | Eli Bariteau |
Russell York Bob Silvestri |
Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1947 | Bob Gardner | Morgan Fottrell | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1946 | Bruce McCormick | Eli Bariteau | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1945 | Bruce McCormick | John Dawson | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1944 | Ernie Pieper, Jr. | Bob Rosburg | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1943 | Elmer Cites | Henry Suico | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1942 | John Dawson | Bud Brownell | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1941 | Ernie Pieper, Jr. | Ralph Lomelli | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1940 | Ed Monaghan | Rennie Kelly | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1939 | Jack Gage | Roger Kelly | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1938 | Roger Kelly | Roger Kelly | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1937 | Roger Kelly |
Ernest Combs Frank Hixon |
Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1936 | Mat Palacio, Jr. | Roger Kelly | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1935 | Jack Gaines | Ernie Pieper Jr. | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1934 | Stuart Hawley |
John Robbins Jack Nounman |
Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1933 | Charles Seaver | No qualifying | Pebble Beach Golf Links | |
1932 | Neil White | No qualifying | Pebble Beach Golf Links |