109th California Amateur Championship

Pepperdine's Joey Vrzich Outlasts Charlie Reiter in Epic Showdown

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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 109^th 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