112th California Amateur Championship

June 19 - 24, 2023, Lake Merced 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.

Championship InfoQualifying InfoExemptions

Zachery Pollo Clinches Breakthrough Title, 5&4

Photos Results

When it was all finally over, Rocklin resident Zachery Pollo finally cracked a big smile.

Pollo (pronounced Po-Lo) joined the likes of Johnny Miller, Ken Venturi and Xander Schauffele as a California Amateur champion, defeating runner-up Dylan Oyama, 5 and 4, in the 36-hole final held Saturday at par-72 Lake Merced Golf Club.

An 18-year-old sophomore-to-be at University of Arizona, Pollo is one of the event's youngest winners. Mac Hunter won the 1972 title at 16.

Immediately after his victory, Pollo started receiving congratulatory texts from Wildcats head coach Jim Anderson as well as some of his teammates, including 2021 NCGA Amateur champ Sam Sommerhauser.

"It feels good. Coming into it, I knew it would be a long week," said Pollo, a former standout on the Junior Tour of Northern California. "There's a lot of golf. You just try to prepare yourself. Fortunately, I was able to come out on top."

A Pac-12 All Freshman Team pick last season, the No.14 seeded Pollo turned into a birdie machine to close out the match. Over his last 14 holes, he'd go 8-under.

Through the first 18 holes, Pollo had numerous chances to increase what was a 1-up lead but his putter didn't cooperate. At the midway break, following a quick meal Pollo went out and repeatedly practiced making 3 to 4-footers.

In the afternoon portion, he wouldn't just sink the shorter putts, he even began draining some 20 to 30-footers, including a winning eagle putt on the 32nd hole (par-5 14th).

"I didn't think my putting was all that great on the first 18. On the second 18, my putting was beyond good," Pollo said.

A sophomore-to-be at San Diego State, the No.16 seeded Oyama had never competed in an official match play event prior to the week.

His last lead was 1-up after a par win on No.12 in the morning. Through the first 25 holes, neither player ever held more than a 2-up lead.

"There's a lot of things I will stay take away from the week," said Oyama, who picked up the game from his grandfather around the age of 5. "There are also a lot of things I need to work on, including my stamina."

As for Pollo, while the week was also grueling, he's in a way been there and done. At only age 6, he competed in a 100 kilometer bike race. He also climbed Mount Whitney as a child. His mom Carrie and dad Jay are both into fitness, with Carrie even having once competed in the Boston Marathon.

"I was also tired as the week went on, but when you're in the moment, you still remain focused," Pollo said.

In the morning portion of the final, Pollo and Oyama see-sawed with neither ever holding more than a 2-up lead. Tied through 16 holes, Pollo grabbed a 1-up lead on the 17th when Oyama failed to reach the green in regulation, leading to a bogey. The two tied the 18th hole with pars.

Recap courtesy of NCGA

Past Winners

Year Winner Medalist Team Site
2023 Zachery Pollo Nathan Wang and Joe Neuheisel Northern California Lake Merced GC
2022 Charlie Reiter
Tony Chen Southern California Big Canyon CC
2021 Noah Woolsey
Christian Banke Northern California The Preserve
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
Commenting is not available on this page.

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Handicap Index: +3.0
Monday, April 04, 2022

Will there be a host hotel nearby the 111th Cal Am?
Please advise.