Player Information |Pairings | Results
June 27, 2026
In what became a marathon, it was Alameda resident and Pepperdine University freshman Kailer Stone who got to savor the finish.
Stone, a member of Team NorCal for the U.S. National Development Program, made birdie on the 39th hole (par-4 third) at Hacienda GC to hold off Max Emberson and win the 115th California Amateur Championship.
With the win, Stone joins Xander Schauffele (2014), Ken Venturi (1951) Johnny Miller (1968) and Mark O'Meara (1979) as champions of the event. All four of those players went on to win majors. Stone also earned an automatic exemption into the U.S. Amateur at Merion GC.
“It’s so special. To have won this tournament, I haven’t even processed it yet, it just happened … this is amazing, I mean, they’re obviously incredible players, and hopefully I can follow in their footsteps and have this be the first step of that," Stone said.
It certainly was not easy for Stone. The finals have only gone to 39 holes two other times--in 1949 when Mac Hunter defeated Gene Littler and in 1970 when Bob Risch defeated Vic Loustalot.
The No. 16 seed, Stone first simply had to get to extra holes. Through 33 holes, he trailed Emberson, the No.6 seed and a freshman at Georgia Tech, by two holes. On the 34th hole, a par-3, Stone won with a par. On the ensuing 35th hole, a par-5, Stone won with a clutch birdie. The two tied the 36th hole with bogey.
It wasn't the first time during the grueling week that Stone had his back to the wall. In the Round of 16, he won on the 19th hole. In the quarterfinals, he won on the 20th hole. Emberson, who took a 1-up after the first 18 holes, jumped to a 2-up lead through 19 holes. Stone came back from the deficit as well.
Former St. Mary's standout Mitchell Hoey was the star in stroke play qualifying, posting rounds of 63-64 for a 36-hole total of 13-under 127.
Hoey's 36-hole stroke play qualifying total of 127 matched Christian Banke for the championship low 36-hole qualifying record. Banke shot rounds of 64 and 63 at The Preserve in 2021. Hoey, like Banke, would go on to lose in the first round of match play.
Stroke play qualifying moved from 54 holes to 36 holes in 1989.
In the North/South competition, the NCGA claimed a 678-681 victory over the SCGA. The North/South competition, which is held during stroke play qualifying, features the NCGA taking on the SCGA. Scoring is based on the five lowest scores from each region.
June 26, 2026
It'll be NorCal vs. SoCal in the finals of this year's California Amateur Championship at Hacienda GC.
With an extra dash of United States National Development Program bragging rights.
Kailer Stone, a member of Team NorCal for the USNDP, and Max Emberson, a member of USNDP Team SoCal, both advanced to Saturday's 36-hole final after winning their semifinal matches on Friday afternoon.
The No. 16-seeded Stone, who'll begin playing at Pepperdine University this fall, moved on with a tight 1-up win over No.28 Brady McHenry. McHenry actually built a 3-up lead through the first five holes, but Stone fought back, winning holes Nos. 6, 7 and 9 to tie the match back up.
It would remain tied until Stone, who hails from Alameda, took a 1-up lead with a birdie on the par-3 12th. The two would tie the remaining six holes, sealing the victory for Stone.
Emberson, meanwhile, moved on with a 2 and 1 win over No.15 Will Tanaka. In that match, Emberson, who is headed to Georgia Tech in the fall, birdied both holes Nos. 11 and 12 to build a 3-up lead. Tanaka, who plays at Cal State Fullerton, won hole No.13 with a par but could never close the gap any further.
Past champions of the event include Ken Venturi in 1951, Johnny Miller in 1968, Bobby Clampett in 1978/1980, Duffy Waldorf in 1984 and Mark O’Meara in 1979.
June 24, 2026
The spectre of match play raised its head when the Round of 32 was held on Wednesday at this week's California Amateur Championship at Hacienda Golf Club.
No.1 seed Mitchell Hoey, who cruised to medalist honors by nine strokes, was the latest top seed to be sent packing early. Hoey, who plans to turn pro after the U.S. Amateur, was bounced following a 6 and 5 loss to No.32 Avery Lazarski. With Hoey out, 2009 winner Geoff Gonzalez remains the last player to earn medalist honors and win the event.
Hoey wasn't the only one feeling the pinch of match play, however. No.2 Nick Waldock also lost, falling on the 19th hole to Cory Chavez. Also getting sent home early was No.4 seed William Ma, who agonizingly lost on the 23rd hole to No.29 Kyle Sharp.
The highest seed still left standing is No.3 Sihao Cong, who won his opening match, 3 and 2. While he hails from Irvine, Cong is a junior-to-be at Cal-Berkeley. He will next take on No.14 Nahum Mendoza in Thursday's Round of 16.
The only other two single-digit seeds in the brackets are No.7 Brandon Anderson and No.9 Isaiah Soto. Anderson is one of the youngest players to advance, as he'll enter his junior year of high school this fall. Soto is a member at Hacienda Golf Club, having represented the club in last year's Player's League Finals. Hacienda went on to win the title.
Thursday's action will feature the Round of 16. Friday's action consists of the quarterfinals and semifinals. The 36-hole final will be held on Saturday.
June 23, 2026
What the largest winning margin for a medalist in the 115-year history of the California Amateur is has been lost in time.
It's safe to say, however, that former St. Mary's standout Mitchell Hoey would have to be in the discussion.
Hoey put on a clinic at a tough Hacienda GC--carding rounds of 63 and 64--to come in with a medalist earning score of 13-under 127. He'd claim medalist honors by a whopping nine strokes, the next closest competitor being Nick Waldock, who finished at 4-under 136 after a second round 70.
Now entering match play as the No.1 seed, it's a whole new start for Hoey. But his stroke play qualifying play was memorable. His first round 63 was just a shot off the course record, held by a guy named Tiger Woods.
Hoey would finish stroke play qualifying as one of only eight players to break par. Over the two rounds, Hacienda played to a stroke average of 74.40.
In the North/South competition, the NCGA claimed a 678-681 victory over the SCGA. The North/South competition, which is held during stroke play qualifying, features the NCGA taking on the SCGA. Scoring is based on the five lowest scores from each region.
Wednesday's action will feature the opening Round of 32, followed by the Round of 16 on Thursday. Friday's action consists of the quarterfinals and semifinals. The 36-hole final will be held on Saturday.
June 22, 2026
Recent St. Mary's grad Mitchell Hoey was one of the few to figure out a tough Hacienda Golf Club.
Hoey, a De La Salle High alum from Alamo, got going in Monday's first round of stroke play qualifying, carding a sensational 7-under 63 that featured six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 7th to go against just one bogey.
How good was Hoey's round? The scoring average for the day was 75.21. Only seven players in the field of 156 shot under par.
The next closest player was UC Santa Barbara senior Nick Waldock, who carded a 66. Lukas Taggart, who won last year's NCGA Amateur, was one of those to break par, shooting 1-under.
Along with hoisting the Edward B. Tufts trophy, the winner will also receive an automatic spot in this year's U.S. Amateur, set for Aug. 10-16 at Merion GC in Pennsylvania.
In the North/South competition, the NCGA grabbed a tight 341-343 lead. The North/South competition, which is held during stroke play qualifying, features the NCGA taking on the SCGA. Scoring is based on the five lowest scores from each region.
Following Tuesday's second round of stroke play qualifying, a cut will be made with the low 32 moving on to match play. The Round of 32 is on Wednesday, followed by the Round of 16 on Thursday. Friday's action consists of the quarterfinals and semifinals. The 36-hole final will be held on Saturday.