Player Information/Pairings/Results
June 29, 2024
San Diego native Caden Fioroni claimed the biggest amateur golf prize in the Golden State.
Fioroni, the No.12 seed, defeated No. 18 Torey Edwards, 3 and 2, to win the California Amateur Championship title on Saturday at Sherwood Country Club. It's the second state title for Fioroni, who played last season at University of Las Vegas. In 2019, he won the CIF Boys' High School State Individual title. As a bonus, the win also gave Fioroni an automatic exemption into this year's U.S. Amateur Championship.
With his win at Sherwood, Fioroni joins the likes of Xander Schauffele (2014), Mark O'Meara (1979) and Johnny Miller (1968) as California Amateur champions. It's the second time in the last nine years that a player with UNLV ties has won. Shintaro Ban was at UNLV when he won the title in 2016 at Valencia CC.
The big difference for Fioroni, who was the 2022 Mountain West Golfer of the Year, was a solid morning round. In the first 18 holes of the 35-hole final, Fioroni built a 4-up lead after making seven birdies and just one bogey. Helping Fioroni was red-hot iron play, as he'd hit every green in regulation during the round.
In the afternoon round, Fioroni kept the pedal to the metal, birdying holes Nos. 19 and 23 to build a commanding 6-up lead. Edwards, a 42-year-old former professional who regained his amateur status and was the SCGA Player of the Year in 2020, cut the gap to 3-up with wins on holes Nos. 24, 26 and 27 but could never get any closer.
Fioroni in the semifinals had just squeaked past No.8 Logan Kim, 1-up. In that match, neither Fioroni nor Kim ever held more than a 2-up lead.
In his three matches prior to the semis, Fioroni never had to go farther than the 15th hole, winning all of those prior matches by identical scores of 4 and 3.
Pepperdine University junior Brady Siravo was the stroke play qualifying medalist after finishing with a two-day total of 12-under 132
June 28, 2024
It'll be the veteran versus the newcomer in Saturday's 36-hole final of this week's annual California Amateur Championship at Sherwood Country Club.
On what was a busy Friday, No.18 seed Torey Edwards and No.12 Caden Firorini both took another step towards winning the Golden State's biggest amateur prize by advancing through the quarterfinals and semifinals of match play.
Edwards, a 42-year-old former professional who toiled on mini-tours for nearly a decade, moved on with a 1-up win over No.3 Jaden Soong. Edwards, the SCGA Player of the Year in 2020, came roaring out of the gates, building a quick 5-up lead through the first seven holes.
Soong, who at age 14 was looking to become the youngest winner ever of the event, came right back himself, winning holes Nos. 11, 13, 14 and 15 to cut the deficit back to 1-up with three holes to play. Edwards, however, would hold Soong off, with the two tying the next three holes in succession to give Edwards the win.
In 2008, Edwards carded a 58 at Recreation Park GC in his hometown of Long Beach.
Also holding on for a tight victory was the 22-year-old Fiorini, who slipped past No.8 Logan Kim, 1-up in the semis.
Unlike the Edwards-Soong match, neither Fiorini nor Kim ever held more than a 2-up lead. On the 12th hole, Fiorini, who played last season at UNLV, made a birdie to get a 2-up lead, but KIm, who's headed to Stanford this fall, won the next two ensuing holes to again tie the match.
The two tied holes Nos. 15 and 16 with pars before Fiorini won the 17th with a birdie to regain a 1-up cushion. The pair tied the 18th hole to seal the win for Firoini.
A San Diego native, in 2022 Fiorini was named the Mountain West Golfer of the Year.
Should he win on Saturday, it will mark his second State title. In 2019, Fiorini won the CIF Boys' High School Individual title.
While Edwards would be one of the event's oldest winners, he would not be the oldest champion. Vern Callison won the title in 1967 at the age of 47.
In 2019, Fiorini won the CIF Boys' High School Individual title.
June 27, 2024
The youngest winner ever of the California Amateur remains Mac Hunter, won took the title in 1972 at Pebble Beach Golf Links at the age of 16.
Perhaps it's time for Hunter's record to be broken.
Jaden Soong, who's still just 14, will be among those teeing off when the quarterfinals of this year's championship tee off Friday at Sherwood Country Club. On Thursday, Soong punched his ticket to the quarterfinals thanks to a grueling 21 holes victory over 2023 semifinalist Davis McDowell.
The No. 3 seed, Soong is the lowest seed remaining in the brackets. Logan Kim, who at No.8 is the only other seeded player under 10, also moved on to Friday's action via a commanding 6 and 4 victory in the Round of 16. Kim, a San Jose native who now lives in SoCal, will begin playing at Stanford this fall.
Next up for Kim will be a match versus No.32 seed Brandon Knight, who continued his Cinderella run with a 2 and 1 win over Mike Perchak.
The other quarterfinals matches will see No.12 Caden Fiorini vs. No.20 Adam Anderson and No.10 Samuel Faust vs. No. 18 Torey Edwards.
Soong will take on No.11 No.11 Avanish Ayer of San Ramon.
Both the quarterfinals and semifinals will be held Friday, with the 36-hole final taking place on Saturday.
Past champions of the event include Xander Schauffele (2014), Mark O'Meara (1979) and Johnny Miller (1968).
June 26, 2024
The rumbling down south on Wednesday at this week's California Amateur Championship at Sherwood Country Club wasn't an earthquake.
It was the match play brackets collapsing.
By the time the Round of 32 was over, only one of the Top 5 seeds was left standing--No.3 Jaden Soong, who can't even drive a car yet. Soong, who's still just 14 years old, will next take on No.19 seed Davis McDowell. McDowell, who's from San Rafael but plays at UC San Diego, is on somewhat of a redemption tour.
In last year's championship, he'd reach the semifinals before being DQ'd on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff after his caddie cleared a green of sand despite his ball actually being on the fringe and not the green.
As per No.1 seed Brady Siravo, the medalist saw his match play run end abruptly courtesy of a 3 and 1 loss to No.32 Brandon Knight of Pleasanton. Earlier in the morning, Knight had to survive a playoff just to get into the match play brackets.
Next up for Knight will be a Round of 16 match versus Mike Perchak. Recently, Perchak captured his second straight NCGA Valley Amateur title.
No.2 seed Grayson Leach fell, 2-up, to No.31 Griffin Rhoads. No.4 Dylan Brack fell to No.29 Bryan Hernandez on the 20th hole and No.5 Jackson Moss lost, 2 and 1, to No.28 Zackary Tarter.
Heading into Thursday's Round of 16, only five NorCal players will be left--Knight, Perchak, Tarter, McDowell and No.11 Avanish Ayer of San Ramon.
The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held Friday, with the 36-hole final taking place on Saturday.
Past champions of the event include Xander Schauffele (2014), Mark O'Meara (1979) and Johnny Miller (1968).
June 25, 2024
Pepperdine University junior Brady Siravo will be the No.1 seed when match play opens Wednesday at this week's annual California Amateur Championship at Sherwood Country Club.
Siravo, a native of Sacramento, earned medalist honors and the top seed after finishing with a two-day of total of 12-under 132 in stroke play qualifying. The 132 is the second-lowest total qualifying score in the last 11 years. Christian Banke shot 127 over the two rounds in the 2021 event at The Preserve in Carmel.
A day after opening with a 65, Siravo tacked on a solid 67 that featured six birdies and just one bogey. He'd be the lone player to get to at least 10-under par and lapped the rest of the field by six strokes. The last medalist to go on to win the title was Geoff Gonzalez in 2009.
Starting Wednesday, however, it's a brand new start as the event moves to match play. Other top seeds are No.2 Greyson Leach (139) and No.3 Jaden Soong (140).
In the North/South Challenge, the SCGA rolled to a dominating 680-692 victory.
The North/South Challenge, which is contested over stroke play qualifying, features the NCGA vs. SCGA using the top five low scores from each association each round.
Wednesday's action will consist of the Round of 32, while Thursday the Round of 16 will be held. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held Friday, with the 36-hole final taking place on Saturday.
Past champions of the event include Xander Schauffele (2014), Mark O'Meara (1979) and Johnny Miller (1968).
June 24, 2024
Get to match play.
That was the goal Monday for the field at this week's 113th California Amateur as the first round of stroke play qualifying got underway at Sherwood CC in Thousand Oaks.
Among those setting themselves up in a great position to move on to match play was Pepperdine University junior Brady Siravo. Siravo, a native of Sacramento, opened stroke play qualifying with a solid 7-under par 65 that featured eight birdies and a lone bogey. On the back-nine, Siravo got hot, carding a 31.
Tied for second, and also putting themselves in good position were Clay Seeber of Newport Beach (68) and Torey Edwards of Long Beach (68).
In the North/South Challenge, the SCGA leads, 342-346 (18-under to 14-under).
The North/South Challenge, which is contested over stroke play qualifying, features the NCGA vs. SCGA using the top five low scores from each association.
Following Tuesday's second round of stroke play qualifying, a cut will be made with the low 32 moving on to match play.
Wednesday's action will consist of the Round of 32, while Thursday the Round of 16 will be held. Both the quarterfinals and semifinals will be held Friday, with the 36-hole final taking place on Saturday.
Past champions of the event include Xander Schauffele (2014), Mark O'Meara (1979) and Johnny Miller (1968). The last medalist to go on to win the title was Geoff Gonzalez in 2009.