July 26, 2024
Chaz Aurilia of Scottsdale, Ariz., shot rounds of 71-70-65-66 and won a sudden-death, one-hole playoff to claim victory at the 57th Pacific Coast Amateur Championship, hosted this week, July 23-26 at Chambers Bay.
Aurilia entered today’s final round four shots back of round three leader Simon Hovdal from Sweden, teeing off in the second-to-last group of the day. Aurilia had some work to do to get back in the mix, and he did just that with a bogey-free final round of 66, jumping up the leaderboard to finish the championship at 12-under par, tying with Sam Sommerhauser of Sacramento, who fired a final round 65 to grab a share of the lead.
Aurilia and Sommerhauser, who were college roommates at the University of Arizona, found themselves in a sudden-death playoff at the end of the round. On the first playoff hole, the par-4 1st, both players found the fairway off the tee. Sommerhauser’s approach landed on the green but took a hard bounce, ending up in a collection area 35 yards from the pin. Aurilia’s second shot also hit the green and rolled off into a collection area on the left side, leaving him a relatively easy chip shot, which he hit to 5 feet. Sommerhauser couldn’t get up and down, and Aurilia knocked in his par to take home the title.
“It feels good (to take home the title),” said Aurilia. “I’ve been playing really well lately. The first two days were a little slower, but the second day I played really well and had a tough finish, but over the past few days I played some really solid golf.”
Aurilia credited his wedges and his putting as keys to success this week.
“I hit my wedges really well, and my putting inside of 10 feet was really solid for the most part,” said Aurilia. “Today I made a lot of really nice par saves, and inside of 150 was kind of my bread and butter this week.”
Aurilia, currently ranked No. 274 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), played three years on the University of Arizona men’s golf team before transferring to Southern Methodist University for his final year of eligibility this past season. Earlier this summer, he qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Aurilia will add his name to the Ed Updegraff perpetual trophy, joining the likes of current PGA TOUR players Will Zalatoris, Aaron Wise, Andrew Putnam, Doug Ghim, and many others who went on to have successful professional golf careers.
July 25, 2024
Round two leader Simon Hovdal from Sweden shot an even-par 71 in today’s third round and will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the 57th Pacific Coast Amateur Championship, held this week July 23-26 at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.
Playing in the final group of the day, Hovdal entered today’s third round with a five-shot lead over Zac Jones of Highland, Utah. Hovdal had an up-and-down round, with three bogeys and three birdies through the first 12 holes. He steadied the ship down the homestretch, parring in from the 13th hole.
Nineteen-year-old Hovdal is ranked No. 219 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and has committed to playing college golf at Texas Tech University beginning in 2025, following in the footsteps of fellow Swedish golfer Ludvig Aberg.
July 24, 2024
Chalk up another Morse Cup title for the NCGA at the annual Pacific Coast Amateur.
On Tuesday at Chambers Bay, the NCGA team--Sam Sommerhauser, Brandon Knight and Brady Siravo--carded a score of 6-under 136 to come from behind and win the title by a stroke over Alberta Golf Association.
The NCGA, which finished with a two-day total of 5-under 279, has now won the Morse Cup a total of 15 times, including twice in the last three years.
The Morse Cup team competition takes place concurrently during the first two days of the championship. The Pacific Coast Golf Association consists of 15 member Pacific Rim golf associations, and each association selects three players to represent them in the team competition. The two top scores from each team in rounds one and two count towards scoring in the Cup.
In the individual championship, first-round leader Simon Hovdal from Sweden posted a 4-under 67 for a two-day total of 131 to extend his lead to five shots. In second place at 136 is Hunter Thomson of Calgary, Alberta.
Sommehauser climbed 31 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for third at 139, posting a 67 a day after opening with a 72.
July 23, 2024
How Swede it was, at least in the first round.
Simon Hovdal, a native of Sweden, grabbed the first round lead at this week's Pacific Coast Amateur on Tuesday, carding a solid 7-under 64 Tuesday at Chambers Bay.
Hovdal, who is committed to Texas Tech University for 2025, would rack up seven birdies and an eagle on the par-4 14th to go against just two bogeys.
Zac Jones, a senior at BYU, is second after an opening 66.
In the Morse Cup team competition, the NCGA is in ninth place at 1-over 143. The NCGA squad is made up of Knight, Sam Sommerhauser (72) and Brady Siravo (73).