June 19, 2025
And then there were eight.
The brackets at this week's 114th California Amateur at Granite Bay Golf Club became even smaller on Thursday, with the Round of 16 being held.
By the time the day was over, only one NorCal player was left standing--San Francisco resident Jacob Goode. The No.15 seeded Goode, who will play at the University of Washington for the 2025-26 season, moved on to the quarterfinals with a 1-up win over No.31 Brady McHenry.
Goode, the winner of the 2024 Silverado Amateur, next will take on No.10 seed Robert Keilch. Keilch, a senior at the University of Colorado, moved on with a 2 and 1 win over No.26 Nathan Tseng.
Another Friday quarterfinals match will pit the two highest seeds left in the brackets--No.4 Ivan Barahona vs. No.5 Ian Maspat. Barahona, one of the four stroke play qualifying medalists, defeated No.13 Jack Barcer, 1-up. On the par-3 14th, Barahona won with a bogey to take a 1-up lead. From there, Barahona, who plays at San Jose State, and Barber would tie the remaining four holes.
Maspat, who played last season at the University of San Diego, arguably is the hottest player still in the brackets. A day after winning his Round of 32 match, 6 and 4, after going 6-under par through 14 holes, he knocked out No.12 Ayden Fynaut, 7 and 5. This time, he'd go 7-under thru 13 holes.
Also earning a big win was No.14 Matthew Robles, who dispatched No.3 seed Dylan Brack, 7 and 6. Robles next will take on No.22 Mitchell Fedorka.
The last quarterfinals match will see No.16 Nahum Mendoza take on No.8 Evan Liu.
The semifinals will also be held on Friday, following the quarterfinals. The 36-hole finale will be held on Saturday.
June 18, 2025
The unpredictability of match play was on full display as the Round of 32 of match play got underway Wednesday at Granite Bay Golf Club.
Making quick vists--and exits--were both No.1 and No.2 seeds, Brasen Briones and Marlon Jones, respectively.
Briones, a sophomore at the University of Pacific, fell 2 and 1 to Sacramento State's Luke Dugger. Tied through 14 holes, Dugger took a 1-up lead with a birdie on the par-5 15th hole. Just a hole later, Dugger upped his lead to 2-up with yet another birdie. The two tied the ensuing par-4 17th with pars.
Jones, who plays at San Jose State, was bounced by No.31 seed Brady McHenry. In another tight match, the two were tied until McHenry, a freshman at Texas Tech University, won the 16th hole with a par. From there, the two tied both the 17th and 18th holes, giving McHenry the victory.
No.3 seed Dylan Brack got an early win, eliminating 2023 semifinalist Davis McDowell, 3 and 2. Still just 19, Brack has opted to not currently attend college. Instead, he in part has competed in Monday qualifiers for PGA Tour events. In 2024, he competed in the PGA Tour WorldWide Technology Championship after advancing through a Monday qualifying event.
Brack will next take on No.14 Matthew Robles in Thursday's Round of 16.
Ivan Barahona, the No.4 seed and a senior at San Jose State, moved on with a 3 and 2 win over Bryant Hernandez.
Among the surprise early exits were Granite Bay's own Dylan McDermott falling 3 and 2, and Nick Randazzo losing 3 and 2. Randazzo is a 12-time NCGA champion, second most all-time behind only NCGA Hall of Famers Casey Boyns and Randy Haag.
Thursday will feature the Round of 16., while Friday's action will consist of the quarterfinals and semifinals. The 36-hole finale will be Saturday. Spectators are welcome and admission is free.
June 17, 2025
If stroke play qualifying was any indication, it's going to be a drama-filled week at the California Amateur at Granite Bay Golf Club.
When all the scores of stroke play qualifying came in on Tuesday, four players ended in a tie for medalist honors at a total of 5-under par 137--Brasen Briones, Dylan Brack (pictured left above), Marlon Jones and Ivan Barahona (picture above, right).
Another four players--Jaden Dumdumaya, Nick Randazzo, Evan Liu and Ian Maspat finished just a shot back at 138.
On Wednesday, play will consist of the first round of match play. Thursday will feature the Round of 16., while Friday will be the quarterfinals and semifinals, followed by the 36-hole final on Saturday.
Looking ahead at the brackets, the No.1 seed went to Briones, who's a sophomore at nearby University of Pacific. The No.2 seed is Jones, who plays at San Jose State. Also representing the Spartans is Barahona, who will be the No.4 seed.
The No.3 seed for match play is Brack. Still just 19, Brack opted not to attend college. He in part instead has competed in Monday qualifiers for PGA Tour events. In 2024, he competed in the PGA Tour WorldWide Technology Championship after advancing through a Monday qualifying event.
The cutline to advance to match play came at 1-over par 143.
In the North-South Challenge, the SCGA walked away with a 677-684 win over the NCGA. The Challenge takes the lowest five scores from the NCGA and SCGA and combines them into a team score.
The field included the father-son tandem of Craig and Matthew Miyamoto, respectively.
The Miyamotos are a rare exception when it comes to Father-Son duos competing in the California Amateur. While most of the history of the 114th event is lost, it is believed that Kemp Richardson (then the son) once played with father John Richardson in the California Amateur.
June 16, 2025
The jockeying to reach match play at this week's 114th California Amateur got underway Monday in perfect conditions at Granite Bay Golf Club.
After what was a long day, three players--Ayden Fynaut, Nick Randazzo and Brasen Briones--were tied atop the leaderboard with matching scores of 5-under 66.
Fynaut, the 2024 Junior Tour of Northern California Boys' Player of the Year, carded seven birdies to go against just two bogeys. On the front-nine, he shot a bogey-free 32.
Going the opposite way, Randazzo, a 12-time NCGA champion, got his round going with a back-nine 32 that featured four birdies and zero bogeys. While a multiple NCGA champion, Randazzo, a caddie at Cypress Point Club, has yet to win a California Amateur.
Briones, a sophomore at nearby University of Pacific, had a smoother ride, posting six birdies and a bogey.
Robert Keilch of Newport Beach, Dylan Brack of Riverside and Marlon Jones, a junior at San Jose State, are both T-4 after rounds of 67.
Following Tuesday's second round of stroke play qualifying, a cut will made with the low 32 advancing to match play. Wednesday's actions will feature the first round of match play, while Thursday features the Round of 16. Friday will be the quarterfinals and semifinals, followed by the 36-hole final on Saturday.
In the interesting tidbits department, father Craig Miyamoto and son Matthew Miyamoto each came in with identical scores of 6-over 77. It is unknown how many father-son tandems have competed together's in the event's long history.
The last medalist to win the title was Geoff Gonzalez at Lake Merced GC in 2009.
In the North/South Challenge, the SCGA leads the NCGA, 336-337. The Challenge takes the lowest five scores from the NCGA and SCGA and combines them into a team score.
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