Pairings | Results
August 13, 2026
Call it the Summer of Sebi.
Almost exactly a month after winning the NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Championship, 20-year-old Sebi Aliaga made it a rare double-double, capturing the 123rd NCGA Amateur title after defeating runner-up Brasen Briones, 2 and 1, on Thursday at Spyglass Hill.
With the win, Aliaga, who celebrated his birthday last weekend, joined a rare group of three other players who have won the Stroke Play and Amateur in the same calendar year: Verne Callison (1959), John Lotz (1962) and Ben Geyer (2013). As per the Amateur, Aliaga joins a list of paat champs that also includes Maverick McNealy (2015), Kevin Sutherland (1986) and Roger Maltbie (1972).
This past college season, Aliaga, a sophomore, not only helped Claremont Mudd-Scripps win a Division III national championship team crown, but he also won the D-III individual title.
"This means the world. It's my fourth time playing in this event and it's the first big amateur event I got into when I started really playing four years ago," Aliaga said. "Last year I made it to the semifinals. So this means a lot to come back with some extra pep in my step and capitalize on the opportunity."
Along with getting his name on the trophy, Aliaga also earned a "golden ticket"--an automatic exemption into the 2027 U.S. Amateur Championship.
He finished as second alternate in a qualifier at The Club at Ruby Hills for this year's U.S. Amateur.
"I came up just short this year, and I had really wanted to play at Merion. I am happy to have that opportunity for next year; it's something to look forward to," Aliaga said.
The No. 18 seeded Aliaga couldn't have asked for a better start, making eagle on the par-5 first hole to open the match. But it was a stretch from holes Nos. 7 through 18 in the morning portion of the 36-hole final that made the difference. He'd play the stretch bogey-free, with two birdies. The No.5 seeded Briones, who plays at New Mexico State, went 2-over on the same stretch. The results gave Aliaga a comfy 4-up lead a the break.
In the second portion of the match, Aliaga maintained his 4-up lead through the first nine. On the second nine, Aliaga slipped a bit with bogeys on No.10 and No.12, while Briones became the one making pars.
The lead would drop to 2-up, and on the par-5 14th, it looked like Briones had a chance to cut into the lead even more. A mishit third shot bounded through the green, however, leading to a costly bogey and lost hole.
Still down three holes, Briones won the 16th when Aliaga made another bogey. But a hole later, the two tied, sealing the victory for Aliaga.
As for what's ahead next for Aliaga, we'll see. It's a safe bet that his name will come up again.
"I don't like to set many targets. I just want to keep getting better day-by- day," Aliaga said. "I think I have learned from a lot of great players, and being around awesome people. Your success is not defined by a single result. It's a long process, and a long journey, and I think I am just trying to continue down that process and see where this game can take me. The dreams are big. I am just going to take it day-by-day and try to get better every day."
Video by Bailey Arredondo
August 12, 2026
It's down to two.
Brasen Briones, who plays at New Mexico State, and Sebi Aliaga, who plays for NCAA Division III Claremont Mudd-Scripps, will meet Thursday at Spyglass Hill for the title of the 123rd NCGA Amateur Championship.
The No.5 seeded Briones, who previously was at the University of Pacific before transferring to be nearer to family, advanced to the 36-hole final via a tight 1-up win over No.9 Luca Suarez.
In what was a duel, neither Briones nor Suarez ever held more than a 2-hole lead. Briones gained a 2-up lead thanks to birdies on holes Nos. 8 and 11.
After three straight tied holes, on the par-3 15th Suarez, who plays at the University of St. Andrews, got a much-needed birdie to cut the gap to just 1-up. A hole later on the 16th, Briones made bogey, and the match was tied with two holes to play.
On the 17th, it was Suarez' turn to lose a hole via a bogey. The two tied the 18th, sealing the victory for Briones.
In the first round of stroke play qualifying at Poppy Hills, Briones was on fire. At one point, he was 7-under through 12 holes before settling for a round of 64.
As for the No.18 seeded Aliaga, the sophomore at CMS moved on to the finals via a tight 1-up win of his own. Facing No.14 Sam Baumuller, Aliaga didn't take his first lead until he made birdie on the par-3 12th to go 1-up.
Two holes later, with the score still 1-up, Aliaga again cashed in on a par-3, birdying the 15th to go 2-up. Baumuller, who plays at St.Mary's, won the 16th hole with a par to make it 1-up, but the two tied the 17th and 18th holes.
Aliaga is aiming for his second NCGA major title in the last month. In early July, he won the NCGA Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
Only two players have ever won the NCGA Stroke Play and Amateur in the same calendar year--Verne Callison (1969) and John Lotz (1972).
The 36-hole final will begin Friday at 7 a.m.
Former winners of the event, which is considered the NCGA's biggest major, include Maverick McNealy (2015), Kevin Sutherland (1986) and Roger Maltbie (1972).
August 11, 2026
No.1 seed Ayden Fynaut has already done something that hasn't been achieved since 2023.
That is to simply survive. Barely.
Fynaut, a member of Team NorCal for the U.S. National Development Program, won his opening Round of 32 match on the 20th hole. That wasn't all. He also won his Round of 16 match later, 5 and 4.
It was the first win that somewhat righted the ship. And hopefully ended a curse.
With the win, Fynaut became the first No.1 seed since Garrett Boe in 2023 to win in the Round of 32. In 2022 and 2021, the No.1 seed also lost in the opening round.
As for the last No.1 seed to win it all? That remains PGA Tour member Maverick McNealy, who did it in 2015.
While Fynaut got through, the other top three seeds weren't so lucky. No.2 seed Kurtis Rodriguez got knocked out in the Round of 16, courtesy of a 7 and 6 loss to No.18 Sebi Aliaga.
No.3 seed Ryan Gay also got ousted in the Round of 16, losing 5 and 4 to No.14 Sam Baumuller. No.4 seed Jack Binderman didn't get a chance in the Round of 16, losing to No. 29 Calvin Etcheverry, 2-up, in the Round of 32.
Wednesday will be the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the 36-hole final on Thursday.
Former winners of the event, which is considered the NCGA's biggest major, include Maverick McNealy (2015), Kevin Sutherland (1986) and Roger Maltbie (1972).
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August 10, 2026
Ayden Fynaut, a member of Team NorCal for the U.S. National Development Program, will be the No.1 seed for match play at this week's NCGA Amateur at Spyglass Hill.
Fynaut earned medalist honors by coming in with a two-day stroke play qualifying score of 5-under 138 after a second round 68 at Spyglass Hill.
Kurtis Rodriguez and Ryan Gay finished T-2 at 141 after rounds of 69 and 68, respectively.
The cutline for match play (low 32) came at 146.
Tuesday's action will consist of the Round of 32 and Round of 16. Wednesday will be the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the 36-hole final on Thursday.
Former winners of the event, which is considered the NCGA's biggest major, include Maverick McNealy (2015), Kevin Sutherland (1986) and Roger Maltbie (1972).
Video by Bailey Arredondo
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August 9, 2026
At the 2025 California Amateur, Brasen Briones was tied for the lead after the first round of stroke play qualifying and went on to earn co-medalist honors with three other players.
On a gray Sunday at Poppy Hills, Briones again finished the first round of stroke play qualifying in the lead--this time at the 123rd NCGA Amateur--after a solid opening 7-under 64.
A junior at the University of the Pacific, Briones was at a total of 7-under after holing out for eagle on the par-4 12th. He bogeyed the 13th and 15th to drop back, but closed with birdies on holes Nos. 17 and 18. The course record at Poppy Hills is 61, held by Peter Kuest.
Jack Hayden, the brother of 2024 NCGA Amateur Stroke Play champ Joey Hayden, and Nickolas Waldock, a senior at UC Santa Barbara, are tied for second at 67.
The second round will see action shift over to Spyglass Hill. Following Monday's second round, a cut will be made with the low 32 advancing to match play.
Tuesday's action will consist of the Round of 32 and Round of 16. Wednesday will be the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the 36-hole final on Thursday.
Former winners of the event, which is considered the NCGA's biggest major, include Maverick McNealy (2015), Kevin Sutherland (1986) and Roger Maltbie (1972).
Video by Bailey Arredondo
Photo Gallery Below
