Player Information/Pairings/Leaderboard
Final Round- July 1st, 2025
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Championship Division
It took more than 36 holes of stroke play to decide who would become "Mr. Valley Amateur."
But, the Summer of Payne continues to shine in Northern California.
Wes Payne took home the 21st NCGA Valley Amateur Title at Old Greenwood Golf Course with a birdie on the first playoff hole over two-time reigning champion Mike Perchak.
This is Payne's second NCGA title in less than a month. The former professional golfer took home the NCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Poppy Hills in early June.
The San Francisco native started the day two shots back of Perchak. The championship would become a two man race early on with Perchak getting an eagle on par-5 6th hole.
That eagle followed by birdies on the 8th and 10th holes would give Perchak a three-shot lead with seven holes to play.
Payne cut into the deficit with birdies on the par-5 12th hole and par-4 14th hole.
Perchak would bogey the 11th and 15th holes as both men were now tied for the lead with three holes left in regulation.
On the par-4 16th hole, the script flipped as Perchak made a double-bogey while Payne made par.
The two-shot swing would have Payne leading the championship by two shots where both men made par on the par-3 17th hole.
Only needing a par to win, Payne would make bogey on the par-4 18th hole while Perchak made a clutch birdie on the 18th hole to force a sudden-death playoff. Both men finished tied at 5-under par for the championship.
This would be the first sudden-death playoff in the NCGA Valley Amateur since 2021.
Both players would head back to the 18th hole to start the playoff. Payne would get sweet redemption as he made a clutch birdie to complete the three-shot comeback for the ages.
Perchak was looking to become the first player to win three consecutive NCGA Valley Amateur Titles. He would shoot a final round 1-over 73.
The only other player to finish in red figures for the championship was Rocklin, Calif. native Eric Morgan who started the day one shot back.
He did not have an ideal final round as he had five bogeys on the day to shoot a 4-over 76. However, he finished at 1-under-par 143 to get solo third.
With the win, Payne currently sits in fourth place in the Men's Player of the Year standings at 600 points.
Senior Division
Bob Niger has been "Mr. Valley Amateur," twice but he will remember his final round at Old Greenwood Golf Course on July 1st, 2025.
The Sacramento native shot a tournament low 5-under 67 to win the NCGA Senior Valley Amateur Title.
Niger finished the championship at 2-under 142 which was one clear of NCGA Hall of Famer Randy Haag. This is Niger's fourth win in the 2025 season which includes winning the Super Senior Divison at the Sac Valley Senior Amateur Championship a few weeks ago.
Niger becomes the first player to win an NCGA Valley Amateur title and a NCGA Senior Valley Amateur title.
The former PGA Tour Champions pro started his final round at 3-over par which was five shots back of co-leaders Haag and Mark Morgan.
Niger had three birdies on the front nine to get back in the title hunt. He responded with four birdies including back-to-back circles on the scorecard on the par-3 15th hole and the par-4 16th hole.
He bogeyed the par-4 18th hole and would wait to see how the tournament unfolded.
Haag had an birdie on the opening par-4 first hole. But, he would bogey the par-5 sixth hole.
The Orinda, Calif. resident will want to forget the back nine as he posted a 1-over 37 on the back. He had three bogeys on the back nine which included the par-3 17th hole.
Niger and Haag were the only players to finish under par in the Senior Division. Coming in third place was Mark Morgan who finished at 1-over 75.
Morgan's quest for a fourth Senior Valley Amateur title will have to wait another year. He posted a 3-over 75 which saw a stretch of three straight bogeys on holes 3 thru 5.
Defending champion Chris Miller finished at 5-over par for the championship which was resulted in a tie for seventh place.
Niger has a comfortable lead in the NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year standings as he sits with 1,261 points which is nearly 600 points clear of Jim Williams. Haag did get enough points in Truckee to pass Tony Ralph in the Senior Player of the Year Race. Haag sits at 848 with Morgan at 803 and Ralph following at 720.
First Round-June 30, 2025
The competition is heating up in Truckee.
The first round of the 22nd NCGA Valley Amateur and Senior Valley Championships teed off at The Golf Club at Grey's Crossing. The final round will be played at Old Greenwood Golf Club.
52 players in the Senior Division and 53 players in the Championship Division are looking to start their 4th of July weekend with an NCGA Title.
Here is the first round recap.
Championship Division
Mike Perchak is one step closer to history.
The Alamo, Calif. native shot a stellar 6-under 66 to carry a one shot lead into the final round on Tuesday.
Perchak is looking to become the first player to complete a three-peat at the NCGA Valley Amateur Championship. He is also looking to join Nick Moore and Jason Anthony as the only players to win the event three times.
The Round Hill Country Club member had eight birdies on his scorecard. His scorching stretch on the Peter Jacobsen design included four straight birdies on holes 14 thru 17.
Eric Morgan shot a 5-under 67 as he is searching for his first NCGA title.
The Rocklin, Calif. native played the front nine in 4-under par. He did struggle a bit on the back nine having three bogies on the card.
Morgan recovered with four birdies on the back nine.
Wes Payne is looking to add a second NCGA title for his 2025 campaign.
Payne who won the NCGA Mid-Amateur Championship earlier this month at Poppy Hills is only two shots back at 3-under par. That score is good enough for a tie for third place with Juan Gonzalez.
The San Francisco native had four birdies on the front nine. He had an even-keeled back nine which he played at even par.
The action will shift down I-80 to Old Greenwood Golf Club. There will be groups that will start their rounds off of holes 1 and 10. The first group is scheduled to begin their round at 7:30 a.m.
Senior Division
Only three players are under par in the Senior Division but all three players are looking to add another title to their respective careers.
Randy Haag and Mark Morgan will have a share of the first round lead as they sit at 2-under 70 for the championship.
Right behind the duo is defending champion Chris Miller who shot a 1-under 71.
Haag started his day on the back nine where he made his only bogey on the par-4 10th hole.
The NCGA Hall of Famer would par the rest of his holes on the outward nine. He responded with three birdies on the front nine which occurred on holes 3, 5 and 6.
Haag has won every major NCGA or State Amateur Senior Title there is to win. However, he will be looking to add a Senior Valley Championship to his impeccable career.
If the Orinda, Calif. native wins, he will tie Jeff Burda for the most NCGA Senior Division victories at 13.
Morgan started his round on the back nine as well. The Shingle Springs, Calif native birdied the par-4 14th hole. The front nine was tough on the USC alum as he made bogies on the first and 5th holes.
But, Morgan was able to respond and get three birdies to close out his Monday. Morgan is looking to add a fourth Senior Valley Amateur title to his resume which would break a tie with Gary Vainer for most Senior Victory crowns.
Morgan who is fresh from winning the Sacramento Valley Senior Amateur Championship a few weeks ago has not won a Senior Valley Championship since 2019.
Miller who had his maiden NCGA Championship triumph last year at Winchester Country Club started his day on the back nine as well.
The Brentwood native played the back nine in even par. He had an adventurous front nine which included two bogeys and three birdies.
Miller is looking to become the third player to successfully defend the Senior Valley title which will join him with Morgan and Vanier.