November 20, 2024
Rancho Santa Fe resident Trae Cassell doesn't compete in many events because he has difficulty advancing through qualifiers. When he does qualify, he's prone to slow starts.
This time, he put it all together--despite yet another sluggish start.
Cassell rebounded from an opening round 77 in what was brutal weather conditions to card a second round 66 and arguably an even better final round 71 to win the annual California Senior Amateur Championship by four shots over co-runners-up Craig Davis and John Adams on the par-72 Dunes Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
Both the first and final rounds saw players fighting 35-plus mph winds and temperatures around 45 degrees.
"This win is right up at the top for me. I'm a slow starter, but I've learned to not let that bother me," said Cassell, who qualified via a stellar 65 at Soule Park in SoCal. "It was a grind. The wind, the greens--the course can get you very fast. The numbers can add up in a hurry."
On the par-3 14th Cassell, originally from Atlanta, nearly saw one of those high numbers. After a tee shot into winds blowing 35-plus mph, Cassell's birdie putt rolled (with help from the wind) off the green and into the bunker. He'd bounce back from the shock by getting up and down to save bogey, which was huge. At the time, Dan Sullivan and John Adams were also near the top. They too escaped potential disaster by carding miraculous bogeys.
For Cassell, a big move came moments later on the ensuing par-5 14th when he hit a beautiful approach shot that resulted in a birdie. Suddenly, he had a cushion over both Sullivan and Adams. Cassell went on to play his final three holes at even-par to seal the victory.
"I got to play with two players I have a lot of admiration for (Sullivan and Adams)," Cassell said. "It wasn't until the end that I was able to pull away."
Sullivan, an SCGA legend who was looking for his first Cal Senior Am title, ran off three straight birdies from holes Nos. 11 through 13 to put himself in contention., Unfortunately, the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur runner-up played his final four holes at 5-over par.
Adams, who was also looking for his first Cal Senior crown, never really got going, posting a final round 74. Davis jumped into a tie for second thanks to a solid 69 in the wind.
NCGA Hall of Famer Casey Boyns, who is one of just two players to win the California Amateur and Cal Senior (Gary Vanier), finished fifth at 222 after a final round 71.
Along with hoisting the trophy, Cassell, who works in real estate at Madison Club in La Quinta, also earned some perks, including an exemption into final qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.
November 19, 2024
The weather warmed up just a bit Tuesday for the second round of this week's California Senior Amateur on the Dunes Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
Also heating up was Rancho Santa Fe resident Trae Cassell. Cassell, a former club champ at Del Mar CC, took the lead thanks to a sizzling 6-under 66 that put him at a two-day total of 1-under 143.
Cassell was stellar, posting seven birdies with just one bogey. On the front-nine, he'd card a bogey-free 31. With his score, Cassell leaped 16 spots up the leaderboard.
Also moving up was San Clemente's John Adams, who got to a total of 144 after a 71. Adams and Cassell are the only players to post scores under par in what has been at times windy and cold conditions.
"Just to be able to play out here has been an honor. How can you not have fun?" Adams said. "I'm never never looking at the numbers. I am just out here playing the course."
First-round co-leaders Mark Morgan and Ron Ewing slipped backwards into a tie for 8th at 149 after identical rounds of 77.
In at 145, and just two shots off the lead after a 73, is Dan Sullivan. Sullivan earlier this year finished as runner-up at the U.S. Senior Amateur.
Four shots off the lead at 147 is Olympic Club member Randy Haag. Haag, who won the event in both 2021 and 2022, carded a 72.
The cutline to advance to Wednesday's final round came at 11-over 155.
In the North/South Cup, the SCGA took the title 429-435. The North/South Cup competition, held over the first two days of the championship, sees the NCGA and SCGA taking on each other using the lowest three scores from each association.
November 18, 2024
Just try to make a par. And then get warm again.
Monday's first round of this week's California Senior Amateur on the Dunes Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club was a true test.
There were 25 mph-plus gusts, and the wind chill factor was a balmy 45 degrees.
At the end of the day, Mark Morgan and Ron Ewing were tied atop the leaderboard with identical scores of even-par 72.
Morgan, the 2020 and 2021 NCGA Senior Player of the Year, won the title in 2017 at Pauma Valley. The Shingle Springs resident was solid on the back-nine, carding a 34 with zero bogeys on the back-nine despite the conditions.
Ewing, one of the youngsters at age 56, earlier this season won the NCGA Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship at nearby Poppy Hills with partner Chris Cuttone.
"It was a grind from the first hole on. When that wind picked up, it got even more difficult," Morgan said.
Lurking just a shot behind the co-leaders is SCGA stalwart Dan Sullivan and John Adams.
Following Tuesday's second round, a cut will be made with the low 30 and ties advancing to Wednesday's final round.
In the North/South Cup Challenge, the NCGA leads the SCGA, 218-220. The North/South Cup competition, held over the first two days of the championship, sees the NCGA and SCGA taking on each other using the lowest three scores from each association.