May 10, 2026
This time around, it was the caddies who drove and putted their way to victory.
Brett Thawley and AJ Fitzgerald, who work as caddies at famed Cypress Point Club, shot a final round 7-under 65 on Sunday at Spyglass Hill to come in at 21-under 194 and claim a wire-to-wire win at the annual NCGA Four-Ball Championship.
The duo's total 54-hole total score of 194 set a new championship record. Their 21-under total tied the championship record held by 2016 winners Bobby Bucey and Brett Viboch. Poppy Hills, used in the 2026 event, is a par-71.
For Thawley and Fitzgerald, ages 32 and 25, respectively, the win also marked a Four-Ball two-fer. The two also won last year's NCGA Mid-Amateur Four-Ball title at Poppy Ridge.
"It's unbelievable playing with him, playing aggressively and making as many birdies as we can," Thawley. "It's special playing with someone you're off the course as well. It's such a good field, you know you have to come out and play well."
"It's really cool to win at Spyglass," added Fitzgerald. "We're both from here. It's nice to get a win in Pebble Beach."
Among the biggest differences for the two was a solid opening round 9-under 62 at Poppy Hills.
In the final round at Spyglass, they were at one point threatened by the tandem of Yale University teammates Robert You and Darren Lin, who got within two shots.
Fitzgerald, the NCGA's Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season, provided he and Thawley some ample breathing room, however, when he chipped in for eagle on the par-5 11th hole. The two later tackled on back-to-back birdies at holes Nos. 14 and 15 for extra cushion.
You and Lin, who had an eagle chip-in of their own on the par-5 7th hole, made back-to-back birdies on holes 16 and 17, but by then it was too late. They'd finish with a 65 and 54-hole total of 198.
Along with celebrating amongst themselves, Thawley and Fitzgerald also gave some Mother's Day shoutouts. Thawley's wife, Sybille, a mother of two, came out to watch the last few holes. Fitzgerald, meanwhile, had been in contact with his mom Aana, who previously worked at the NCGA for 30 years.
"I have two little kids, so my wife letting me play this tournament means a lot," Thawley said.
The team of Reid Buzby and Daniel Connolly placed third at 200 after a final round 67.
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May 9, 2026
Last year, it took three extra sudden-death playoff holes to determine the champion at the annual Four-Ball Championship.
We could be headed in a similar direction again.
By the time the second round ended on a chilly Saturday at Spyglass Hill, it was still Brett Thawley and AJ Fitzgerald on top of the leaderboard. But there was a group of teams nipping at their heels.
Thawley and Fitzgerald moved to a two-day total of 14-under 129 with a solid 5-under 67 that featured seven birdies and two bogeys. Fitzgerald, who has his brother on the bag as caddie, was the NCGA's Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
Just a shot off the lead is the tandem of Jeremy Moreno and Danny Licursi, who posted a day-low 66 to get to a total of 13-under.
Behind them are three teams just four behind at 133--Jake Aberle and Jai Bahl (68), Reid Buzby and Daniel Connolly (69) and Robert You and Darren Lin (69). You and Lin are teammates at Yale University. Aberle and Bahl play together at Sacramento State.
Whoever comes out on top could have a shot at making some extra history. The lowest 54-hole winning score in the event's history is 195, shot by 2016 champs Bobby Bucey and Brett Viboch.
The cutline (low 40 and ties) came at 1-over 144.
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May 8, 2026
At least for one day, taking it low was the theme as the 59th NCGA Four-Ball Championship got underway Friday at par-71 Poppy Hills.
Grabbing the early lead was the tandem of Brett Thawley and AJ Fitzgerald, who went bogey-free and posted nine birdies on their way to a blistering opening round 62.
While the duo's score was low, it was still three shots off the all-time NCGA record for a Four-Ball event: a 12-under 59 carded by Bobby Bucey and Brett Viboch at Poppy Hills en route to winning the 2022 Mid-Amateur Four-Ball. It was also one off the NCGA Four-Ball Championship 18-hole record score of 61, shot by 2021 champs Ethan Farnam and Ethan Ashbrook.
Nevertheless, Thawley and Fitzgerald, the 2023-24 NCGA Player of the Year, were in a groove. They post a 32 on the front and a 30 on the back-nine.
Four other teams that also got going early were the tandems of Tommy Lutton and Rob Linehan and Jeremy Moreno and Danny Licursi, Robert You and Darren Lin and Daniel Connolly and Reid Buzby, who all came in at 64. Connolly is a mulitple NCGA champion, including the 2023 Mid-Amateur Championship.
Another three teams are at 65, just three behind the leaders. That group includes the teams of Randy Haag and John Fracisco, Jake Aberle and Jai Bahl and Jeremy and Luke Price. Haag, a 67-year-old NCGA Hall of Famer and Senior Player of the Year three of the last four years, would earn an NCGA record 17th title should he and Fracisco get the win.
But there's still 36 holes to go, and the difficulty level will rise, as both Saturday's second and Sunday's final rounds see play shift over to par-72 Spyglass HIll.
Following Saturday's second round, a cut will be made with the low 40 teams and ties advancing to Sunday's finale.
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