This article originally appeared in the January issue of NCGA Golf Magazine
Individual, Four-Ball and New Women’s Brackets
In 2025, the NCGA Match Play Challenge saw a total of 384entries in the Individual Match Play Challenge and 128 teams in the Four-Ball Match Play Challenge.
The final two players in the Individual and two teams in the Four-Ball battled it out at The Olympic Club Lake Course. The Individual Final Match made it to the 18th hole with Bill Villareal winning the match 2-up over Bowen Wiest, while the Four-Ball Final Match ended5 & 4 with the team of Shawn Andrade and Matt Howard winning against the team of Matt Gilchrist and William Alexander.
What’s in store for 2026? Even more!
The NCGA Match Play Challenge returns for2026 with not only both the Individual and Four-Ball formats but also anew Women’s Match Play Challenge.
Players will be allowed to sign up for both the Individual and Four-Ball brackets; Women may sign up for all three. A player that makes the Quarterfinals in multiple brackets will choose which bracket to continue in.
How it Works
Once registration closes, a single elimination bracket will be created. Participants will be grouped by their preferred bracket location and their handicap. Change for 2026: Depending on registration numbers, the Individual Match Play Challenge will be separated into 2-3 separate competitions based on Handicap Index. The bracket will be sent out during the week before the first-round matches begin. Players will be given a timeframe for each round to schedule and play their match against their opponent. The matches will be played as net match play.
The two players (or teams) will agree on the date and course to play within the given timeframe for each round. Green fees will be the responsibility of the players. They will keep progressing through the bracket until they reach the Quarterfinals.
The quarterfinals through the Final rounds will be scheduled in October and November and expenses will be covered by the NCGA.
Courses for the quarterfinals through Finals are in the process of being scheduled. In addition to Olympic Club where the Finals were played in 2025, the quarterfinals were played at Silverado Resort and the semifinals were played at Pasatiempo GC.
Registration
Registration is already open and closes March 29,2026 at 11:59p.m PST or once the tournament is full. Players on the waitlist will still have a chance to be added if the waitlist reaches a certain number to evenly add more players to the bracket. Players on the waitlist are not charged until they are added to the event.
To Learn More About the Match Play Challenge, Please Visit
What Members Are Saying
“The NCGA Match Play challenge is a great way to test yourself one-on-one against some of the best players in the NCGA. It's a great way to venture into competitive golf as a singular blow up hole won't ruin the rest of your round. It's my favorite event of the year! Looking forward to competing again!”—Alex Perl
““Playing in the NCGA Match Play Challenge since its inaugural year has been one of the most rewarding tournaments of the year for me. Match play brings out a different level of strategy and intensity, along with the opportunity to meet new people and face strong but friendly competition across a variety of local courses. The NCGA does a great job creating a competitive yet respectful environment, and every match is fun—win or lose.”—Ted Patchet