- NCGA photo

Anguiano had the early clubhouse lead posting a four-under-par 68 on the Dunes Course in the third group out on the day, scoring six birdies and two bogeys in his round. After an even-par front-nine with a birdie on No. 1 and a bogey on No. 5, the 20-year-old caught fire converting three birdies over his first four holes of the back nine on Nos. 10, 12 and 13. Dropping a shot with a bogey on No. 14, the Cal State Fullerton senior-to-be, finished strong with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th.

“I was hitting good shots [on both nines], the results were just a lot better on the back-nine,” he said.

Anguiano, who’s already playing in his fifth California State Amateur Championship, hopes to continue playing well as he’s yet to qualify for match play.

“Hopefully this is the year I turn it around,” he said. “I’m off to a good start.”

Tying him for the lead some 90 minutes later was fellow SCGA member Xander Schauffele, who fired a four-under par 68 on the Shore Course. Ignorance proved to be bliss for Schauffele, making five birdies and one bogey in his first attempt playing the Shore Course. Only making time for one-practice round on the Dunes Course, the junior-to-be at San Diego State didn’t get overly aggressive in his play on Monday.

“I picked some really conservative shots and only attacked [flags] when I could see the whole green,” he said. “That really helped keep my card clean.”

Schauffele would make birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 before his lone bogey on the ninth to open with a 34 on the par-35 front-nine. Then on the back nine, the San Diego resident converted his three birdies on Nos. 11, 15 and 16 to close with a 34 on the par-37 back-nine.

Playing in his third consecutive California State Amateur Championship, having made match play in 2011 when it was held at Olympic Club, Schauffele has had previous success on the Monterey Peninsula before winning the 2011 Boys State CIF Championship at Poppy Hills GC as a high school senior. He looks forward to tomorrow and knows that the two courses present different challenges.

“I’m just going to keep the same game plan for tomorrow, fairways and greens,” he said.

In a tie for third place at three-under-par 69 are two NCGA members, Ben Geyer of Arbuckle and Andrew Biggadike of Belmont. Biggadike—playing on the Shore Course—was steady on the front-nine trading birdies on Nos. 1 and 8, with bogeys on Nos. 5 and 6. On the back-nine, the Olympic Club member was able to stay bogey-free and converted three birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 16.

Geyer, also playing on the Shore Course, fired his three-under par 69, making four birdies, three bogeys and an eagle. Getting off to a slow start with bogeys on Nos. 1 and 6, the current NCGA Player of the Year turned things around nicely making birdies on Nos. 7, 10 and 12 before a bogey on No. 13 to get to even-par. Then, the recent St. Mary’s College graduate got into red numbers with a birdie on No. 15 and an eagle on No. 16.

“I just realized that I had to just keep plugging away,” said Geyer of his turnaround after a rough start.

Geyer’s three-under-par round helped the NCGA take a commanding lead in the Roger Lapham Challenge Cup as the North leads the South 364 to 385. After a humiliating loss to the SCGA in 2012 losing by 46 strokes, the NCGA looks to be in good position in obtaining revenge with a 21-stroke advantage going into tomorrow’s round. Other players on the North team that helped them gain an advantage were Nick Moore (72), Sam Smith (73), Pace Johnson (73) and Bryson DeChambeau (77), with Johnathan Garrick’s score of 78 being the throwaway. The South team’s best score came from Anton Arboleda and Jacob Knapp, who each shot a 76. Defending champion Kevin Marsh had a 77, Niall Platt and Robert Funk each had a 78, while the throwaway score was a 79 from Tim Hogarth.

Still in contention for medalist honors posting under-par scores on Monday were three players at two-under-par 70 and four players at one-under-par 71. Tied for fifth place with a two-under par 70 are Jerry Ledzinski of Carmel, Tyler Raber of El Macero and Jeremy Sanders of Chatsworth. The four players tied for eighth at one-under-par 71: Joseph Sanders of La Quinta, Benjamin Lein of Diamond Bar, Ryan Han of Hollister and Sean Crocker of Westlake Village.

Players will changeover to the course they didn’t play today, with times beginning at 7:30 a.m. At the conclusion of tomorrow’s round the top 32 players will advance to match play for Wednesday. Currently 44 players are at the projected cutline or better with 16 players tied for 29th place at two-over-par 74.