Cal Bear Collin Morikawa with the Golden Bear
MORGAN HILL, California (January 17, 2016) --Collin Morikawa showed why he's the reigning Trans-Miss Amateur champion, firing his second straight round of 69 in wet and cold conditions at the difficult Coyote Creek Tournament Course.
Morikawa trailed first round leaders Travis Rowney and Walker Huddy by a shot heading into the round and was the only player in the final group to break par.
The Cal Berkeley freshman from La Canada Flintridge, Calif. credited his straight driving and excellent chipping around the greens as keys to his success.
"It’s always great to come out with a win," said Morikawa, spoken as someone who's had this satisfaction once or twice before.
Daniel Connelly of San Francisco, Calif. took solo second honors, also firing an impressive 69. The high school senior is a past AGC Christmas Classic champion and will be attending SMU in the fall.
The low Mid-Am golfer 25-years and over was Robby Salomon. The 2015 U.S. Amateur match play qualifier fired rounds 70 and 77 to take the honor along with a top 15 overall finish.
SENIOR/NET
As we promised it would, the senior division produced a great battle between Steve Donnelly and Jeff Britton. Donnelly edged Britton by one shot in the first round but Britton's final round 76 nicked Donnelly by a shot, forcing a playoff. After tying the first playoff hole, Donnelly found the green and two-putts were enough to take the title.
Abi Vickram squeezed out a victory in Net Division by one shot over Scott Carelli. Vickram had a sizable lead after round one which he watched Carelli quickly diminish by the end of the front nine. Vickram remained unphased, shaking off a couple bad holes and getting the job done.
ABOUT THE
AGC Silicon Valley Amateur
The Silicon Valley Amateur is now a 54-hole, limited-field WAGR points event! The field will consist of 64 scratch players and 18 invited scratch seniors. After 36 holes are contested (one round on Monday, one on Tuesday), the field will be cut to the low 30 scratch amateurs and ties, and the low nine scratch seniors and ties. These players will be eligible for the final round on Wednesday. We expect to gain exemptions for winners into several top tournaments - details forthcoming. Past champions of this tournament include PGA Tour stars Collin Morikawa and Max Homa.
DIVISIONS
CHAMPIONSHIP
For players aged 16 and over with a USGA or
equivalent index of 1.9 or less.
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
For players age 50 and over (as of the tournament
date) with a handicap index of 3.9 or less. Note:
Must be 55 and over for NCGA Senior Points.
MID-AM (subdivision of Championship)
For players age
25-
49. Compete alongside the younger players in the
Championship Division, (same tees, same prize
opportunities) and if there are at least six Mid-Ams,
a
separate prize and trophy will be awarded.
WOMEN (subdivision of Championship)
Will play in the
Championship
Division but
from a shorter tee. If there are at least six women in
the field, a separate prize and trophy will be
awarded.
View Complete Tournament Information