Defending Champion Morikawa Leads AGC Silicon Valley Am
Collin Morikawa
(Cal Bears Photo)
MORGAN HILL, Calif. (January 14, 2016) -- Defending champion Collin Morikawa picked up right where he left off last year, firing a 6-under 66 in the opening round of the AmateurGolf.com Silicon Valley Amateur presented by Callaway Golf.
Morikawa, a sophomore at Cal, shot 1-under on the front-nine before a stretch of two eagles in three holes on the back-nine. The first eagle came on the par-5 14th followed by a pitching wedge hole-out from 143 on the par-4 16th. A birdie on 18 gave Morikawa a closing 30.
Trailing by one is another Cal Bear, red-shirt freshman William Aldred who posted a 5-under 67. The Englishman rode a hot putter on his back-nine, dropping 20 and 30 footers in what his playing partner Sean Yu called an "unconscious" effort.
World Amateur No.1 Maverick McNealy sits alone in third after a 4-under 68 which included an astounding nine birdies. His playing partner and teammate Brandon Wu is close behind after a bogey-free 69 which puts him a tie for 4th with Saint Mary's freshman Blake Hathcoat and Daulet Tuleubayev.
SENIOR DIVISION
Tony Ralph leads the Senior Division by four shots after an opening-round 76 that could have been a lot better had it not been for an unfortunate nine on the par-5 14th. Sung Han and Jeff Britton are the closet pursuers after each shooting an 8-over 80.
WOMEN'S DIVISION
Fresno State commit Marie Dean leads the women's division by one shot over San Jose State's Alexandra Cooper after a 3-over 75. San Diego State's Daniela Anastasi (80) and Fresno State's Kelsi Stieler (81) round out the division.
NET DIVISION
Scott Carelli leads the Net division after a 3-over 75 put him eight shots ahead of Mike Sly.
Play will begin at 8:00 am tomorrow as the field switches to the difficult Coyote Creek Tournament Course.
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