📰 Round 1 Recap: Gabriel Smith Fires Opening 64 at Eugene CC

Eugene, Ore. – July 22, 2025

Gabriel Smith of Truckee, Calif., surged into the 18-hole lead at the 58th Pacific Coast Amateur with a scintillating 7-under 64 at Eugene Country Club. After starting 1-over through 10, Smith flipped the switch, playing his final eight holes in 6-under with two eagles and four birdies, including a back-nine 30.

Smith, a rising senior at Sacramento State, leads by three strokes over a trio at -4: Brody Leid (Phoenix, Ariz.), Andrew Ferworn (Houston, Tex.), and Connor Hamm (Macomb, Ill.). The field remains tightly packed behind them, with more than 20 players at par or better.

📊 Morse Cup Update

After Day 1 of the team competition, Oregon Golf Association and Wyoming State Golf Association are tied for the lead at 3-under. Northern Nevada Golf Association and British Columbia Golf sit one shot back at -2. The Morse Cup will conclude after Round 2.

🔍 First Round Highlights

• Brody Leid and Andrew Ferworn opened with matching 67s to sit T2 at -4.
• Mahanth Chirravuri, the top-ranked WAGR player in the field at No. 36, carded an even-par 71 and sits seven back.
• Hole 7 (Par 3, 202 yards) played as the toughest—yielding just 4 birdies against 41 bogeys or worse.
• Hole 16 (Par 5, 522 yards) was the day’s easiest—producing 4 eagles, 43 birdies, and zero double bogeys.

One of Amateur Golf’s Crown Jewels Returns to Oregon

The 2025 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship begins Tuesday, July 22, at Eugene Country Club, where 72 holes of stroke play will determine one of the most coveted amateur titles in North America. With a full field of elite collegiate, mid-amateur, and international competitors—many representing top NCAA programs and national teams—the 58th playing of the championship promises four days of drama beneath the Pacific Northwest pines.

This year’s edition returns to a classic layout known for demanding shot shaping and precise iron play. Eugene CC, a longtime host of USGA qualifiers and collegiate events, will play to a par of 71 with a layout measuring just over 7,000 yards. With firm fairways, layered bunkering, and fast bentgrass greens, the course is set to reward control and creativity over brute power.

What’s at Stake

• An exemption into the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship at Olympic Club
• Elite Amateur Series points that count toward the season-long Elite Amateur Cup
• Team honors in the Morse Cup, contested over the first two rounds

Past champions of the Pacific Coast Amateur include Will Zalatoris, Aaron Wise, and Chaz Aurilia—who captured last year’s title at Chambers Bay with a dramatic playoff victory. The tournament’s history dates back to 1901 and remains a beacon for the top talent on both sides of the Pacific.

Players to Watch

The 2025 field includes players from 15 PCGA member associations and Presidential Invites from across the globe. Several names stand out heading into the week:

• William Walsh (Pepperdine) – One of the top finishers from 2024, enters as a likely contender
• Eric Doyle (Oregon) – Local knowledge and collegiate pedigree make him a threat on home turf
• Cooper Humphreys (San Diego/Canada) – Representing British Columbia with international experience
• Brandon Knight (Colorado) – Fresh off a strong spring season with pro-level distance
• Akshay Anand (Northwestern) – Consistent presence in WAGR standings, making his Pac Coast Am debut

Full 2025 Field

Below is the full list of competitors for the 2025 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship, including school affiliations and association or exemption path. This list represents one of the most diverse and competitive amateur fields in North America this year:

Player Roster Highlights:

• Aidan Thomas (New Mexico State) – Sun Country Amateur GA
• Akshay Anand (Northwestern) – Presidential Invite
• Alex Papayoanou (UCLA) – Presidential Invite
• Alexander Yang (Arkansas / Hong Kong) – Presidential Invite
• Areen Aggarwal (SMU) – Presidential Invite
• Avery Lazarski (Saint Mary’s) – Southern Nevada GA
• Baron Szeto (Cal Poly) – Presidential Invite
• Billy Dowling (Australia) – Presidential Invite
• Blake Knight (Colorado) – Presidential Invite
• Brady Siravo (Pepperdine) – Northern California GA
• Brody Leid (Wyoming) – Wyoming State GA
• Cooper Humphreys (San Diego / Canada) – British Columbia Golf
• Colin Prater (UCCS) – Colorado GA
• Connor Hamm (Arizona) – Presidential Invite
• David Chávez (Virginia State) – Presidential Invite
• Dujuan Snyman (Illinois / Australia) – Presidential Invite
• Eric Doyle (Oregon) – Southern California GA
• Ethan Gao (Stanford) – Presidential Invite
• Greyson Leach (Oregon) – Southern California GA
• Hunter Swanson (Colorado) – Colorado GA
• Jose Antonio Safa (USC / Mexico) – Presidential Invite
• Kai Komulainen (Tennessee / Australia) – Presidential Invite
• Kristof Panke (Wyoming) – Washington Golf
• Ligang Li (Seattle University / China) – Washington Golf
• Mahanth Chirravuri (Pepperdine) – AZ Golf
• Martin Leon (Utah) – Presidential Invite
• Mike Valk (Canada) – Alberta Golf
• Rei Harashima (UC Irvine) – Presidential Invite
• RJ Arone (Michigan) – Southern Nevada GA
• Sam Renner (Washington State) – Oregon GA
• Ty Holbrook (Colorado) – Colorado GA
• William Walsh (Pepperdine) – Northern California GA

(See full player listing in Championship Portal)

Follow Along

Coverage will include daily leaderboard updates, scoring analysis, and highlights from one of the premier stops in the amateur golf season.

• Live Scoring on AmateurGolf.com

This article will be updated with scoring summaries, round-by-round highlights, and leaderboard movement as the tournament unfolds July 22–25 at Eugene Country Club.