There are trees, and then there are the monsters
that line the fairways of Eugene C.C. (AGC photo)

Founded in 1899, Eugene Country Club is Oregon's second oldest golf club. Renovated in the late 1960's by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones, Eugene Country Club has routinely been rated one of the best courses in the Pacific Northwest. The rolling, tree- lined design will be a challenge to 84 of the top- ranked amateurs in the world over the 72-hole, four- day stroke play competition. Only one player will have the opportunity to raise the Dr. Ed Updegraff trophy as overall champion at one of North America's most historic golfing events.

Heading back to Eugene Country Club for the first time since 2010 when current PGA Tour player Andrew Putnam claimed victory, the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship is featuring arguably its most competitive field in its history. With 45 NCAA schools being represented by current and alumnus golfers, as well as seven players ranked in the top-30 according to the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking (SPWAR) system, this year's event will draw serious attention on the world golfing stage.

"We are thrilled to head back to Eugene Country Club this year" stated Troy Andrew, Executive Director of the Pacific Coast Golf Association, the organizing body for the Championship.

"Eugene is one of those clubs that withstands the test of time and never disappoints from a Championship perspective. They routinely step up and support amateur golf as gracious hosts including our event for the 8th time in our history, next years' NCAA Championships and the 2018 USGA Senior Championship. We cannot be more excited to have such a strong caliber field with players from six different countries head to Eugene next week".

Barb Trammell, CEO of the Oregon Golf Association, concurs. "The OGA is proud to again host the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship", she said. "In a year that will see several national championships played in Oregon, this is a great kickoff to a summer of having the top-ranked amateurs in the world compete on a historic Northwest stage."

Highlighting the field at this year's Championship will be defending champion Corey Pereira of the University of Washington. Pereira looks to build off his Sahalee Players Championship title earlier in 2015 as well as his veteran poise at the Pacific Coast Amateur.

Likely to be hot on his stride will be a pair of University of Texas Longhorns in Mission Viejo, CA native Beau Hossler and Scottie Scheffler of Dallas, TX. Hossler, an upcoming junior with the star- studded Longhorns, recently made the cut at the US Open in June as well as proudly represented the United States of America at the Pan Am Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Other impressively ranked notables looking to make a splash in the highly touted field will be the reigning NCAA National Champion for Southern Methodist University Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis, CA, Stanford Cardinal and recent PGA Tour standout as an amateur Maverick McNealy of Portola Valley, CA, silver medalist at The Open Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland last weekend Jordan Niebrugge of Mequon, WI and Wake Forest Demon Deacon Will Zalatoris of Dallas, TX.

Zalatoris had a banner 2014, winning the prestigious Trans-Miss Championship and the USGA Junior. Having high hopes of a trailblazing 2015, those plans were unfortunately sidetracked by an emergency appendectomy that forced him to the sidelines for six weeks back in early June. The Pacific Coast Amateur will be his second competition since the injury and he will no doubt be hungry for victory.

Six Oregonians will be competing in the field next week, including Dylan Wu of Medford, local Eugene residents Zach Foushee and Sulman Raza, Kevin Murphy of Rogue River, Conner Kumpula of Albany and Jesse Heinly of Bend.

All players will be vying for the individual Ed Updegraff Trophy, named after the longtime volunteer and standout amateur golfer who played on three Walker Cup teams (1963, 1965 & 1969), won the 1967 Pacific Coast Amateur title and was the 1999 Bob Jones Award recipient from the USGA.

Taking place concurrently with the first and second rounds will be the battle for the Morse Cup, a 36-hole stroke play team competition using predetermined rosters representing the 15 member Associations of the Pacific Coast Golf Association. The defending champions of the Morse Cup are the contingent from the Southern California Golf Association.

Play for the 72-hole stroke play Championship will begin on Tuesday, July 28th at 7:30am with practice rounds and a players' banquet being held on Monday July 27th. Guest speaking at the Player's Banquet on Monday will be John 'Spider' Miller, the 2015 Walker Cup Team Captain for USA. Play will conclude with the eventual champion being crowned on Friday, July 31st.

Held on an annual basis since 1967, with roots dating back to 1901, the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship boasts a rich history of showcasing some of the most talented golfers in the United States and Canada.

Past champions of the Pacific Coast Amateur who have gone on to successful professional careers include PGA Tour winners Billy Mayfair (1987, 1988), Jason Gore (1997) and Ben Crane (1998) as well as Web.com Tour winners and brothers Michael Putnam (2004) and Andrew Putnam (2010).

For more information on the Championship, visit www.pacificcoastamateur.com. Spectators and Media are welcome to attend with entrance being free of charge.

For a full listing of players, click here

Follow along with this years' Championship on social media using Twitter handle @pacificcoastam , Instagram @pacificcoastam and Facebook /pacificcoastamateur using the official hashtags #PACCoast and #EugeneCC

Story courtesy Pacific Coast Golf Association