"We're excited to return to Wente Vineyards for the fourth-straight year," said amateurgolf.com Founder Pete Wlodkowski. "The course demands that players games are firing on all cylinders, and it's not surprising that two of the past three year's champions are past winners of the California State Amateur."
Darryl Donovan of Gilroy won the 2005 event in very challenging weather conditions.
His experience winning the State Amateur at Pebble Beach, and competing in the
US Open in 1992, no doubt helped him through the challenge of playing an already-difficult
course in cold, blustery conditions that sent other players' scores north of
85 in many cases.
The prior year, Spencer Levin kicked off his amazing summer -- which was highlighted
by a T13 finish in the US Open -- with a January win at Wente Vineyards. Mike
Maurice, the Alameda legend, was the first to put his name on the trophy back
in 2003 when he overcame challenges from Randy Haag and James Hay in the final
round.
The Championship Division in 2006 will consist largely of Northern California's
top amateurs such as 2005 NCGA Player-of-the-year Bob Niger. At least 1/2 dozen
Southern California players will vie for the crown, as well as two players from
Bainbridge Island, Washington, one from Henderson, Nevada and one (Harald Vaernes)
coming all the way from Hawaii. A lone female contestant -- .5 handicap Shannon
Yocum of Palos Verdes Estates -- will join her male counterparts around Wente
Vineyards.
The Senior Division will also see some of the NCGA's top amateurs with names
such as Rob Thompson, Earl Stewart, Frank Abbott, and Carl Selkirk in the field,
all of whom have seen action on the national level. And not forgetting the Net
guys, paced by the likeable Bob Fagan of Pleasanton. Fagan, in addition to being
a tough competitor, is the Golf Nuts Society's all time leading scorer. Ask
him about it, or check out his profile on www.golfnuts.com.
To view a complete list of 2006 players, click
here>
NOTE: Although the 2006 field is full, you may add your name to the waiting
list by contacting Liz McQueen at liz@amateurgolf.com or 650-207-0817.