Defending Champion Morikawa Leads AGC Silicon Valley Am

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.