Down to the Final 16 at the 107th California Amateur

CARLSBAD, CA (June 20, 2018) - The match play stage of the 107th California Amateur Championship kicked off today, with 16 matches played at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.

Dan Sullivan (Pasadena, CA), last year's SCGA Mid-Amateur champion and U.S. Mid-Amateur semifinalist two years running, took down medalist Cody Hall (Wildomar, CA) 3&1 in an upset of the #1 match play seed.

Sullivan got off to a fast start, going four up through just six holes, before Hall fought back to get to only two down with nine to play. Unfortunately for Hall, he could get no closer, giving Sullivan a spot in Thursday’s round of 16 against Forbes Collins II (Lake Forest).

Dan Sullivan (SCGA photo)

The #2 seed Brad Reeves (Woodbridge, CA), who plays at the University of Arizona, put on a clinic in his match against Michael Wong (Riverside). Reeves made 4 birdies and an eagle on the 577-yard par-5 second hole, putting him five up at the turn. Reeves easily closed out his match 7&6, and will move on to the round of 16.

USC standout Sam Kim (Irvine) closed out his match early, making five birdies in a 7&5 win over Joe Neuheisel (Paradise Valley). Kim’s impressive 2-iron tee shots proved effective in the wind, making him a solid pick for the state title if the winds continue to blow at La Costa.

High-schooler and SCGA CIF Champion Tyler Guo (Irvine) edged out his opponent and fellow teenager Raymond Navis (Palm Desert) in 19 holes. Navis made an amazing birdie on the par-5 18th to force extra holes, before Guo birdied the 19th for the win.

Other notable players advancing to the round of 16 include last year’s stroke play medalist and UCLA freshman Eddy Lai (San Jose), the 2016 SCGA Mid-Am champ Corby Segal (Santa Clarita), and last year’s NCGA Mid-Amateur champion Bobby Bucey (Concord).

Bucey will face off with a fellow Norcal mid-amateur, Ryan Sloane (Campbell), the four-time defending California State Fair Masters champion.

Match play continues on Thursday, with eight matches paring the field down to the eight quarterfinalists.