PEBBLE BEACH – The field of the 107th playing of the NCGA Amateur has been reduced by half after Wednesday first and second round action, from 32 players to 16 set to compete in tomorrow morning’s quarterfinals.
Medalist and #1 seed Randy Haag had to work in his opening round match against four-ball partner Darryl Donovan, coming back from an early 2-down deficit to prevail 1-up. Haag then took out Domingo Jojola of Lake Merced 1-up in the afternoon. The NCGA Player of the Year, at age 51, now faces one of the youngest players in the field in Matthew Hansen, an incoming freshman at UC Davis, in the quarterfinals. Hansen defeated Brent Booth in the second round 4 and 3.
St. Mary’s Golf Coach Scott Hardy upended 2007 NCGA Amateur champion Ryan Hallisey on the second round 3 and 2 and will face Mathew Miller of Castlewood in the quarterfinals. Miller defeated Chris Ellis of San Jose Muni 4 and 2 in the second round.
NCGA Amateur: Field whittled down to 16
As first and second round matches conclude, big names like medalist Randy Haag and St. Mary's coach Scott Hardy are set up for key matches