In what became a record-tying marathon, it was Alameda resident and Pepperdine University freshman Kailer Stone who got to savor the finish.
Stone, a member of Team NorCal for the U.S. National Development Program, made birdie on the 39th hole (par-4 third) at Hacienda GC to hold off Max Emberson and win the 115th California Amateur Championship.
With the win, Stone joins Xander Schauffele (2014), Ken Venturi (1951) Johnny Miller (1968) and Mark O'Meara (1979) as champions of the event. All four of those players went on to win majors. Stone also earned an automatic exemption into the U.S. Amateur at Merion GC.
“It’s so special. To have won this tournament, I haven’t even processed it yet, it just happened … this is amazing, I mean, they’re obviously incredible players, and hopefully I can follow in their footsteps and have this be the first step of that," Stone said.
It certainly was not easy for Stone. The finals have only gone to 39 holes two other times--in 1949 when Mac Hunter defeated Gene Littler and in 1970 when Bob Risch defeated Vic Loustalot.
The No. 16 seed, Stone first simply had to get to extra holes. Through 33 holes, he trailed Emberson, the No.6 seed and a freshman at Georgia Tech, by two holes. On the 34th hole, a par-3, Stone won with a par. On the ensuing 35th hole, a par-5, Stone won with a clutch birdie. The two tied the 36th hole with bogey.
It wasn't the first time during the grueling week that Stone had his back to the wall. In the Round of 16, he won on the 19th hole. In the quarterfinals, he won on the 20th hole. Emberson, who took a 1-up after the first 18 holes, jumped to a 2-up lead through 19 holes. Stone came back from the deficit as well.
Former St. Mary's standout Mitchell Hoey was the star in stroke play qualifying, posting rounds of 63-64 for a 36-hole total of 13-under 127.
Hoey's 36-hole stroke play qualifying total of 127 matched Christian Banke for the championship low 36-hole qualifying record. Banke shot rounds of 64 and 63 at The Preserve in 2021. Hoey, like Banke, would go on to lose in the first round of match play.
Stroke play qualifying moved from 54 holes to 36 holes in 1989.
In the North/South competition, the NCGA claimed a 678-681 victory over the SCGA. The North/South competition, which is held during stroke play qualifying, features the NCGA taking on the SCGA. Scoring is based on the five lowest scores from each region.