- NCGA photo

The conditions were a boon to players like Corey Pereira of Cameron Park, who’s two-under-par 70—following a first round even-par 72—put him in a tie atop the leaderboard at 142, two-under-par to earn co-medalist honors. The honor was likely much to his surprise as Pereira was long gone by the time the trophy ceremony for the Egan Trophy was awarded.

The 18-year-old improved as his day went on scoring a two-over-par 37 on the front-nine of the Dunes Course, but then made four birdies on the back nine (Nos. 10, 11, 13 and 18) for a four-under-par 33.

Sharing medalist honors with Pereira was first round co-leader Xander Schauffele. The 19-year-old followed his first round four-under-par 68 with a two-over-par 74 to finish at 142. He was quick to mention the effects his 11:20 a.m. starting time had.

“The wind was a big difference [from yesterday], it didn’t help having a later tee time,” he said.

Co-Medalist: Xander SchauffeleThe soon-to-be San Diego State junior had a birdie-less-round after making five the first day, but only had two mistakes making bogeys on Nos. 14 and 18 on the Dunes Course. Going into tomorrow as the No. 1 seed in match play, he knows that things will be different and hopes his experience on Tuesday will prepare him for tomorrow.

“It was good to see the course in extremely tough conditions, because par is going to win a lot of holes out there,” he said.

On Wednesday match play will get underway with 32 players getting a chance at adding their name to California golf history. Play will go 7:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. with all players competing on the Dunes Course. The round of 16 will take place Thursday, with the quarterfinals and semifinals taking place Friday, before the 36-hole final on Saturday.

Getting the honor of playing Schauffele in the first group out Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. is Jonathan Garrick of Atherton, who survived a playoff that had seven players competing for one spot. Garrick was one of seven players to finish at six-over-par 150 and ousted his fellow-competitors after the first playoff hole (No. 1 on the Dunes Course) when he sank an eight-foot birdie.

Pereira, who drew the No. 2 seed will go out a little more than an hour later at 8:42 a.m. facing Kevin Lee. Earning the No. 3 seed with the low round of the day on Tuesday—a three-under-par 69—was Cody Blick of Danville, who will play Joseph Sanders (No. 30) at 9:18 a.m. Tyler Raber, who also came in with a 143 total along with Blick, drew the No. 4 seed and will face Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis (No. 29).

Dan Sullivan made a hole-in-one on No. 4 of the Dunes Course with a 4-iron on Tuesday.First round co-leader Mark Anguiano will make his debut in the match play portion of the event with the No. 5 seed, squaring off against Brandon Gama (No. 28) at 8:24 a.m. Dalan Refioglu, the sixth seed who finished at even-par 144 faces Pace Johnson (No. 27) at 9:36 a.m. Mac McClung the seventh seed will face Dan Sullivan (No. 26)—who had a hole-in-one on Tuesday scoring his ace with a 4-iron on No. 4 of the Dunes Course—at 9:36 a.m. In the No. 8 and No. 25 matchup are SCGA members Stewart Hagestad and Sam Johnston, teeing off at 7:48 a.m.

Sean Crocker is the ninth seed and he’ll face Matt Hansen the 24th seed at 7:57 a.m. Recent U.S. Open participant Cory McElyea (No. 10) has a tough matchup with NCGA Valley Amateur Champion Danny Paniccia (No. 23) as they tee off at 9:09 a.m. The last match of the day at 9:45 a.m. is a pair of SCGA members Eric Sugimoto (No. 11) and Jacob Knapp (No. 22). Last year’s Cal State Amateur runner-up Ben Geyer earned the 12th seed and will face off against current NCGA Public Links Champion Nick Moore (No. 21) at 8:33 a.m.

New SCGA member Lorens Chan drew the No. 13 seed and will face off Johnny MacArthur (No. 20) at 8:20 a.m. The No. 14 – No. 19 matchup features SCGA members Jeremy Sanders and Benjamin Lein, who will go out at 9:27 a.m. Christopher Petefish (No. 15) faces David Gazzolo (No. 18) at 8:51 a.m. The No. 16 – No. 17 matchup has two-time NCGA Amateur Match Play Champion John Catlin going against UCLA junior-to-be Jay Hwang.

Of the 32 players qualifying for match play 15 are NCGA members and 17 are SCGA members.

Roger Lapham Challenge Cup: The NCGA seized its revenge on the SCGA from 2012, winning the competition by 27 strokes. After losing to the SCGA by a 46-stroke margin last year the NCGA’s six-man Challenge Cup team won this year with a score of 734 to 761. In a format, which takes the best five scores of a six-man team, the NCGA followed yesterday’s team score of 364 with a 370, while the SCGA followed its 385 with a 376.

The NCGA team was led by the play of Bryson DeChembeau and Johnathan Garrick, who each shot scores of even-par 72 on Tuesday, while the SCGA team was led by Jacob Knapp with a one-under-par 71. The SCGA leads the overall the series 15-9.

A number of top players failed to advance to match play, including defending champion Kevin Marsh, who was disqualified for unknown reasons.

Results can be viewed by clicking the link below; a story will be posted shortly.