JOHNS CREEK, Ga. (August 10, 2014) — It’s been 12 years since a Californian has grasped the Havemeyer Trophy. Stockton native Ricky Barnes defeated Hunter Mahan at Oakland Hills Country Club in 2002, just one year after Sacramento’s Robert Hamilton lost on the 18th hole to Bubba Dickerson.
Coming off last year’s event at The Country Club, which featured the first meeting between two non- Americans in the U.S. Amateur final in history, three Californians have lost in the final. As recently as 2012, Fresno’s Michael Weaver lost in heart- breaking fashion on the 37th hole after his potentially match-winning putt on the previous hole hit a spike mark halfway to the cup, eventually lipping out. The year before, Patrick Cantlay of Long Beach lost two-down to Kelly Kraft at Erin Hills. And back in 2005 at Merion, Woodland’s Dillon Dougherty lost 4-and-3 to Edoardo Molinari.
Now, as Atlanta Athletic Club, a venue renowned with championship golf history, prepares to host its first U.S. Amateur, 45 Californians will be in the field looking to be the final man standing on Sunday. Seven of the those 45 are currently ranked in the top-50 of the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Player Rankings. Let’s take a look at the seven, as well as a few other California favorites who might end the week victorious at the Highlands course.
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