La Jolla, Calif.----- San Jose State University's Caleb Shetler parred the first playoff hole to defeat University of San Diego junior Donald Kay on the first day of match play at the 109th California State Amateur Championship.
Shelter and Kay battled through four lead changes to an 18 hole-tie on the par 72 Torrey Pines South golf course. Each player had a 2-up advantage during the round. Kay was 2-up after seven holes, but Shetler pulled even after 10 holes.
The first-year Spartan had his 2-up lead after winning the 12th and 13th holes, but found himself 1-down heading into the 18th hole. Shetler's par and Kay's bogey-5 on the 18th hole forced the playoff.
In the playoff, Kay's bogey on hole-#1 gave Shetler the win. When the match started, Shetler took a 1-up lead on #1 with a birdie to Kay's par.
Shetler advances to the July 30 round of 16 players. He will face San Diego State senior Puwit Anupansuebsai in 18 holes of match play.
The freshman of Saratoga, Calif., qualified for the match play portion of the California State Amateur Championship by finishing tied for 22nd after 36 holes of stroke play with a two-under par 142 on July 27 and 28. He had rounds of 68 playing the North course and 74 on the South course.
Following the round of 16 players on July 30, the eight remaining golfers will play a quarterfinal round the morning of July 31 hoping to advance to the semifinals in the afternoon. A 36-hole match-play format on Saturday, August 1 will determine the champion.
The California State Amateur Championship is one of the longest running amateur championships in the United States. Ed Cuff (1998), Steve Woods (1994), Joe Tamburino (1981), Bob Eastwood (1966), Dick Lotz (1962), Eli Bariteau, Jr. (1948, 1958), and Ken Venturi (1951, 1956) are San Jose State alums to win a California State Amateur.
