Jacob Goode Captures 114th California Amateur Crown

Recap by: Jerry Stewart, NCGA

San Francisco resident Jacob Goode is headed to the 2025 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club in August.

The 22-year-old will be bringing along a prestigious California Amateur title.

Goode, a fifth-year senior at the University of Washington, captured the 114th California Amateur on Saturday at Granite Bay GC, defeating 16-year-old phenom Evan Liu, 8 and 6, in the 36-hole final. 

Along with getting his name etched on the Edward B. Tufts trophy, Goode earned a ticket to the U.S. Amateur, slated for Aug. 11-17. Goode is a member at The Olympic Club.

"It was always on my list to play in the U.S. Amateur since they announced it," Goode said. "I'm just super psyched."

The No.15 seed, Goode built a solid 3-up lead in the morning round thanks in part to a great putt and a few Liu errors. 

On No.8, Goode drained a 40-foot putt for birdie to go 1-up. A hole later on the par-4 9th, Liu tugged his tee shot left into the water hazard, leading to an eventual bogey. 

Later on the 17th, with Goode still holding a 2-up edge, Liu again pulled his tee shot to the left, this time into a thicket of trees. He'd punch out, but his second shot ended up in a bunker. Goode on his second shot, meanwhile, reached the green in regulation. On his third shot, Liu ended up in another bunker, and he'd concede the hole.

"I was comfortable early, and got that 3-up lead and felt pretty comfortable. I had a good feeling about winning the match," Goode said.

In the afternoon round, Goode pushed his lead to 5-up thanks to quick birdies on the 19th (No.1) and 21st (No.3) holes. Liu, who was hoping to join 1972 champion Mac Hunter as the only 16-year-olds to win the event, got it back to 4-up with a birdie of his own on the 22nd hole, but bogeyed the 24th hole to again give Goode a 5-up cushion. 

Liu would never threaten again. In sealing the match, and in a shot that summed it up--Goode on the 30th hole (No.12) looked o be in trouble but hit a terrific recovery shot to within 6 feet of the flagstick. Liu, along with occasionally missing the fairway, was stymied by more than a few putts that lipped-out. 

"There are still a lot of positives. Some putts drop, and some putts don't. Overall, I feel like I putted well," said Liu, a sophomore at Torrey Pines High. "I just need to work on my conditioning and clean some things up."