The 117th Oregon Amateur Championship is officially underway following two highly competitive rounds of stroke play qualifying at the storied Riverside Golf & Country Club in Portland. The field has now nearly seeded for match play after impressive performances across both the men's and women's championships, featuring past champions, rising stars, and standout individual performances.
Men's Championship Highlights:
With three-time defending champion Zach Foushee absent from this year's field, the door was wide open, and Bradley Smolinski walked right through it. Smolinski earned medalist honors in commanding fashion, posting a first-round 70 (-1) before returning an exceptional, bogey-free 65 (-6) in round two to finish stroke play qualifying at 7-under par.
Sam Ayotte and TingWei Chang put together strong qualifying efforts of their own, each finishing at 2-under par to finish T2 in stroke play qualifying. Both will carry momentum into the bracket after demonstrating the consistency needed to compete at this level.
History was also well-represented in the qualifying results. 2011 Oregon Amateur Champion Jack Dukeminier (+1, T9) and 2018 Champion Robbie Ziegler (+3, T15) both punched their tickets into match play, adding championship pedigree to what is shaping up to be a compelling bracket. Two-time champion (2012 & 2013) Nick Chianello finished qualifying at +11 (T62) and will have one more chance to advance, participating in an 11-for-3 playoff Wednesday morning to finalize the match play field.
Women's Championship Highlights:
On the women's side, defending champion Kyra Ly will not be returning to defend her title this year, meaning the 117th Oregon Amateur is guaranteed to crown a first-time champion, and the race to that title is already shaping up to be one to watch.
Natalie Yen set the pace from the opening round, posting back-to-back rounds of 70 and 72 to finish stroke play qualifying at 2-under par, earning medalist honors by two strokes. Her steady, composed play over 36 holes positions her as the No. 1 seed and the clear favorite heading into match play.
Alyssa Rigby demonstrated resilience after an opening-round 74 (+2), bouncing back with a second-round 70 (-2) to finish qualifying at even par and secure the No. 2 seed.
2025 Oregon Amateur runner-up Yvonne Vinceri continued her strong play in the championship, finishing qualifying at +2 to earn the No. 3 seed. Vinceri's familiarity with the pressure of the Oregon Amateur's biggest moments makes her a dangerous draw for anyone in the bracket.
Match Play Awaits:
With stroke play in the books and the brackets nearly set, the 117th Oregon Amateur Championship now shifts to the thrilling head-to-head format of match play. Anything can happen once the brackets begin. Past champions, rising stars, and hungry competitors will all be gunning for the title. Stay tuned for continuing coverage and updates throughout match play!
Riverside Golf & Country Club: A Premier Portland Stage
This year's championship is hosted at Riverside Golf & Country Club.. The conditions have been nothing short of stellar: the greens are running fast, the fairways are finely manicured, and the golf course is in peak form for championship competition.
The first two rounds were played under hot and humid conditions that tested the field's endurance as much as their games. That heat is expected to carry into Wednesday's first round of match play before a welcome cool-down arrives later in the week, with some expected showers in the forecast for the back half of the championship.
The Oregon Golf Association extends its deepest gratitude to the Riverside Golf & Country Club staff, grounds crew, and the army of volunteers whose hard work has made the early stages of this championship a resounding success. As we turn the page to match play, one thing is certain: anybody can be crowned champion.
Qualifying Results & Match Play Bracket