Bridge Beats Meeks in State Amateur

Randy Bridge, who barely made the match play field of 32 players, knocked off tournament medalist Aaron Meeks in Thursday’s first round and then beat Aly Trompas to reach the quarterfinals of the 77th California Amateur Golf Championship.

Bridge, 20, from Hollister, was the No. 2 player on the Fresno State team this year. In qualifying for match play, he tied for 32nd place and claimed that spot by making a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.

He was 3 down after eight holes against Meeks, the University of Arizona player from Walnut, and made a four-foot birdie putt on Pebble Beach’s 18th hole to win, 1 up.

In the afternoon, he beat the 36-year-old Trompas, from Walnut Creek, 4 and 3, in a match that was even after 10 holes.

Greg Starkman, a former UCLA player, scored two impressive victories, 3 and 2 over Casey Boyns of Pacific Grove and 6 and 5 over Roland Lamontagne of Stockton.