THE 97TH CALIFORNIA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP:

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — For the first time since its inception, the annual California Amateur Championship strayed away from its roots.

One of the nation’s oldest and more prestigious championships left Monterey Peninsula for the first time since the event began in 1912. It moved to Southern California as part of a Northern California-Southern California site rotation.

While Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate battled for the U.S. Open championship in Torrey Pines on Monday, 156 amateur athletes staked claim at venerable Oakmont Country Club and Lakeside Golf Club to battle in the event’s 97th installment.

Jordan Nasser of Anaheim Hills, Elk Grove’s Grant Rappleye and Nick Delio of Valencia grabbed a share of the lead following the championship’s first round Monday.

Nasser and Rappleye each shot 5-under-par 67 at Oakmont. Delio registered a four-under-par 66 at Lakeside in Toluca Lake, which is a par-70 course, while Oakmont is par 72.

The fields will switch courses for the second round today, so things will even out when match play concludes.

Rappleye and Nasser battled throughout despite having to handle the temperatures rising to 95 degrees during daybreak.

The Sacramento State University-bound Rappleye finished with five birdies and 13 pars on the 6,736-yard course that seemed to offer favorable conditions. Nasser recorded six birdies, 11 pars and one bogey. Delio had six pars, 11 birdies and one bogey.

Rappleye said a solid short game helped him.

“I hit a lot of shots into the greens,” Rappleye said. “It would be nice to medal through the first two rounds.”

The championship featured two local residents.

Glendale resident Keith Kinsel shot a 69 at Oakmont to put him in a two-way tie for fourth with Marshall Colby. Brett Kanda of La Crescenta carded a 76 at Oakmont, putting him in a 16-way tie for 62nd.

Kinsel, an eight-time club champion at Oakmont, said playing on a familiar course helped.

“I thought I hit the ball well,” said Kinsel, who had four birdies and four pars on the front nine. “The course was in good shape.

“The greens here are so critical. They are so fast and we are not used to that as members.”

Kanda, a redshirt junior at UNLV and a Flintridge Prep graduate, said a poor start didn’t help. The 2005 All-Area Boys’ Golfer of the Year bogeyed the third, fourth, fifth and eighth holes.

“I just had a tough three bogeys, and I wasn’t real confident,” said Kanda, who advanced to stroke play at last year’s competition. “I was nervous during the first couple of holes, and I couldn’t get any confidence with my swing.”

Defending champion Josh Anderson of Murrieta opened with a 73 at Oakmont, good for a 14-way tie for 18th place.

The 156 participants are divided over both courses for 36 holes of stroke play that will conclude today at both venues.

Following the second round, the field will be reduced to the low 32 scores, with a playoff, if necessary, to be held at Lakeside today.

Lakeside will serve host to all match-play rounds beginning Wednesday.

The second round of match play will be held Thursday, with the quarterfinals and semifinals set to take place Friday.

The 36-hole championship round will be held on Saturday.