The Stocker Cup, the West Coast’s premier Mid-Amateur event, has been moved to Sonoma Golf Club in the heart of California Wine Country. This move was predicated by drought conditions at permanent tournament home The Preserve Golf Club. Additionally, tournament rounds will now be played Weds-Friday, with a practice round on Tuesday, October 21. That’s a day earlier than normal. A solid field of mid-amateur golfers is already committed to play for the Peter Stocker Trophy, and the committee has extended the date for players wishing an invitation to apply to play until Sept. 15. Peter Stocker Flight Contestants must have reached the age of 25 by the first day of the tournament.
One of the things that makes the Stocker Cup unique is the camaraderie created by the simultaneous team competition, The Ruth Stocker Barry trophy, which pairs the amateur golfers in the Peter Stocker flight with an invited (or matched by the committee) “B Player” partner in a best-ball net format. Both events are played at 54 holes.
A cut to the low 10 teams and ties is made after 36 holes in the team competition; those B players not finishing in the low 10 and ties play the final round in a one day Stableford format event. B players include friends and associates of the late Peter Stocker and players invited by the committee. Starting in 2014 A players have been permitted to nominate a B player to be their partner. It is requested that these new B players carry a handicap index of 10.0 or lower, while previous players and Preserve Golf Club members are exempted from this requirement but requested to carry a 15 index or less.