Founded more than 20 years ago by two-time California State Amateur Champion Casey Boyns, the Christmas Classic has grown into our most popular event year after year — and once again, the 2025 edition is sold out. The field is limited to 104 players competing across Championship, Senior, and Net divisions, with Mid-Am, Super Senior, and Women’s prizes awarded as subdivisions when qualifying numbers are met.
Last Year’s Storyline: Edan Cui’s Back-Nine Clinic
The 2024 Christmas Classic delivered a finish worthy of Del Monte’s old-school test. Stanford commit Edan Cui closed with rounds of 66–71 to win at 7-under, leaning on a flawless back nine that included three birdies (Nos. 10, 12, and 13) to take control and secure the title.
Cui’s weekend was defined by momentum and patience on Del Monte’s tricky greens, tallying eight back-nine birdies and no bogeys across two rounds. William Chang pushed him to the wire with a pair of 69s to finish one stroke back at 6-under.
2025 Field Notes: Returning Champions and Players to Watch
While 2024 champion Edan Cui is not listed in the 2025 roster and will not be back to defend, several recent standouts and divisional winners return to Del Monte looking to build on last year’s momentum.
Russell Humphrey (Senior Championship – Lodi, CA): Last year’s Senior Division champion is back after winning at 1-over in 2024. Humphrey’s steady ball-striking and experience on these greens make him an obvious contender again.Brady Donoghue (Senior Championship – Folsom, CA): The 2024 Super Senior champion returns in the Senior field. He won by five shots last year and knows exactly what Del Monte demands late in the round.Sean Etow (Championship – Aptos, CA): A playoff runner-up in the 2024 Mid-Am subdivision, Etow is back in the Championship Division and will be one to watch in the 25–49 bracket.Why Del Monte Is the Perfect Host
Old Del Monte Golf Course doesn’t need length to demand your best. Open since 1897, it remains the oldest course in continuous operation west of the Mississippi on its original site. The layout is a classic inland Monterey test: rolling terrain, tight corridors under oaks and pines, and small greens that punish the wrong angle.
In December, Del Monte typically plays as a true shotmaker’s course. Players who control the golf ball, stay disciplined off the tee, and keep wedges pin-high from the fairway side of holes usually separate at the top.
What to Expect This WeekPosition golf is everything. Del Monte rewards players who choose the right side of fairways and avoid playing defense into perched greens.Wedge and short-iron precision. Scoring chances are there, but only from correct angles into small targets.Greens that demand respect. Speed and contour create separation quickly, especially late in the day as surfaces firm up.Two-round urgency. With only 36 holes, there’s no time to drift — a slow stretch can cost a title.2025 Event Details
AmateurGolf.com 2025 Christmas Classic presented by Callaway Golf
Dates: December 6–7, 2025
Venue: Del Monte Golf Course — Monterey, California
Entry Includes: Two rounds of tournament golf (cart at player’s expense), $4,500 in Callaway Golf certificate prizes, a $20 lunch certificate, and a weekend on one of the Monterey Peninsula’s most treasured classic courses.
DivisionsChampionship Division: Players age 15+ with a USGA (or equivalent) Handicap Index under 4.5.Senior Championship Division: Players age 50+ with a Handicap Index under 8.0 (must be 55+ for NCGA Senior Points).Mid-Am (subdivision of Championship): Ages 25–49. Compete in the Championship Division from the same tees; separate Mid-Am prizes/trophy awarded if at least six players enter.Super Senior (subdivision of Senior): Ages 65+. Compete in the Senior Division from the same tees; separate Super Senior prizes/trophy awarded if at least six players enter.Women (subdivision of Championship): Compete within Championship from a shorter tee; separate Women’s prizes/trophy awarded if at least six players enter. Women’s Net players compete in Net from a shorter tee.Net Division (men and women): 90% of low index with a “max net double bogey” rule to keep the competition moving and stress-free.Holiday Tradition, Championship Golf
What makes the Christmas Classic special is the same thing that makes Del Monte timeless: it’s about real golf and real competition. A sold-out field. A course that asks questions on every swing. And a weekend that feels like a reunion for the best amateurs in the West and beyond.
The stage is set — now it’s time to see who adds the next chapter to the Christmas Classic story at Old Del Monte.
Registration Open: 2025 Winter Invitational
Keep your holiday stretch rolling next weekend at the completely renovated San Juan Oaks Golf Club. Championship, Senior, and a limited Net field. Split-tee threesomes for a fast, morning start.
Dates: Dec. 13–14, 2025 | Location: Hollister, CA
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