The Olympic Club member, 51, is fresh off earning low amateur honors at the British Senior Open in July at Carnousite. His amateur career includes multiple NCGA titles, including the Four-Ball earlier this year with Darryl Donovan as well as two NCGA Amateurs won consecutively in the early 90s. Haag carded an opening-round 70 that left him in good position to qualify but four stokes back of leader Bobby Bucey, a rising senior at Cal State- Chico. “I knew teeing off today that things were going to be difficult,” the Burlingame resident said. “It’s rare to shoot two low rounds consecutively at this course.”

The difficulty had little effect on Haag as he bettered his opening round by a shot to earn the #1 seed in match play by that same margin, carding a two-round total of 5-under-par 139. “To be able to play a venue like this…I love this place,” Haag said. “I’ve been doing this for so long, I figure I’ve played 500 rounds here.” That experience proved the difference Tuesday, as Haag continues a dominant two-year stretch that has him in the driver’s seat to earn an unprecedented fifth NCGA player of the year award. He advanced to the semifinals in the 2009 NCGA Amateur before losing to eventual champion George Gandranata. Haag will play #32 seed and four-ball partner Donovan who survived a six-player-for-two-spot-playoff amongst players carding 6-over-par 150. Nick Schafer earned the other spot and the #31 seed in the playoff.

Danny Paniccia of Riverbend, who played on the Canadian Professional Tour from 2002-2006, and Roberto Galleti of Oakhurst tied for second and secured the second and third seeds.

Bucey and last year’s medalist, Matt Montez of Valley Hi, tied for fourth place, four back of Haag earning the #5 and #4 seeds respectively. Montez faces off against #29 seed Scott Hardy who earlier this season won the NCGA Amateur Public Links at Spyglass. Stephan Stallworth, who recently completed his eligibility at San Jose State, grabbed the #6 seed.

Scott Travers of Trabuco Canyon, the #11 seed, continues his quest to become just the third player ever to win the NCGA, SCGA and State Amateur titles in taking on #22 seed Ryan Carter of Swenson Park. If successful, Travers would be only the second to accomplish the feat, the first occurring in 1925 (George Von Elm).

Two rounds of match play are set for Wednesday, the quarter and semifinals will be contested Thursday and the scheduled 36-hole final is set for Friday at Spyglass Hill.