MATT HOFFENBERG OF SIMI VALLEY WINS INAUGURAL SCGA MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP AT SANDPIPER GOLF COURSE

Matt Hoffenberg of Simi Valley defeated Poway's Josh Dupont 3 & 1 in the inaugural SCGA Match Play Championship. Photo by Katie Denbo/SCGA.

By Robert D. Thomas
SANTA BARBARA, August 14 — A week ago, Matt Hoffenberg wasn’t even sure he was going to play in the inaugural SCGA Match Play Championship. Today he’s glad he made the commitment. The 19-year-old Simi Valley resident finished off a day filled with under-par scores by rolling in a 28-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to hold off Josh Dupont of Poway, 3 & 1, and win the inaugural title at Sandpiper Golf Course.

Hoffenberg, who turned 19 on Monday, piled up seven birdies in this morning’s semifinal as he eliminated Daniel Wax of Pacific Palisades, 5 & 3, then posted seven birdies and an eagle in turning aside the 19-year-old Dupont, a sophomore at Northwestern University.

With the usual match-play concessions, Hoffenberg was 5 under par this morning and shot 31 on the front nine this afternoon. Dupont — who defeated Bryan Hogan of Bakersfield, 2 & 1, in the semifinals — was 4 under par in the championship match and said later, “I played great and made a lot of birdies. Unfortunately, it was on the wrong day because Matt just played super golf.”

It was the second time in two months that Hoffenberg and Dupont squared off in a big-time match; the long-hitting, left-handed Hoffenberg defeated Dupont, 5 & 4, in a quarterfinal match of the California Amateur Championship at Lakeside Golf Club in June.

It also continued a successful summer for the rising sophomore at San Diego State, who won the Southwestern Amateur in New Mexico and rallied with closing rounds of 66-66 to finish third in the Pacific Coast Amateur last week at Royal Colwood GC in Victoria, BC.

Hoffenberg appeared to be comfortably in control after making four birdies on the front nine, good for a 3-up lead, only to bogey the 10th and 11th holes. “I figured that as good as I played on the front nine I was due for a hiccup,” said Hoffenberg after the match, “but I was pleased at how well I was able to get it back together.”

After both players parred the 12th hole, they tackled the 532-yard 13th hole, which plays from tee to green atop cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and has a deep canyon guarding the green complex. After driving perfectly in the fairway, Hoffenberg nailed a 235-yard hybrid shot that carried a yawning bunker in front of the green and nestled 10 feet below the hole. Dupont pulled his approach left of the green and pitched delicately to six feet, only to see Hoffenberg calmly roll in his eagle putt to stretch his lead back to 2 up.

Dupont again halved the margin by winning the 14th with a conceded birdie. However, on the 392-yard 15th hole, Dupont pushed his drive right and his second shot ended up under a tree in thick rough. After taking two shots to reach the green, Dupont conceded the hole.

After both players made par 4 on the 16th hole (Hoffenberg catching a great break when his drive hit a tree and bounced back in the fairway), Hoffenberg punctuated the win with his 28-foot birdie on the 421-yard 17th hole.

Hoffenberg defeated several big names to reach the finals. After beating Cal State Northridge senior Erik Jarvey of Palmdale, 2 & 1, in the first round, he knocked off 2007 California Amateur champion Josh Anderson of Murrieta, 3 & 2, in the second round and eliminated 2005 California Amateur champion Don DuBois, 3 & 1, in a quarterfinal match.

For five rounds in three days, Hoffenberg made 27 birdies and three eagles over the beautiful seaside golf course, which was designed in 1972 by William F. Bell and is owned by Ty Warner of “Beanie Baby” fame.

For complete, hole-by-hole scores, click HERE.

For the final-round photo gallery, click HERE.