Jeff Wilson wins 25th SCGA Mid-Amateur at Toscana CC

By Robert D. Thomas
SCGA Senior Director of Communications

INDIAN WELLS, April 22 – Last year, veteran Northern California Golf Association amateur Jeff Wilson of Fairfield (east of Berkeley) decided to join the SCGA to play in the association’s major championships.  Good decision, Jeff!

The 44-year-old Wilson, often a standout in Northern California and national events, took a 5-shot lead into the final round of the 25th SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship today and needed every shot of that margin to outlast Kevin Marsh of Henderson, NV, by one shot at Toscana CC.

Wilson, who belongs to SilverRock Resort in La Quinta, shot a 1-over-par 73 today and finished at 206, 10 under par over the Jack Nicklaus-designed South Course.  Marsh, the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion and 1996 SCGA Amateur winner who belongs to La Cumbre CC, closed with a 68 today for a three-round total of 207.

Will Tipton of Corona del Mar, playing on his home course, shot 74 today finished in third place at 212, a shot in front of Scott McGihon of Bermuda Dunes, who closed with a 69 today for a 54-hole total of 213.

Although Wilson has been medalist three times at the U.S. Mid-Amateur and has been a semifinalist in that event three times, this was his first major individual victory. “When you’re trying to win a tournament,” said Wilson after his round, “sometimes it’s hard to slam the door.”

Wilson had four birdies and five bogies on his round today.  “It wasn’t quite as easy as yesterday,” said Wilson after his round.  “I hit the ball as well as I did yesterday, but I lost all confidence in my putter and got very tentative.”  Emblematic of those problems was the 426-yard 18th hole, where Wilson carved in a lovely 8-iron shot and then proceeded to three-putt.  “I was glad I had a two-shot margin,” he said later.

Marsh strung together birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 to close a six-shot deficit but bogied two of his final three front-nine holes to finish with a 2-under-par 34.  He then birdied two of his first four holes on the back side but finished with five consecutive pars. “I played very well today tee to green,” he said “but I couldn’t get a putt to drop. On No. 13, I hit my worst putt all day and it went in, but that was the only one.”

The top five finishers earned exemptions into this year’s SCGA Amateur and California Amateur and the top 10 earned exemptions into next year’s SCGA Mid-Amateur.

For final photo gallery, click HERE.

For scorecards, click HERE.