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Nick Delio wins the 2009 SCGA Match Play Championship
Delio, the 2008 California State Amateur champion and a golfer for Cal State Northridge, was 3 up through 14, but Graham scrambled to close the gap to 1 up on 16. A chip to 4 inches on the par-3 18th hole gave Delio a par to Graham's par, halving the hole and awarding Delio the championship title. "My length (off the tee) is a huge advantage in match play," Delio said after his win. "Normally I'm always playing second, so I know what I have to do from the fairway based on what my opponent does." The SCGA Rules and Competitions staff provided detailed hole-by-hole information for the final match: Hole 1 (par 5, 524 yards): Both players hit driver in the fairway. Graham is 210 yards out and hits hybrid to 10 feet in front of the green. Delio is 180 out and hits 7-iron 12 feet left of the hole. Graham chips up to 18 feet below the hole and drains the birdie putt. Delio misses the eagle putt right a few inches. Hole halved with birdies. Hole 2 (par 4, 471 yards): Both players hit driver in fairway. Graham hits 4-iron from 203 yards 6 yards short of green. Delio hits 6-iron 6 yards left of the green hole high. Graham hits a 27 yard chip 6 feet left of hole. Delio hits a 23 yard bump-and-run to 4 feet short of hole. Graham drains par putt just catching the left edge. Delio drains the par putt as well. Hole halved with pars. Hole 3 (par 4, 424 yards): Both players hit driver in the fairway. Graham hits iron (pitching wedge) from 130 yards to 12 feet below the hole. Delio hits a 3/4 lob wedge from 97 yards to 9 feet above the hole. Graham misses birdie attempt on low side. Par putt conceded. Delio misses birdie attempt an inch to the right. Par putt conceded. Hole halved with pars.
Hole 4 (par 3, 265 yards): Into a slight breeze: Graham hits 3-wood on the front of the green short of hole 36 feet. Delio hits a 3-wood 30 yards short of the hole in front of the greenside bunker. Delio chips to 5 feet left of hole. Graham putts to gimmie range. Delio drains the par putt. Hole halved with pars. Hole 5 (uphill par 5, 509 yards): Both players hit driver in the fairway. Graham hits 3-wood from 243 yards and pulls it left of the green 40 yards into the tall grass. Delio hits 4-iron from 222 yards, and is short of the green by 15 yards. Delio says he doesn't carry a 3-iron, which would have been the club. Graham chips to 35 feet left of hole. Delio chips to 3 feet above the hole. Graham's birdie putt misses above the hole. Par putt conceded. Delio drains the downhill birdie putt. Delio 1 up. Hole 6 (par 3, 195 yards): Along the cliffs above the ocean. Delio hits 5-iron on green 45 feet below the hole. Graham hits 4-iron into right greenside bunker. Graham blasts out over the green, 6 feet into the fringe. Delio putts to gimmie range. Par put conceded. Graham misses 37 footer from fringe. Delio 2 up. Hole 7 (par 4, 336 yards): Playing from the forward tee to entice players to drive the green. This tee was used during the first round but Delio had a bye so he has not played from it yet. Delio and his caddie (Dom, his father) discuss what to do and he ends up hitting 5-wood down the middle 71 yards from the green. Graham fans driver through the fairway into the right rough 81 yards from the green. Graham punches a superb 52 degree wedge under overhanging branches to 10 feet above the hole. Delio hits a 60 degree wedge to 18 feet below the hole. Delio misses the birdie putt. Par conceded. Graham drains the birdie. Delio 1 up. Hole 8 (par 4, 391 yards): Graham hits driver down the middle to 110 out. Delio hits 3-wood down the middle just in front of Graham's to 108 yards. Graham hits pitching wedge to 15 feet below the hole. Great shot. Delio tried to hit a knock down wedge but pulls it to fringe left of hole. Delio chips it in with his 56-degree! Graham just misses birdie putt. Delio 2 up. Hole 9 (par 4, 398 yards): Into the wind. Delio hits driver down left side of fairway. Graham hits driver down the middle. Graham is 157 yards out. Delio is 120 yards out. Graham hits 6-iron and just misses the green 15 feet from the flag. Delio hits a knock down wedge onto the green 36 feet below the hole. Delio putts to gimmie range, par conceded. Graham chips to 6 feet and makes the downhill putt for par. Delio 2 up after 9. Hole 10 (par 4, 315 yards): Playing from the forward tee to entice players to drive the green. Delio hits 3-wood 44 yards from the hole. Graham hits driver into right rough 77 yards from hole. Both players hit great shots into the green. Graham burns the edge and misses his birdie. Delio drains his birdie. Delio 3 up. Hole 11 (par 3, 200 yards): Downhill par 3 with green a few yards from the beach. Both players hit 6-irons to 30 feet below the front right hole location but in the fringe. Delio is 1 yard behind Graham. Both players chip to gimmie range. Halved with 3s. Delio 3 up. Hole 12 (par 4, 341 yards): Uphill hole. Delio hits 3-wood down the middle 80 yards from the green. Graham hits driver 88 yards from the green. Graham pitches to 10 feet right of the flag. Delio pitches to 36 feet below the hole. Delio putts to 2 feet past the hole, putt conceded. Graham drains the birdie putt. Delio 2 up. Hole 13 (par 5, 532 yards): Along the cliffs above the Pacific. Graham pulls his drive left into the dirt area, left of the cart path. He is 250 yards out but behind a tree so has to lay up. Delio pounds his drive down the middle. He hits 5-iron to the middle of the green from 199 yards. Graham knocks an 8-iron from 145 yards 15 feet left of the hole (1 foot in the fringe). Delio is out 27 feet putting first for eagle. Delio just misses the eagle and is conceded the birdie. Graham misses the birdie try. Delio is 3 up.
Hole 14 (par 4, 444 yards): Uphill, along the cliffs above the pacific. Both players pull their drives into the left rough, Graham is 175 yards out while Delio is 126 yards out. Graham hits 7-iron short of the back left hole location in the rough. Delio hits 52 degree on the green to 24 feet right of the flag. Graham almost holes the chip, conceded par. Delio leaves the birdie try a few inches short for a conceded par. Delio 3 up. Hole 15 (par 5, 599 yards): Both players hit drives in the fairway. Graham is 309 yards from the hole, Delio is 278 yards from the hole. Graham takes driver off the deck! He pushes it a little right into the rough and short of the greenside bunker about 70 yards from the flag. Delio crushes 3-wood into the right greenside bunker. Graham pitches a stellar shot to 3-feet below the hole. So good that Delio conceded the birdie. Delio catches it heavy out of the bunker and leaves it in the rough 20 feet right of the hole. Delio misses the chip right. Graham wins the hole. Delio 2 up. (Graham later said "I knew I had to start making birdies late in the match, that's why I took driver off the deck.") Hole 16 (par 4, 392 yards): Graham hits driver down the middle, is 142 to the flag. Delio pulls driver way left into the trees. He's 94 yards out but has to punch something under tree branches and over tall brush to it onto the green. Graham knocks 8-iron about 10 feet below the hole. Delio punches a little 6-iron and runs it to the middle of the green, about 21 feet below the hole. Great shot! Delio leaves the birdie putt a foot short, conceded for a par. Graham drains the birdie, what a clutch putt! Delio 1 up. Hole 17 (par 4, 421 yards): Into the wind. Graham pulls his drive left into the dried out rough. Delio pushes his drive right and deflects a tree and rattles down. Graham hits 7-iron from 158 but pushes it a little and it ends up in the rough right of the green. Delio hits 9-iron from the right rough from 138 and ends up on the green 18 feet above the hole. Graham chips to 6 feet below the hole. Delio's birdie putt is left 2 feet short. Graham calmly nails the par putt. Delio knocks in the par as well. Delio dormie 1. We're going to 18! Hole 18 (par 3, 174 yards): Front right hole location, wind at our back: Graham hits 8-iron short and left of the hole on the front of the green. Delio hits 9 iron and lands in the rough 15 yards short of the green. He didn't quite catch all of it like he needed to get it there. Graham's ball spun off the front of the green and is a few inches in the fringe. Delio hits a great chip to 4 inches. Graham has to drain this putt to extend the match, about 27 feet. Graham makes a great run at it and the ball rolls on the low side of the hole just missing. Nick Delio wins 1 up and is the 2009 Match Play Champ. A great battle as Delio shoots 67 and Graham shoots 68. Howie Knodt wins SCGA Senior Match Play Championship
GOLETA, August 12 -- Howie Knodt of Chula Vista continued his domination of Southland senior events, defeating Laguna Niguel's Kemp Richardson 2 and 1 to win the SCGA Senior Match Play Championship at Sandpiper Golf Course. Knodt, the 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur champion and 2008 SCGA Senior Player of the Year, was the No. 1 seed in the second annual championship, and against Richardson, a two-time U.S. Senior Amateur and British Senior Amateur champion, was never less than 2 up after the fourth hole. Knodt, who works for his family's travel agency, collected four birdies and only one bogey on the second hole, which Richardson bogeyed also. Richardson had more of a rollercoaster round, his four birdies cancelled out by four bogeys. In SCGA Match Play action, 2008 California State Amateur champion Nick Delio of Valencia upset No. 1 seed, 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion Tim Hogarth of Northridge 1 up, and will face 2009 SCGA Amateur champion Austin Graham of San Clemente in the final match this afternoon. Graham, who also won the Long Beach City Championship the weekend prior to the SCGA Amateur, defeated 2007 California State Amateur champion Josh Anderson of Murrieta in 19 holes. Anderson drained a 14-foot breaking birdie putt on 18 to take the match to extra holes, but Graham birdied the 19th hole to close the match. Delio and Graham will tee off at 12:30 p.m. More information to come.
Richardson to face Knodt in SCGA Senior Match Play final
GOLETA, August 11 -- Kemp Richardson of Laguna Niguel collected seven birdies in his semifinal round and topped defending champion Boyd Martin of Corona del Mar, 5 and 4, to advance to tomorrow’s final match of the SCGA Senior Match Play Championship at Sandpiper GC in Goleta. There, Richardson will meet 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur champion Howie Knodt of Chula Vista, who dismissed Mike Miyasaki of La Habra 1 up. In regular action, SCGA Amateur champions will go head-to-head with California State Amateur champions in tomorrow’s semifinals, when multiple SCGA champion Tim Hogarth of Northridge, the most decorated amateur golfer in Southern California, will face 2008 California State Amateur champion Nick Delio of Valencia. Josh Anderson of Murrieta, the 2007 California State Amateur champion, will face 2009 SCGA Amateur champion Austin Graham of San Clemente. The final round will be played tomorrow afternoon. In two rounds of matches today, the regular match play contestants competed through the Round of 16 and quarterfinal fields, while the seniors played quarterfinal and semifinal matches. Regular quarterfinals Nick Delio (4) of Valencia defeated George Downing (28) of Santa Barbara, 20 holes. Downing eagled the first hole of the day, a 524-yard par-5, but bogeyed four of the next eight holes. Delio birdied and bogeyed every other hole through 10, in a see-saw match that left Delio the winner. How they got there: Delio defeated 2005 California State Amateur champion Don DuBois (13) of Newport Beach, 1 up. DuBois and Delio also faced each other in the Round of 16 last year, with DuBois winning 3 and 2. Delio was able to avenge that loss taking out DuBois on the 18th hole with a clutch 8-foot par putt to win 1 up. Downing defeated good friend and Santa Barbara resident John Pate (12) in 19 holes— The Santa Barbara Showdown between Downing and Pate proved to be a great battle with Downing winning with a conceded 15 foot eagle on the 19th hole (hole 1). Pate had forced extra holes after draining a12-foot birdie putt on 18. Josh Anderson (10) of Murrieta defeated James Erkenbeck (15) of San Diego, 5 and 3. After both birdieing the first hole, Anderson took advantage of four Erkenbeck bogeys, steadily building his lead up and birdieing the par-5 15th hole to close the match. How they got there: Anderson dismissed Pat Duncan, Jr. (26) of Rancho Santa Fe, 3 and 1. Erkenbeck defeated Kevin Marsh, the 1996 and 2008 SCGA Amateur champion, 3 and 2. Austin Graham (6) of San Clemente defeated Matt Grush (19) of Los Angeles, 1 up. In the closest match of the day, Graham continued his solid summer play when the 2009 SCGA Amateur and Long Beach City champion held off Grush for the last five holes to close out the match at 1 up. How they got there: Graham defeated 2006 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion Robert Funk (11) of Canyon Lake, 2 and 1. Grush defeated 2008 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion Jeff Wilson (3) of Fairfield in 19 holes. Both Wilson and Grush shot 3-under par 69s in their match, and halved each hole until the 13th. Grush never led the match, only squaring it when Wilson three-putted the 18th hole to send the match to extra holes. Grush, who is the 2008 State Fair champion, will not defend his State Fair title this year, as he announced that he will turn pro in September after the U.S. Amateur Championship. Fun match facts Roller coaster round: Delio had a roller coaster of an afternoon round as he did not see his first par until hole 11. He ended up shooting a 74 with 7 birdies. CSUN Match up: Hogarth is a Cal State Northridge graduate and former player and will face current CSUN student-athlete Nick Delio. Senior Division Kemp Richardson (3) of Laguna Niguel defeated Boyd Martin (2) of Corona del Mar, 5 and 4. Richardson unleased seven birdies through 14 holes on defending champion Martin, in the largest senior margin win of the day. How they got there: Richardson defeated James Myers (11) of Oceanside in 21 holes. Martin defeated Steve Yavorsky (10) of Capistrano Beach, 3 and 2. Martin continued his stellar play in the morning round with another front-nine 33 (as he did in yesterday’s morning round) to take an early lead on Yavorsky. Defending champion Hoffenberg falls; No. 1-seed Hogarth moves on to Round of 16 in the SCGA Match Play Championship
GOLETA, August 10 -- Defending champion Matt Hoffenberg of Simi Valley, the No. 7 seed, ran into bogey trouble and fell to No. 26 seed Pat Duncan, Jr., of Rancho Santa Fe today, 5 and 3, while No. 1 seed Tim Hogarth of Northridge, the most decorated amateur golfer in the Southland, advanced to the Round of 16 at the second SCGA Match Play Championship at Sandpiper GC. Hoffenberg showed up to the golf course in the morning with an empty trunk, having practiced at home and left his clubs in his father’s car. A rental set from the club couldn’t help him as Duncan defeated him. Hogarth defeated Goleta’s Scott Lewis (no. 32 seed), 5 and 4, to advance will face Fullerton’s Alex Shi Yup Kim (16) tomorrow, in the event that takes the top 32 amateurs off the SCGA Points List and top 16 senior players based on points for the senior division. Kim defeated Bryan Hogan (15) of Bakersfield, 3 and 2, in his match, capitalizing on five birdies to Hogan’s one. Three matches went extra holes to determine a winner. George Downing defeated Jason Bittick in 20 holes when Bittick’s drive ended up in the lateral water hazard right of hole 2. After taking the penalty drop, Bittick was able to knock a hybrid to the green but missed the uphill par putt. Downing, in the fairway off the tee, hit 3-iron to about 25 yards short of the green, then hit a superb chip to gimmie range for par to secure the win. James Erkenbeck defeated Kent Wiese in 20 holes when Wiese conceded the match after his tee shot on the 2nd hole went into the same lateral water hazard as Bittick’s. Matt Grush defeated Joe Sanders in the longest match of the day (21 holes) when Grush made par on hole 3 to Sanders bogey. Also advancing to the Round of 16: Johnny Mac Arthur (25) of Newhall vs. Wayne Merich of Moorpark (24). Mac Arthur, the 2008 CIF Southern Regional champion, defeated David Bartman of Los Angeles, who has been sidelined due to a knee injury, 6 and 5. Merich, who finished sixth at the 2008 SCGA Amateur, defeated 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur runner-up Tyler Crawford of Rancho Mirage, 4 and 3. Nick Delio (4) of Valencia vs. Don DuBois (13) of Newport Beach. Delio, the 2008 California Amateur champion, moves on thanks to a bye from Jay Degenhart (29) of Manhattan Beach, withdrawing. DuBois, the 2005 California Amateur champion and 2009 SCGA Foursomes champion (with Jeff Wilson) topped John Adams of San Clemente (20), 1 up, when DuBois birdied the par-3 18th hole. George Downing (28) of Santa Barbara vs. John Pate (12) of Santa Barbara. Downing, the 2008 SCGA Four-Ball champion (with Kevin Marsh) defeated Ladera Ranch’s Jason Bittick, 2008 SCGA Foursomes champion and 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur runner-up, in 20 holes. Pate, the 1999 SCGA Amateur champion and 2005 SCGA Tournament of Club Champions winner, topped Bakersfield’s John Balfanz (21) 2 and 1. Fun fact: Downing and Pate are good friends. Kevin Marsh (2) of Henderson, Nev. Vs James Erkenbeck of San Diego. Marsh, the 1996 and 2008 SCGA Amateur champion, as well as the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, handled Bakersfield’s Bhavik Patel (31) 3 and 2. Erkenbeck defeated Kent Wiese (18) of Huntington Beach in 20 holes. Pat Duncan, Jr. (26) of Rancho Santa Fe vs. Josh Anderson (10) of Murrieta. Duncan ousted the defending champion Matt Hoffenberg (7) of Simi Valley, 5 and 3, after Hoffenberg suffered a string of bogeys and double bogeys to lose holes. Anderson, the 2007 California State Amateur champion, topped Jake Sarnoff (23) of Manhattan Beach, 8 and 7, in the biggest margin of the day. Anderson was a birdie machine, with 7 birdies through 12 holes when the match was closed out, including 5 on the front nine. Jeff Wilson (3) of Fairfield vs. Matt Grush (19) of Los Angeles. Wilson, the 2008 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion, defeated Ramie Sprinkling (30) of Camarillo, 2 up. Grush advanced by defeating La Quinta’s Joe Sanders (14), in the longest match of the day -- 21 holes. Austin Graham (6) of San Clemente vs. Robert Funk (11) of Canyon Lake. Graham, on a hot-streak from winning the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship and the Long Beach City the week before, celebrated his 20th birthday today by defeating Donald O’Connor (27) of Carlsbad, 1 up. Funk, the 2006 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion, defeated Newport Beach’s Bryan Harris (22), 2 and 1. Senior Division Martin’s three birdies over 12 holes secured the match against Hooper, who stumbled on six bogeys. Martin will face Steve Yavorsky (10) of Capistrano Beach, who topped 1998 SCGA Senior Amateur champion and La Jolla resident Frank Merhar (7), 2 up. Also advancing to the quarterfinals: Howie Knodt (1) of Chula Vista vs. Patrick Hanley (9) of Venice. Knodt, the 2008 SCGA Senior Player of the Year and 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur champion, defeated Dan Pouliot (16) of Burbank, the 2008 SCGA Senior Four-Ball champion, 1 up. Hanley defeated Don Baker (8) of Woodland Hills, 1 up. For the second year in a row the front left hole location yielded a hole-out from the fairway. Last year it ended the semifinal match as Boyd Martin defeated Warren Caves holing a wedge from the fairway. This year it aided Hanley in his victory over Baker. Hanley holed a sand wedge from 93 yards when the match was all square on the 17th fairway. Michael Miyasaki (13) of La Habra vs. Warren Caves (5) of Newport Beach. Miyasaki defeated 2008 SCGA Senior Amateur champion Clark Heath (4) of Coto de Caza, 2 up. Caves defeated Monte Mahan (12) of Coto de Caza, runner up in the 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur, 2 and 1. Kemp Richardson (3) of Laguna Niguel vs. James Myers (11) of Oceanside. Richardson, a two-time U.S. Senior Amateur and British Senior Amateur champion, defeated Steven Hakes (14) of San Diego, 2 and 1. Myers, the 1984 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion, defeated 2007 SCGA Senior Amateur champion Rich Tolly (6) of Laguna Niguel, 3 and 2. Fun fact: Richardson and Myers are sharing a hotel room, and now find themselves pitted against each other in the quarterfinals. Other fun facts Hole 10 played from the forward tees at only 315 yards and enticed most of the players to try to drive the green with driver or 3-wood. Yet only 7 of the 32 players in the match play field made birdies and no one made an eagle. Action continues tomorrow at Sandpiper where the Senior quarter- and semi-finals will commence, as well as the regular Round of 16 and quarter-finals. Pairings announced for SCGA Match Play Championship STUDIO CITY, August 9 -- Pairings have been announced for the second SCGA Match Play Championship. The pairings, based on the SCGA Points List, has the top 32 amateur golfers and top 16 senior players competing. The Match Play tree will be up soon. Senior Division 7:38 a.m.: (8) Don Baker, Woodland Hills vs. (9) Patrick Hanley, Venice. Baker is a member of Woodland Hills Country Club who finished 38th at the 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur. He finished 2nd at the 2008 Santa Barbara City Senior and 9th at the 2008 CGA Senior Amateur. Hanley is a member of Industry Hills Golf Club and made it to the quarterfinals of this event last year. He is the 2008 Los Angeles City Senior Champion and placed 13th at the 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur. 7:46 a.m.: (4) Clark Heath, Coto de Caza vs. (13) Mike Miyasaki, La Habra. Heath is a member of Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club and the 2008 SCGA Senior Amateur Champion. Miyasaki is a member of Hacienda Golf Club and finished 2nd to Heath at the 2008 SCGA Senior Amateur. 7:54 a.m.: (5) Warren Caves, Newport Beach vs. (12) Monte Mahan, Coto de Caza. Caves is a member of Big Canyon Country Club and finished 21st at the 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur. Caves made it to the semifinals of this event last year before falling to eventual champion Boyd Martin who holed out from the 17th fairway for eagle to win the match. Mahan, a member of Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club, finished 2nd at the 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur and qualified for the 2009 State Amateur. 8:02 a.m.: (2) Boyd Martin, Corona del Mar vs. (15) Jeff Hooper, Chatsworth. Martin, a member of Santa Ana Country Club, is the defending champion and the 2007 SCGA Senior Four-Ball Champion. Martin finished 35th at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship, 5th at the 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur and qualified for the 2009 State Amateur. In 2008 Martin shot the low round (67) at the SCGA Amateur Championship at Saticoy Country Club. Hooper, a member of Simi Hills Golf Club, finished 4th at the 2008 SCGA Senior Amateur and made it to the quarterfinals of this event last year. 8:18 a.m.: (3) Kemp Richardson, Laguna Niguel vs. (14) Steve Hakes, San Diego. Richardson, a member of El Niguel Country Club is a two-time US Senior Amateur Champion (2001 and 2003) and two-time British Senior Amateur Champion (2001 and 2004). Richardson recently competed in the US Senior Open at Crooked Stick. He finished 5th at the 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur. Hakes, a member of Coronado Men’s Golf Club, finished 10th at the 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur and recently made it to match play at the Arizona Amateur Championship. 8:26 a.m.: (6) Rich Tolly, Laguna Hills vs. (11) Jim Myers, Oceanside. Tolly, a member of El Niguel Country Club is the 2007 SCGA Senior Amateur Champion and 2007 SCGA Senior Four-Ball Champion. Myers, a member of El Camino Country Club, is the 1984 SCGA Mid-Amateur Champion, finished 4th at the 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur and qualified for the 2008 US Senior Open. Regular Division 8:42 a.m.: (16) Alex Kim, Fullerton vs. (17) Bryan Hogan, Bakersfield. Kim, a UCLA sophomore, just finished 6th at the SCGA Amateur Championship and was medalist and made it to the Round of 16 at the 2008 California State Amateur Championship. Hogan, a Fresno State Junior, is the 2007 SCGA Four-Ball Champion and made it to the semifinals of last year’s Match Play championship. 8:50 a.m.: (8) David Bartman, Los Angeles vs. (25) Johnny MacArthur, Newhall. Bartman is the winner of the 2007 Tournament of Club Champions, the 2006 SCGA Four-Ball and 2007 SCGA Foursomes Championships. Bartman is coming off a knee injury which has sidelined him from competitions this summer. Bartman played collegiately at UCSB so he should know the course well. MacArthur is a sophomore at Pepperdine and was the 2008 Southern California High School Champion. MacArthur recently finished 32nd at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship and made it to the Round of 16 at last year’s Match Play Championship. 8:58 a.m.: (9) Tyler Crawford, Rancho Mirage vs. (24) Wayne Merich, Moorpark. Crawford finished 2nd at the 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship, 4th at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship and made it to match play at the 2009 California State Amateur Championship. Merich finished 6th at the 2008 SCGA Amateur Championship and recently finished 35th at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship. 9:06 a.m.: (4) Nick Delio, Valencia vs. (29) Jay Degenhart, Manhattan Beach. Delio, a CSUN Junior is the 2008 California State Amateur Champion and made it to the semifinals of the 2009 California State Amateur. He recently finished 8th at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship and 29th at the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship. Degenhart finished 2nd in the 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur and 38th in the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship. 9:14 a.m.: (13) Don DuBois, Newport Beach vs. (20) John Adams, San Clemente. DuBois is the 2006 California State Amateur Champion and the 2006 and 2009 SCGA Foursomes Champion. DuBois reached the quarterfinals of this event last year. Adams, the 2008 SCGA Foursomes Champion is coming off a lay-off from a back injury, which has sidelined him for most of the year. 9:22 a.m.: (5) Jason Bittick, Ladera Ranch vs. (28) George Downing, Santa Barbara. Bittick, the 2008 SCGA Foursomes Champion, finished 2nd at the 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship, made it to the quarterfinals of the 2009 California State Amateur, recently won the Costa Mesa City and has qualified for back-to-back US Amateurs making it to match play at last year’s US Amateur. Downing a Santa Barbara resident and club champion at La Cumbre Country Club, should know the course well. Downing is the 2008 SCGA Four-Ball Champion. 9:30 a.m.: (12) John Pate, Santa Barbara vs. (21) John Balfanz, Bakersfield 9:38 a.m.: (2) Kevin Marsh, Henderson, NV vs. (31) Bhavik Patel, Bakersfield. Marsh has won the 2008 and 1996 SCGA Amateur Championships, the 2008 SCGA Four-Ball Championship and the 2005 US Mid-Amateur Championship. He finished 2nd at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship. Patel is a Fresno State sophomore, who made it to the quarterfinals of last year’s Match Play Championship. Patel was the 32nd seed and upset Tim Hogarth in the first round draining a 60-foot birdie putt on the 18th green. Patel recently qualified for the US Amateur Championship. 9:46 a.m.: (15) James Erkenbeck, San Diego vs. (18) Kent Wiese, Huntington Beach. Erkenbeck, a New Mexico sophomore, made it to Match Play at the 2009 California State Amateur Championship and the 2009 US Public Links Championship. Erkenbeck also made it to the Quarterfinals of the 2008 California State Amateur Championship. Wiese finished 16th at the 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship, 5th at the 2008 SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship and made it to match play at the 2008 US Public Links Championship. 9:54 a.m.: (7) Matt Hoffenberg, Simi Valley vs. (26) Pat Duncan, Jr., Rancho Santa Fe. Hoffenberg, a San Diego State junior is the defending champion. Hoffenberg had an exceptional year in 2008 winning the 2008 Southwestern Amateur Championship, placing 3rd at the 2008 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship and making it to the semifinals of the 2008 California State Amateur. He recently finished 18th at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship, 29th at the 2009 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship and also qualified for this year’s US Amateur Championship. Duncan, Jr. also recently qualified for the US Amateur Championship (at the same site as Hoffenberg – Crystalaire CC) and made it to match play at the 2009 California State Amateur Championship. 10:02 a.m.: (10) Josh Anderson, Murrieta vs. (23) Jake Sarnoff, Manhattan Beach. Anderson, a junior at Pepperdine is the 2007 California State Amateur Champion and was the runner-up in the 2009 Pacific Northwest Amateur. Anderson placed 12th at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship and made it to the Round of 16 at the past two California State Amateurs. Sarnoff is a LMU Sophomore who earned his spot into this year’s championship based on his 2nd place finish at the 2009 Pasadena City Championship and 5th place at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship. 10:10 a.m.: (3) Jeff Wilson, Fairfield vs. (30) Ramie Sprinkling, Camarillo. Wilson is the 2008 SCGA Mid-Amateur Champion, 2009 SCGA Foursomes Champion, 2009 Santa Barbara City Champion and runner-up in the 2009 California State Amateur. He participated in the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines and made it to the quarterfinals of the 2008 US Mid-Amateur Championship. Sprinkling a recent UC Davis graduate, recently placed 21st at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship and made it to the Round of 16 in this tournament last year. Sprinkling also made it to match play at the 2008 California State Amateur Championship. 10:18 a.m.: (14) Joe Sanders, La Quinta vs. (19) Matt Grush, Los Angeles. Another match between two US Amateur qualifiers. Sanders is the 2009 Kelly Cup Champion and 2008 Stocker Cup Champion. He placed 30th at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship and 6th at the 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship. Grush, a recent UCSB graduate, is the 2008 State Fair champion and has qualified for back-to-back US Amateur Championships. He also made it to the Round of 16 at the 2009 California State Amateur. 10:26 a.m.: (6) Austin Graham, San Clemente vs. (27) Don O’Connor, Carlsbad. Graham is the recent winner of the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship and the 2009 Long Beach City Championship. Graham also finished 3rd at the 2008 SCGA Amateur Championship and recently qualified for the US Amateur Championship. O’Connor was the 2003 SCGA Foursomes Champion and qualified for the 2008 US Amateur Championship. 10:34 a.m.: (11) Robert Funk, Canyon Lake vs. (22) Bryan Harris, Newport Beach. Funk is the 2006 SCGA Mid-Amateur Champion, 2006 SCGA Four-Ball Champion and 2007 SCGA Foursomes Champion. Funk placed 13th at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship and 13th at the 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship. He made it to the Round of 16 in this event last year. Harris, a UC Irvine Junior, finished 32nd at the 2009 SCGA Amateur Championship and made it to match play at the 2009 California State Amateur and the Round 16 at the 2008 California State Amateur. Hogarth, Graham, Wilson, Marsh, and defending champion Hoffenberg headline elite 2009 SCGA Match Play field
STUDIO CITY, CA, August 5 — Tim Hogarth of Northridge, 2009 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion, will be the No. 1 seed for the 2nd Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) Match Play Championship August 10-12 at Sandpiper Golf Course in Santa Barbara. Hogarth was also the top seed in last year’s inaugural event. Others headlining the field include defending champion Matt Hoffenberg, a San Diego State junior who recently finished 29th at last week’s Pacific Coast Amateur Championship and qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship August 4 at Crystalaire CC. One of the hottest players in the field is 2009 SCGA Amateur Champion, UC Davis junior Austin Graham of San Clemente. Last month, Graham won the Long Beach City and SCGA Amateur Championships in back-to-back weekends, then followed it up as medalist at U.S. Amateur Qualifying at Red Hill CC on July 27. The 2008 SCGA Mid-Amateur Champion, Jeff Wilson of Fairfield, and 2008 SCGA Amateur Champion, Kevin Marsh of Henderson, Nev., will also be participating in their first SCGA Match Play Championship. Both players have significant match play experience playing in numerous USGA, local and national events over the years. Also participating is 2008 California State Amateur champion Nick Delio (Cal State Northridge junior) of Valencia; 2007 California State Amateur champion Josh Anderson (Pepperdine sophomore) of Murrieta; 2005 California State Amateur champion Don DuBois of Newport Beach; 1999 SCGA Amateur champion John Pate of Santa Barbara; and 2006 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion Robert Funk of Canyon Lake. Eight players in the field will be using this event as a match play tune-up for the U.S. Amateur Championship at Southern Hills CC on August 24-30. Joining Graham and Hoffenberg at the event will be Hogarth, Jason Bittick of Ladera Ranch, Pat Duncan, Jr. of Rancho Santa Fe, Joe Sanders of La Quinta, Matt Grush of Los Angeles and Bhavik Patel of Bakersfield. The 2009 SCGA Senior Amateur champion, Howie Knodt of Chula Vista, is the No. 1 seed in the 16-player senior division, which runs concurrently. Defending champion Boyd Martin of Corona del Mar and two-time U.S. Senior Amateur champion Kemp Richardson of Laguna Niguel headline a stellar field of Southern California’s finest senior players. A pairings party will be hosted for participants on Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. when the match play brackets and match-ups will be released. Pairings and match-ups will be posted online at that time as well. Players in both divisions earned their invitations into this championship based on results from combined 2008-2009 Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year points lists. About match play About Sandpiper Golf Club Its coastal location is reason enough for golfers to visit the 7,068-yard layout: 14 of Sandpiper’s holes have ocean views and the ones that don’t offer evidence that the water is near thanks to the pack of barking sea lions below the cliffs. Five fairways are so close to the water that an errant shot will end up in the Pacific and an overshot ball on the 224-yard par-3 11th hole will have players standing on the beach, near a green level with, and only steps from, the sand. The course has hosted the PGA Tour Tournament Players Series, the LPGA Tour’s Santa Barbara Women’s Open, and the final stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School. |
GOLETA, August 13 -- Nick Delio of Valencia fought off current SCGA Amateur champion Austin Graham of San Clemente through 18 holes this afternoon, to win the second SCGA Match Play Championship 1 up at Sandpiper Golf Course. 
