Northridge’s Tim Hogarth wins his third SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Hacienda GC
By Katie Denbo APRIL 14, La Habra Heights -- It was a championship that came down to the wire, but in the end, tournament experience won out. Veteran SCGA champion Tim Hogarth added a third SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship title to his portfolio at Hacienda GC in La Habra Heights. Northridge’s Hogarth, 42, won the SCGA Mid-Amateur winner in 1999 and 2007, and shot a 70-71-69—210, 2-under-par over the 6,925-yard Hacienda layout, defeating first-round leader Tyler Crawford of Rancho Mirage and Coto de Caza’s Jason Bittick by two strokes. Hogarth entered the final round three shots back of Crawford, who faltered in the beginning of his final round by bogeying four of his first five holes. Although Crawford, who shot 69-69 yesterday, righted the ship, a costly double-bogey on the par-4 15th hole, combined with a birdie from Hogarth on 17, secured the title for Hogarth. While Hogarth and Crawford battled, Bittick continued to climb the leader board, birdieing four of his first five back-nine holes, landing the trio in a tie at 2-under-par going into the final few holes. “When I heard that Tyler, Jason and I were all tied at 2-under at one point, that really made things more interesting,” Hogarth said after his round. “To actually win a close championship like this feels great.” Bittick, one of the SCGA’s longest-hitting players, was four shots off the lead coming into today’s final round, but he stalled on 18, bogeying the hole which landed him in a tie for second place. “The course played a lot harder today,” Bittick lamented. “The course was longer and the hole placements were much more difficult.” Manhattan Beach’s William Degenhart shot 69-73-73—215 for fourth place, while Mark Scheibach of Bermuda Dunes took fifth place with 74-70-73—217. Hogarth, a California State University, Northridge business alum who works in the health food industry, is the SCGA’s most decorated golfer, and one of the most accomplished players in the Southland. After winning the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, he was given an invitation to the 1997 Masters tournament, in what he says actually helps him play well this time of year. “The week of the Masters [played last week] always does something for me and my game,” he said. “It gets my blood flowing and gets me excited to play. I think it helped me here today.” Hogarth is the only player to win the SCGA’s “triple crown”: the SCGA Amateur (2004), SCGA Mid-Amateur (1999, 2007, 2009) and the California State Amateur (1999). With partner John Pate, he also won the 2004 and 2005 SCGA Foursomes Championships, and in 2008 he added an SCGA Tournament of Club Champions win. Add these to his six Los Angeles City Amateur Championships, plus six Kelly Cup Invitationals, and two consecutive Pasadena City Amateur Championships, and his reputation as a premiere amateur golfer precedes him. “No matter how many wins I get, each one feels great,” he said. “They’re all sweet.” For results, CLICK HERE. To view the championship photo gallery, CLICK HERE. Tyler Crawford of Rancho Mirage has three-shot lead going into final round of the SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship
APRIL 13 -- Tyler Crawford of Rancho Mirage shot a 4-under-par 69-69—138 today, to lead the field of the 26th SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship by three shots going into the final round tomorrow at Hacienda GC in La Habra Heights. Crawford, a 35-year-old Mississippi State University alumnus who plays out of Mission Hills CC, “could’ve easily had a 65 in the afternoon,” said playing partner Jason Pridmore of a second-round score that included Crawford making two bogeys and a double-bogey en-route to his 69. Five of his six second-round birdies came in his first nine holes of the afternoon. Tim Hogarth of Northridge, who won the SCGA Mid-Amateur in 2007 and most recently the 2008 SCGA Tournament of Club Champions, shot a 70-71—141 on the par-71 course, and will play with Crawford in tomorrow’s final pairing. Jason Bittick of Coto de Caza shot a 73-69—142 while Manhattan Beach’s William Degenhart reversed those rounds for the two to share a tie for third. First-round leader Bowen Osborn of Santa Monica, who shot a 68 this morning, faltered in the second round. A two-stroke penalty for being late to the tee led to an 83 in the afternoon and a 12-over 151 on the day. “The first round was really good,” he said, “but then I kind of got out of it.” Hacienda, an original Willie Watson design that was remodeled in 2007 by John Harbottle III, received rave reviews of its 6,925-yard layout. With firm greens, ample trees and tight fairways, many players called the course a hidden gem in fantastic condition. Donald O’Connor of Carlsbad, who made the cut at 154, summed it up: “There aren’t many places that I’d play every day, but this is definitely one of them,” he said after his round. “You have to use every club in your bag, it’s a fantastic course.” The field of 84 was cut to the top 42 and ties (14-over 156), with tee times beginning tomorrow, April 14, at 8:00 a.m. Spectators are welcome and admittance is free of charge. Live scoring will be available every three holes. Pairings announced for 26th SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship APRIL 8 -- Pairings for the first two rounds of the SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship, to be played April 13-14 at Hacienda GC, can be downloaded HERE. There are several fun spotlight pairings on April 13 in this year's field:
Admission is free to the event and spectators are welcome. Live scoring will be available here beginning Monday, April 13.
APRIL 8 -- When players tee it up at this year's SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Hacienda, they will be walking in the footsteps of Tiger Woods, who claimed the 1994 SCGA Amateur Championship at Hacienda during his freshman year at Stanford University. Woods also set the course record of 62 during his third round against current Champions Tour player Mark Johnson. "It's as well as I've ever played," the 18-year-old Woods said softly to the crowd following his win, a scorching 10-under-par 270 over 72 holes for a five-stroke victory. Then known by his birthname Eldrick, he stated that "I'll probably change my name to Tiger." Although the La Habra Heights course has been renovated since (read the Hacienda course profile), many other memories have been made since Woods' victory. The SCGA returns to Hacienda which most recently hosted the 2007 SCGA Senior Amateur Championship, won by eventual California Senior Amateur champion Rich Tolly. Hacienda has also hosted three SCGA Amateur Championships; in 1969 won by U.T. Thompson III, in 1979 won by Jeff Hart, and in 1994 won by Woods. Read coverage of Woods' 1994 win on the John Harbottle III/Willie Watson layout. Also read One Reporter's Notebook, a candid look at the field that year, as well as All About Tiger and his Team Tiger fans. Four past champions to tee it up in 26th SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Hacienda GC
APRIL 6 -- Four past SCGA Mid-Amateur champions, as well as seven additional SCGA champions, will take the tee for the 26th SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship on April 13-14 at Hacienda GC. Tim Hogarth of Northridge, two-time winner of the event (1999 and 2007), as well as the 2008 Tournament of Club Champions winner and the only player to win the "triple crown" (California State Amateur, SCGA Amateur and SCGA Mid-Amateur), will headline the 72-hole, stroke-play event for players age 25 and older in the absence of defending champion Jeff Wilson, who withdrew from the championship. Other past Mid-Am champions slated to complete are Santa Barbara's John Pate (2000), West Los Angeles' John McClure (2005) and Canyon Lake's Robert Funk (2006). Notable players in the field include San Clemente's John Adams and Coto de Caza's Jason Bittick, who won the 2008 SCGA Foursomes Championship; David Bartman, the 2007 SCGA Tournament of Club Champions winner who paired with Funk to win the 2006 SCGA Four-Ball and 2007 SCGA Foursomes championships; Newport Beach's Don DuBois, winner of the 2005 California State Amateur; Coto de Caza's Clark Heath, the 2008 SCGA Senior Amateur champion; and Irvine's Jordan Nasser, the 2006 California State Amateur champion. Live scoring will be available during each round. Pairings can be downloaded HERE. |
Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Tiger Woods' SCGA Amateur Championship win at Hacienda GC 