SCGA Public Links Championship
Aug. 24-26, 2018 at River Ridge GC
The SCGA Public Links Championship is formerly the PLGA Amateur Championship, which started in 1968. This Championship is open to amateurs who are members of the SCGA who have a current Handicap Index of 5.4 or below at the time of registration. Players who are listed on a private or semi-private club’s member roster are ineligible. The Championship will have 104 players compete over 54 holes of stroke play with the top 30 players and ties advancing after 36 holes to the final round.
Brandon Mai wins first SCGA title
With a birdie on the second playoff hole of the 2017 SCGA Public Links Championship, Brandon Mai of Poway, Calif. completed a final-day comeback to snatch victory away from three-time champion Tim Hogarth.
"It feels pretty good to win," said Mai. "I haven't had a win in awhile so it feels good to come out here and play three good rounds."
Mai opened the tournament Friday with a 73 on Course No. 1 at Brookside GC in Pasadena, before firing a 65 on Course No. 2 Saturday. Beginning the final round four shots behind Hogarth, Mai's closing-round 71 back on Course No. 1 would be enough to force the playoff. After playing his opening nine in 2-under par, Mai had an eventful back nine, carding two more birdies and three bogeys.
"I finished my round bogey-bogey so I was feeling a little nervous coming off," he said. "But I got it done which felt nice."
Hogarth, who shared the Round 1 lead after a an opening 68 and held a 2-shot advantage heading into the final round after a Round 2 66, struggled a bit Sunday, posting a 3-over par 75 on a course he knows well. The Northridge golfer, who won the event in 1998, 1999 and in 2011 (at Brookside), missed a short look for birdie on the first playoff hole before falling to Mai's par the following hole.
Hogarth and Mai finished the 54-hole event at 5-under par 209, while William Wells of Lemon Grove and Genki Tamashiro of Torrance finished just 1 shot behind at 210. Rounding out the Top 5 was Newport Laparojkit of Montebello, Tyler Schafer of Long Beach and Ryan Miranda of Los Angeles. Wells shots Sunday's best round with an impressive 6-under par 66.
The SCGA Public Links Championship began with 103 golfers, before cutting to the Top 30 and ties after 36 holes. Other past winners in the field included 2008 Champion Dan Sullivan who finished tenth.
Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Brandon Mai | Brookside GC |
| 2016 |
Nick Geyer |
Brookside GC |
| 2015 |
Sean Birren |
Brookside GC |
| 2014 |
Jeff Coburn |
River Ridge GC |
| 2013 |
Jeff Coburn |
Brookside GC |
| 2012 | Dan Sullivan | Brookside GC |
| 2011 | Tim Hogarth | Brookside GC |
| 2010 | Andrew Kramer | Los Serranos GC |
| 2009 | Ed Susolik | La Mirada GC |
| 2008 | Dan Sullivan | Brookside GC |
| 2007 | Tye Alexander | Chester Washington GC |
| 2006 | Tye Alexander | Chester Washington GC |
| 2005 | Keith Kinsel | Brookside GC |
| 2004 | Patrick Carrigan | Santa Anita GC |
| 2003 | Iain Macdonald | Jurupa Hills GC |
| 2002 | Travis Johnson | Skylinks GC |
| 2001 | Patrick Carrigan | Los Serranos GC |
| 2000 | Michael Turner | Sepulveda GC |
| 1999 | Tim Hogarth | Southern Counties GC |
| 1998 | Tim Hogarth | Hastings Ranch GC |
| 1997 | Ron Quick | Victoria GC |
| 1996 | Michael Turner | Sepulveda GC |
| 1995 | Jim Lundstrom | Knollwood GC |
| 1994 | Michael Turner | Sepulveda GC |
| 1993 | Michael Turner | Sepulveda GC |
| 1992 | Michael Turner | Sepulveda GC |
| 1991 | Robert Valerio | Skylinks GC |
| 1990 | Jim Lundstrom | Sepulveda GC |
| 1989 | Tony Chieffo | Sepulveda GC |
| 1988 | Craig Steinberg | Sepulveda GC |
| 1987 | Ray Vanyo | Sepulveda GC |
| 1986 | Michael Turner | Sepulveda GC |
| 1985 | Greg Bruckner | Alondra Park GC |
| 1984 | Tom Stankowski | Sepulveda GC |
| 1983 | Ray Vanyo | Sepulveda GC |
| 1982 | Vick Wilk | Sepulveda GC |
| 1981 | Corey Pavin | Sepulveda GC |
| 1980 | Craig Steinberg | Sepulveda GC |
| 1979 | Chuck Wallace | Recreation Park GC |
| 1978 | Mike Bellmar | Lakewood GC |
| 1977 | Mike Bellmar | Lakewood GC |
| 1976 | Mike Bellmar | Lakewood GC |
| 1975 | Roger Fagan | Western GC |
| 1974 | Don Rindfleisch | Recreation Park GC |
| 1973 | Gary Singer | Fairmont GC |
| 1972 | Dick Mortenson | Skylinks GC |
| 1971 | Tony Perrara | Recreation Park GC |
| 1970 | Bob Risch | Alondra Park GC |
| 1969 | Bob Henry | Western GC |
| 1968 | Willard Bryan | El Dorado Park GC |