Brandon Mai (center) overtook Tim Hogarth (left)
for the 50th SCGA Public Links title (SCGA photo)
PASADENA, CA (August 13, 2017) -
Brandon Mai of Poway, CA survived a roller-coaster finish and a two-hole playoff to win the 50th Southern California Public Links Championship at Brookside Golf Club.
Mai started the day four shots behind leader
Tim Hogarth of Northridge, who at age 51 is one of the most seasoned and decorated amateurs in Southern California. Hogarth has had another good year, winning the Pasadena City Championship last month and qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open.
Related: Hogarth Pulls Ahead at the Southern California PubLinks
Hogarth could never get anything going in the final round, however, managing only one birdie and watching his lead shrink throughout the round.
Mai's third round of 65--the low round of the tournament--was important because it allowed him to get into the final group with Hogarth. having already picked up one shot on Hogarth to get within three, Mai birdied the par-four 9th hole for a two-shot swing that pulled him to within one, and from there the duel was on.
When Hogarth bogeyed the par-four 12th the two were tied at six under for the tournament with five holes to go--five holes that would see each player take the lead and subsequently lose it.
Mai bogeyed the par-four 14th to put Hogarth back in the lead, but a crucial mistake at the par-five 15th led to a bogey by Hogarth and another two-shot swing as Mai birdied to go back in front.
The lead was two with two to go after another Mai birdie at the par-four 16th, but he stumbled to the finish with two straight bogeys that gave Hogarth new life and sent the two to a playoff.
On the second playoff hole, Brandon Mai rolled in a birdie to win the championship that he seemed to have won, lost, and won again.
For Hogarth, it was a disappointing near-miss in a season of good performances in Southern California Golf Association events. He finished tied for 10th at the Southern California Amateur and tied for 12th at the Southern California Mid-Amateur, but this was clearly his best chance this season to put another SCGA title onto his already impressive resume.
The round of the day was turned in by
William Wells of Lemon Grove, a six-under 66 that would have put him in the playoff if not for a bogey on the final hole. Wells made an incredible nine birdies and an eagle, but also three bogeys and a double, and only four pars on the day.
Wells finished tied for third with
Genki Tamashiro of Torrance, who shot a 70 for a four-under 210 total.
Three players--
Newport Laparojkit of Montebello,
Ryan Miranda of Los Angeles, and first-round co-leader
Tyler Schafer of Long Beach--finished in a tie for fifth at three-under 211.
ABOUT THE
SCGA Public Links
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.
View Complete Tournament Information