Stephen Hale (SCGA photo)

Hale fired a final round 6-under 66 to finish at 8-under 205 for his three rounds to earn a spot in a playoff with a pair of heavyweights in five-time SCGA Mid-Amateur Champion Tim Hogarth (North Hills) and defending champion Torrey Edwards. After the three players parred the first two playoff holes, Hale drained a 25-foot putt from the fringe for birdie on the par-5 18th hole and when Edwards’ misfired on a 15-foot birdie putt that would have extended the match, the Bakersfield native laid claim to his first-ever SCGA title.

Edwards began the final round three strokes off the pace of second-round leader Hogarth but rattled off four straight birdies on holes, 2, 3, 4 and 5 to take a one stroke lead en route to a closing round 65.

Hogarth's red-hot inward nine featured birdies on 10, 14 and 15 and narrowly missed a bid for a third straight birdie on No. 16. Hogarth dropped back into a tie with Edwards after a pulled drive into the water on No. 17 led to a bogey. One stroke back at 7-under heading into the final hole, Hale birdied the 18th to move into a tie for the lead at 8-under and watched anxiously as Hogarth’s birdie putt for the outright win came up just short, sending the trio into three-hole aggregate playoff.

After the three players carded pars on the first two playoff holes, Hale drained a 25-foot putt from the fringe for birdie on the par-5 18th hole and when Edwards’ misfired on a 15-foot birdie putt that would have extended the match, the Bakersfield native laid claim to his first-ever SCGA title.

Hogarth’s poor drive led to a bogey on the third playoff hole, leaving center stage to Hale and Edwards. After Hale rolled in his 25-footer from the fringe for birdie and Edwards’ birdie attempt missed on the right side, the 32-year-old was in possession of one of Southern California’s most-coveted amateur titles.

The victory was a long-time coming for Hale, who reached the final 32 in last year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur and was medalist at the 2020 California State Amateur.