- file photo

PASADENA, Calif (May 16, 2010) -- Standing from a distance behind the gallery to avoid watching the final group, Greg Moss couldn't help but crack a smile when it finally came to an end.

He knew it was over because all eyes were on him as to congratulate his gritty performance.

Moss made a frantic rally that started with a birdie from a bunker on the 13th hole to all but catapult him atop the leaderboard to win the 75th annual Pasadena City Amateur Championship on Sunday at Brookside Golf Club.

Moss birdied the 13th and 14th holes en route to a back-nine 35 to finish at even-par 286.

"When I pulled it out of the 13th I thought I would be right in it," the Sherman Oaks resident said. "I couldn't make a putt all day. I had two holes before where I couldn't get anything going. But when I got that birdie I was ready to go."

It was Moss' first victory since winning the West Coast Conference golf championship a year ago with Loyola Marymount.

"I hadn't played this tournament in a couple of years," he said. "Before I was trying just to make cuts and get into the weekend and I hadn't been playing well recently.

"But I knew I'd done enough in the last year or so, made the progress where I felt I could compete. Once I saw (three-time defending champion Tim) Hogarth's name get out (withdraw) you knew I had a big smile because anytime he's in it you know he's going to contend."

Ramsey Sahyoun, the third-round co-leader with Jake

It was first appearance in the tournament for the senior from Campbell Hall High School who is headed to USC on scholarship next season. He had no birdies on the back nine.

"I was playing cautious on the front nine," he said. "I was too aggressive with my putt, actually, and it cost me at the end.

"I was just trying to be more aggressive. I tend to be more conservative, but I tried to be more aggressive. I was confident with the putter. I figured let's hit it hard, but it didn't pay off."

Sahyoun had a double bogey on the eighth hole.

"I let a lot of people back in with that shot," he said. "I was never sure of that shot. But I'm happy that I was in contention. It was fun to test myself."

Kevin Fitzgerald of Riverside finished third at 74- 288. Sarnoff finished a distant 10th with an 84-296.

"I think the word for the day is sloppy," Fitzgerald said. "I had some good shots and I hit some bad ones. Little things around the greens weren't good. It was really up and down. I didn't feel I had control of where I was hitting the ball."

Tournament Notes from amateurgolf.com:

* In Friday's second round, Moss came within a shot of tying the Brookside G.C. course record with an 8-under 62 on the No. 2 course. How's that for a turnaround? Moss, 24, on on Friday told the Pasadena Star-News that the "holes felt like a basketball hoop." Moss missed a 6 foot birdie putt on the 18th to tie the record, then shot 76 on the No. 1 course on Saturday, the same way he started.

* Course records aside (they can always be beaten anyway), putting your name on the trophy of a 75 year old historic golf tournament is and entirely bigger accomplishment.

* Three time defending Champion Tim Hogarth withdrew after a first round 75 to attend to personal issues.

* * *

About the Pasadena City Championship

The Brookside Men's Golf Club, in association with The City of Pasadena and American Golf, continues a storied history of amateur golf in Southern California with the 75th playing of the Pasadena City Championship.

Each year this historic tournament is held on two outstanding public golf courses, both true tests of golf and always in top playing condition. Brookside course #1 has been a venue for the Los Angeles Open, USGA Public Links and many SCGA and PGA qualifying events. The courses are adjacent to the historic Rose Bowl in beautiful Pasadena, California.