Hogarth leads at SCGA Mid-Amatuer
Rancho Sante Fe, Calif. (April 16, 2012) -- After 36 holes and nearly 12 hours of golf, the Mid-Amateur Championship’s original field of 84 players has been cut to 43. Atop the leaderboard is four-time SCGA Mid-Amateur Champion Tim Hogarth, who managed to put up a 2-under 142 after rounds of 69 and 73 on after a long, windy day. “The second round was tougher. The only difference between rounds was that I didn’t putt nearly as well this afternoon," Hogarth said. “I’m just happy that I’ve left myself with such a great chance heading into tomorrow.”Gary Robinson of San Diego, Calif. sits in second with a 1-over par 145 after rounds of 70 and 75.With a large field completing two rounds today, the weather certainly had varying effects as the day wore on. Anthony Melillo from Brookside, who shot an opening round 69, credited the wind for a general increase in second round scores. “The wind really kicked up [in the afternoon], making the course a little tougher. It was really swirling and a lot of times you didn’t know where it was coming from," he said.The difficulty of today’s greens also came into play for many of the day’s competitors. Robinson acknowledged the quickness of today’s greens, speaking to how the difficulty may have worked to his advantage. “I putted well today actually," said Robinson. "I only had one three-putt. I am used to greens like this. I like them fast."At the end of the day, 83 players found themselves looking up at the veteran Hogarth. With a three-shot hole going into the final round, Robinson spoke about playing catch-up with 18 to play. “[Hogarth]’s obviously such a great player with a great history. It just gives me the opportunity to go out there and free-will it."A number of well-known SCGA competitors struggled Monday, failing to make the cut with scores higher than 11-over par. 2011 U.S. Mid-Amateur Quarterfinalist Tony Behrstock, 2008 and 2009 SCGA Senior Player of the Year Howie Knodt and 2006 California Amateur Champion Jordan Nasser were among the 40+ players who failed to figure out the Rancho Santa Fe course.This year's Mid-Amateur Champion will earn an exemption into the 101st California Amateur Championship at La Cumbre CC on June 25-30. The top-5 finishers will earn exemptions into the 113th SCGA Amateur Championship at Big Canyon CC July 20-22. Round 3 begins at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
ABOUT THE SCGA Mid-Amateur
The SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship is open to
members ages 25 and older with a Handicap Index
of 5.4 and below. Competitors undergo 18 holes of
qualifying play in order to reach the final field of 84
players. In the Championship, players compete over
54 holes of stroke play with the top 42 players and
ties advancing after 36 holes to the final round.
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