CIF Southern California Golf Championships : Zerman Ends His Frustration With a Rewarding Victory

Manny Zerman slammed a club into his bag. It was not an act of frustration, but one of satisfaction.

“A graduation present,” Zerman said to nobody in particular. “For myself.”

Zerman’s declaration was more for his ears than anyone in the gallery at the La Jolla Country Club’s ninth hole.

Zerman, a South African who attended University of San Diego High School, held off rallies by Harry Rudolph of La Jolla and Tony Dupree of Corona Del Mar to win the CIF Southern California Golf Assn. championship by one shot.

Zerman shot a 36-hole total 144 to win his first tournament since moving to San Diego from South Africa last July. Dupree and Rudolph were a shot back at one-over 145. Phil Mickelson of Unviersity of San Diego High School, the defending champion, and Keith Sbarbaro of Poway tied for fourth at 150.

The victory ended nearly a year of frustration for Zerman, a senior who will attend the University of Arizona next fall.

This was Zerman’s last tournament as a high school student and he is going back to his home in Durban in two weeks.

“It has been a tough year,” Zerman said. “My golf suffered a lot. The first couple months I spent a lot of time studying and I didn’t have much time for practice.”

Zerman started the year playing in the shadow of teammate Mickelson and Rudolph, two of the top junior golfers in the nation.

Mickelson won the section title this year and the Southern California title last season as a junior. Rudolph had won the section title his sophomore and junior seasons.

Zerman won the Chilean Amateur title in 1986 and finished third in the medal portion of the British Amateur last year. Zerman also had finished second twice and third twice at the Junior World Tournament since he was 14. In amateur golf, South African athletes are allowed to compete internationally, said Dave Thoennes, USDHS golf coach.

In the past year, however, Zerman had been frustrated with his performances.

“I was no more the guy everybody looked at,” Zerman said. “I was nobody. It was hard. I had to start all over again. I’m still working at it.”

Zerman will now have his name inscribed on the tournament’s perpetual trophy, along with such past winners as Craig Stadler and Lennie Clements.

Zerman and Dupree finished the first round at two-over 74, one shot ahead of Mickelson and Rudolph. But Zerman was steady in the second round.

Rudolph birdied twice on the back nine to pull within one, but could not get closer. Mickelson lost the chance to become the first double winner in the 18-year history of the tournament when he had a double-bogie on the par-4, sixth hole.

Dupree nearly caught Zerman on the ninth and final hole. Zerman hit his second shot in the left bunker, and Dupree’s second shot came up just short of the green.

Zerman hit a fine shot within five feet of the hole. Dupree nearly tied Zerman as his chip shot rolled into the cup and popped out. Dupree made his putt for par, but Zerman still had a five-foot putt to seal the victory.

“I said to myself going into the back nine that it would feel really good to win one,” Zerman said. “It occurred to me (the ninth) was going to be the most important hole I play.”

Patti Sinn of Bellflower won the girls’ title with an 18-hole total of five-over 77. Brandie Burton of Eisenhower was second at 78 and Christy Erb of Bonita Vista, who won the tournament as a sophomore, finished third at 79.

Carlsbad became the first San Diego Section school to win the team title since Torrey Pines in 1983. Carlsbad, the section champion, scored a 405, three shots ahead of section runner-up La Jolla. Westlake, the defending champion was third at 413.