GOLF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP : Clark, Steinberg Share Lead With 18 Holes to Go

The Southern California Golf Assn.’s large amateur talent pool makes it difficult for any player to dominate.

Pat Duncan of Rancho Santa Fe is well aware of the keen competition. The defending champion of the SCGA Amateur Championship, Duncan had high hopes of becoming only the second player in 40 years to win consecutive titles at the event.

Brad Greer was the last player to do so, winning in 1984 and ’85.

But after struggling on the back nine Saturday at Bel-Air Country Club, Duncan shot a four-over-par 74 and dropped four strokes behind leaders Bob Clark of Murrieta and Craig Steinberg of Van Nuys.

Clark and Steinberg are at one-under 209 on the 6,482-yard course. Tim Todd of Yorba Linda is third at 211 and Mark Johnson of Sun Valley is tied with Duncan at 213 with 18 holes to play today.

Clark, 44, has never won the tournament and did not actively participate in amateur events until 1989.

Todd, 22, is a senior at San Diego State. His 67 Saturday was the best of the round.

Johnson, 36, and Steinberg, 33, are two of the more consistent amateur winners in the Southland. Steinberg won this tournament in 1988. Johnson pulled into contention with a 69 Saturday.

Clark began the third round with a five-stroke lead over Duncan and Steinberg, but after bogeying three of the first four holes on the back nine, Clark lost his lead to Steinberg on the 13th hole.

Steinberg’s stay at the top was short-lived. After Clark birded the par-four 15th, Steinberg double-bogeyed the hole to fall two strokes behind.

“A three-stroke swing on one hole is always nice,” Clark said.