Berganio Takes 9-Shot Lead in Pacific Coast Amateur

U.S. Amateur Public Links champion David Berganio Jr. of Sylmar fired a one-under-par 70 Thursday at Forest Highlands Golf Club and extended his lead to nine shots after three rounds of the 25th Pacific Coast Amateur championship.

Berganio, who will be a junior this fall at Arizona, had five birdies, four bogeys and nine pars over the 6,958-yard, par-71 course. He is at nine-under-par 204 for three rounds.

Afterward, looking at the scoreboard, Berganio indicated he was tired after playing several rounds in the 7,000-foot altitude but noted: “Any time you shoot under par, you have to be happy about it.”

Berganio’s closest pursuers are Todd Fischer of Pleasanton, Calif., who equaled the day’s best round with a three-under-par 68, and Jaxon Brigman of Abilene, Tex., who had a par 71. Both are at par 213.

Tied for fourth are former Walker Cup player Randy Sonnier of Kingswood, Tex., and Ken Kellaney of Phoenix, who are at one-over-par 214.

Craig Steinberg of Van Nuys, who last month won his second Southern California Golf Assn. Amateur championship, shot a one-over 72 and slipped into a tie for sixth at 215. Also back in the field is Mitch Voges of Simi Valley, who ballooned to a 75 and stands at 221.

The day’s most interesting round was shot by Tim Todd of Irvine. After a two-over-par 37 on the front nine, Todd rebounded with four back-nine birdies and an eagle. On the 390-yard, par-four 17th hole, he drove the green and sank a long putt.

With the possibility of eagling the 582-yard, par-five 18th hole for a back-nine 28, Todd went for the green in two but put his approach shot into the water in front of the green. He wound up taking a bogey six for a back nine of 31 and a three-under-par total of 68.

The tournament has been the David Berganio show since he opened with a course record-tying 64 in the opening round. He followed that Wednesday with a round of 70 and led his Southern California Public Links Golf Assn. team to an eight-shot victory in the annual Morse Cup competition.

Berganio, a four-time Del Rey League individual champion at Alemany High, is on a hot streak, having won the U.S. Amateur Public Links title last month at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus, Ind.