STATE AMATEUR GOLF : Berganio, Demsey Renew Rivalry in Today’s Final at Pebble Beach

Dave Berganio of Sylmar and Todd Demsey of Rancho Santa Fe have met many times on golf courses. The last time that happened, in June, Berganio helped his University of Arizona team to the NCAA title by seven strokes over Demsey and runner-up Arizona State.

Today, they will meet again for the California Amateur championship.

Berganio, 23, who will be a senior at Arizona, hammered his way into the 36-hole final Thursday by beating Steve Woods of Ontario in the morning’s quarterfinals, 2 and 1, and then ousting Craig Steinberg of Van Nuys, 1-up, in a memorable semifinal battle.

Demsey, 20, who will be a sophomore at Arizona State, advanced with victories over Pat Duncan, also of Rancho Santa Fe, and Mark Johnson, 38, a truck driver from Barstow. Demsey beat Duncan, 5 and 4, and Johnson 1-up.

Berganio is the reigning U.S. Public Links and Pacific Coast Amateur champion. He defeated Steinberg--the current Southern California Golf Assn. amateur champion--with a par on the 17th hole at Pebble Beach, blasting from the sand to within four feet and sinking the putt. Steinberg, playing in his 13th state amateur tournament, bogeyed the hole when a delicate chip shot caught the edge of the rough and stopped 20 feet from the cup.