North Hills’ Wi Wins Amateur Title

Top that.

Charlie Wi has been playing in the Southern California Golf Assn. Amateur Championship for years. He previously finished as high as eighth, fourth and third.

Sunday, the NCAA All-American from Westlake High fired a one-under-par 70 to win the 96th SCGA Amateur by four strokes at Santa Ana Country Club.

Now what?

“I don’t know if I want to come back next year,” Wi said. “I can’t do any better.”

Wi, who lives in North Hills and attends Cal, finished at four-under 280 and was the only player to break par.

It wasn’t nearly as easy as the final tally seemed to indicate. Wi weathered a storm--rain fell throughout much of the front nine--plus a withering attack from playing partners Jim Lundstrom of Mission Hills and Jorge Corral of Tijuana.

In fact, with three holes to play, Lundstrom trailed by one stroke and Corral was within two.

On the par-four 16th, Wi made a slick, downhill birdie putt from 12 feet to take a two-shot lead with two holes to play. The ball did a 360-degree tour of the lip before falling for only Wi’s second birdie of the day.

“I just barely touched it and tried to get it on line,” said Wi, 23, the Pacific 10 Conference individual champion. “I actually didn’t think I made it.”

Ditto on the next hole, a 190-yard par-three. Wi’s lag putt from 40 feet toppled in for another birdie and opened a four-shot lead over Lundstrom and Corral.

“He clutched up and did what he had to do to win,” said Lundstrom, 35. “He’s been through this before and knows what it takes to get the job done.”

Lundstrom, a schoolteacher, finished with a 70 and in a tie with Corral for second at even-par 284. Corral, 18, shot 72.

Players from the region walked off with most of the trophies and hardware: Six of the top eight had ties to the Valley area.

Jason Gore of Valencia shot the day’s low round, a 68, and finished fourth at 289. Ventura’s Chad Wright and former Cal State Northridge standout Jeff Sanday tied for fifth at 290.

James Camaione, a member of the Crystalaire Country Club in the Antelope Valley, finished in a two-way tie for seventh at 291.