Hogarth Feared He Wouldn’t Match Up

How certain was Tim Hogarth that he would fail to make the cut to match play at the 71st U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships?

After a first-round 78 two weeks ago at Wailua Golf Course in Kauai, Hawaii, Hogarth called the airlines, trying to arrange transportation back to Van Nuys following the second round.

He shouldn’t have bothered. Hogarth managed to survive the cut to match play by shooting 70 in the second round of 70, safely making the cut by four shots. Then he fought through six rounds of match play to become the second Alemany High graduate to win the Publinks.

David Berganio won the event in 1991.

Along the way Hogarth, 30, caught a couple of breaks, defeating 1995 champion Chris Wollman and fourth runner-up Bill Camping on what Hogarth called his best rounds of the tournament.

“I wasn’t playing that great, but I was chipping and putting well,” Hogarth said. “Those things can be demoralizing to other people after a while.”

Even more fortunate, Jeff Thomas self-destructed in the final and Hogarth won the 36-hole match, 8 and 7.

Hogarth’s victory is more impressive considering more than 6,200 golfers tried to make the field through local qualifying, the second highest number in Public Links history.

The Public Links is the only USGA event where the travel, including meal money, is subsidized--making this year’s destination an attractive locale.

Yet, Hogarth was ready to leave after the first day. Like many qualifiers, Hogarth isn’t an everyday golfer. He’s lucky if he can make it to the course three times a week.

If he didn’t qualify for match play, he would have had to return to his job as a health food sales administrator.

“People were saying I should stay and relax, but I had a job to get back to,” Hogarth said.

Hogarth will need additional time off. His victory brings with it an exemption to the U.S. Amateur in Oregon and the Mid Amateur later this month. Next April, Hogarth will compete in the Masters.

That’s quite a jump in competition for the former Cal State Northridge golfer who played on the Golden State Tour for several years before regaining his amateur status earlier this year.

“Playing [the Masters] is something I couldn’t even dream about,” Hogarth said. “Even when I was on the pro tour it was so out of reach, I never even considered dreaming about playing there.”

Before the Publinks, Hogarth won the L.A. City championship, played at Griffith Park and Rancho Park and the Publinks qualifier at Brookside.

“It’s been a really good couple months of golf for me,” Hogarth said. “I’m trying to milk it as long as I can.”

Hogarth was featured in a three-page article in the Golf-Plus section of a recent issue in Sports Illustrated. Hogarth was portrayed in a positive light, although his home course, the par-3 Van Nuys Golf Course, was less than flattered.

“The reporter tried to play up the gang angle,” Hogarth said. “Van Nuys really isn’t such a bad area. I’ve been living here my whole life.”

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Lawrence O’Neil of Camarillo shot a two-round total of 146 to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Championship in sectional qualifying at Saticoy Country Club. Jason Gore of Valencia and Pepperdine is an alternate after shooting 150.

Darren Angel of Northridge and Arizona State finished one shot behind Ted Oh of Torrance and UNLV to qualify at Western Hills Country Club.

The U.S. Amateur is Aug. 20-25 at Cornelius, Ore.

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Carlos Robledo, the No. 2 golfer at Hart High behind UCLA-bound Jason Semelsberger, has accepted a scholarship to Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C.