Hogarth Putt-Putts to 38-Hole Victory

Tim Hogarth seemed only an afternoon stroll at the beach from his first California State Amateur title.

Hogarth, of Chatsworth, had a 4-up lead after the morning round of the 88th annual tournament Saturday at Pebble Beach Golf Links but needed 38 holes to defeat Gary Vanier of Pleasant Hill.

“I had to call on all of the things that I’ve learned as a match-play player to win this match,” said Hogarth, the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion. “This was far more difficult than the final match of the Publinks.”

Hogarth, who has won five of his last seven tournaments, claimed the title with a two-putt birdie from 25 feet on the par-five second hole when Vanier missed his six-foot birdie putt.

“I couldn’t believe he missed that putt,” Hogarth said. “He had made everything all afternoon. I was sure we were going to the third hole.”

Vanier, 48, the 1982 state amateur champion, shot 68 in the afternoon and pulled even with Hogarth, 33, after the regulation 36 holes by sinking a 10-foot birdie putt on the famed 18th hole.

Hogarth became the 25th player to earn medalist honors, which he did in 1997, and win the championship. Only two have done both in the same year.

Vanier was trying to become the oldest state amateur champion and equal the record of 17 years between titles.

Hogarth thought he would do it after the former Stanford golfer made his birdie putt on the 36th hole.

“He had all the momentum and I was really down at that point,” Hogarth said. “My only hope was somehow to get to the second [playoff] hole because I knew my length would be a benefit on that hole.”

That’s what happened when he drove in the fairway and reached the green in two. Vanier’s second shot trickled into the rough to the right of the green and he couldn’t get up and down.

Hogarth has snapped out of a slump this year by winning the L.A. City Championship, the Southern California Publinks, the Kelly Cup and his California State Amateur qualifier.

“Six months ago I wasn’t good enough to be named to the [Southern California team] for the Seaver Cup,” Hogarth said. “So I went back to [pro] Randy Peterson at Alondra Park [Golf Course] in Torrance, who was my coach in college, and asked him to work with me.

“I’m playing 100% better than I was in December, thanks to him.”