Lopez and Hogarth Tied at Top

Greg Lopez and Tim Hogarth arrived at Hillcrest Country Club for the Southern California Golf Assn. Amateur Championship, saw the same course and had opposite reactions.

Lopez, a long hitter, figured there was no way he could play well on a short course with tight fairways and a wrist-breaking rough. Hogarth, a crafty veteran, smiled to himself and figured this may just be his year.

The contrasting styles of the two have produced the same results through three rounds. After Lopez shot one-under 69 and Hogarth had a 68 Saturday in the third round, they are tied for the lead with totals of even-par 210.

Steve Conway, last year’s runner-up, shot 71 in the third round and is two shots behind the leaders, tied with former Nationwide Tour pro David Bartman, who also shot 71.

Defending champion Roy Moon shot 71 and is three shots back, tied with 2000 champion Scott McGihon, who shot 67 and tied John Pate for best round of the tournament so far.

Pate, the 1999 champion, is four shots back in seventh place.

“I’m kind of surprised,” said Lopez, 24, a senior at Cal State Bakersfield. “This isn’t my style of course. I like courses that are long and wide open.”

Hillcrest is set up at 6,440 yards, but the rough is extremely high. At least two players have withdrawn because they hurt their wrists hitting out of the rough.

A few holes have fairways narrowed to about 20 yards and the greens are rolling fast, which has Hogarth hopeful about his chances. The 38-year-old from Northridge is an accomplished amateur, with the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links championship among his titles, but he’s never won the SCGA amateur.

“They finally found a course that fits my game,” he said.

The course setup has altered the strategies of many players. Lopez, who said he loves to hit driver, used irons on at least seven tee shots. Last year at lengthy Torrey Pines, he finished eighth.

“This course makes you play smart,” he said.

McGihon, a teacher and golf coach at La Quinta High, called the rough at Hillcrest “the nastiest rough I have ever seen.”

McGihon was five behind Conway entering the final round when he won in 2000. Last year, Moon trailed by three entering the final round.