Jeff Wilson wins 25th SCGA Mid-Amateur at Toscana CC

By Robert D. Thomas
SCGA Senior Director of Communications

INDIAN WELLS, April 22 – Last year, veteran Northern California Golf Association amateur Jeff Wilson of Fairfield (east of Berkeley) decided to join the SCGA to play in the association’s major championships.  Good decision, Jeff!

The 44-year-old Wilson, often a standout in Northern California and national events, took a 5-shot lead into the final round of the 25th SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship today and needed every shot of that margin to outlast Kevin Marsh of Henderson, NV, by one shot at Toscana CC.

Wilson, who belongs to SilverRock Resort in La Quinta, shot a 1-over-par 73 today and finished at 206, 10 under par over the Jack Nicklaus-designed South Course.  Marsh, the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion and 1996 SCGA Amateur winner who belongs to La Cumbre CC, closed with a 68 today for a three-round total of 207.

Will Tipton of Corona del Mar, playing on his home course, shot 74 today finished in third place at 212, a shot in front of Scott McGihon of Bermuda Dunes, who closed with a 69 today for a 54-hole total of 213.

Although Wilson has been medalist three times at the U.S. Mid-Amateur and has been a semifinalist in that event three times, this was his first major individual victory. “When you’re trying to win a tournament,” said Wilson after his round, “sometimes it’s hard to slam the door.”

Wilson had four birdies and five bogies on his round today.  “It wasn’t quite as easy as yesterday,” said Wilson after his round.  “I hit the ball as well as I did yesterday, but I lost all confidence in my putter and got very tentative.”  Emblematic of those problems was the 426-yard 18th hole, where Wilson carved in a lovely 8-iron shot and then proceeded to three-putt.  “I was glad I had a two-shot margin,” he said later.

Marsh strung together birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 to close a six-shot deficit but bogied two of his final three front-nine holes to finish with a 2-under-par 34.  He then birdied two of his first four holes on the back side but finished with five consecutive pars. “I played very well today tee to green,” he said “but I couldn’t get a putt to drop. On No. 13, I hit my worst putt all day and it went in, but that was the only one.”

The top five finishers earned exemptions into this year’s SCGA Amateur and California Amateur and the top 10 earned exemptions into next year’s SCGA Mid-Amateur.

For final photo gallery, click HERE.

For scorecards, click HERE.

Jeff Wilson leads SCGA Mid-Amateur by five shots heading into final round at Toscana CC

INDIAN WELLS, April 21 -- For the past two decades, Jeff Wilson has been a stalwart in Northern California and national golf competitions. Now the 44-year-old Fairfield resident has added Southern California to his radar screen.

Today at Toscana Country Club, Wilson shot 67-66 -- 133, 11 under par over the Jack Nicklaus-designed South Course, to take a five-shot lead over Will Tipton of Corona del Mar after two rounds of the 25th Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) Mid-Amateur Championship.

Tipton (one of two Toscana CC members in the field) shot 70-68 -- 138 and will play with Wilson in the final pairing tomorrow (Tuesday). A total of 45 golfers made the cut for the final round at 152, 8 over par. Tee times begin at 8 a.m.

Six shots back of Wilson is 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Kevin Marsh of Henderson, NV, who shot 71-68 -- 139. He’s followed by former UCLA golfer Brandon DiTullio of Thousand Oaks (69-71 -- 140) and Bakersfield’s John Balfanz (72-70 -- 140)...MORE

Hogarth seeks to defend crown at 25th SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Toscana CC

APRIL 2 -- Defending champion Tim Hogarth (pictured left) of Northridge will lead one of the nation’s strongest amateur golf fields that will tee it up in the 25th SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship April 21-22 at Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells.

The field of 84 golfers will play 36 holes on Monday (April 21) over the new Jack Nicklaus-designed South Course layout, after which the field will be cut to the low 42 and ties, who will play the final round on Tuesday.

Hogarth captured his second SCGA Mid-Am title (he also won in 1999) when he blew away the field by eight shots at Mission Viejo CC (see the 2007 Mid-Amateur Web site HERE). 

The win was Hogarth’s seventh SCGA championship, which includes the 1999 California (state) Amateur title and the 2004 SCGA Amateur, making him the only person to hold the SCGA “triple crown.”  Hogarth also won the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and played in the 1997 Masters... MORE