MISSION VIEJO, April 24 -- Tim Hogarth came into the 24th Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) Mid-Amateur Championship at Mission Viejo Country Club feeling confident ... with good reason, it turned out.  The 40-year-old Northridge resident fired a 2-under-par in today's final round to win his second SCGA Mid-Amateur title by a record eight shots.

Hogarth -- winner of the 2004 SCGA Amateur, 1999 California Amateur (the same year he won his other SCGA Mid-Amateur title) and 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links titles, along with numerous other prestigious events -- was the only player to finish under par for each round, shooting 70-71-70 - 211, 5 under par over the 6,943-yard Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed layout that was dubbed "Mission Impossible" when it opened in 1967.

John Pate of Santa Barbara finished a distant second at 219 after posting his third consecutive round of 73 in the two-day, 54-hole event for amateur golfers age 25 and higher.  David Bartman of Los Angeles finished third at 219, two shots in front of three-time SCGA Amateur champion and 2000 Mid-Am winner Scott McGihon of Bermuda Dunes.

"I wasn't surprised," said Hogarth after his round, which included an eagle 3 on the eighth hole and three birdies.  "I generally know coming in how may game is going to feel and I had a lot of confidence this week after preparing with my long-time instructor, Randy Petersen]." 

Although Hogarth had never seen Mission Viejo CC before yesterday's two rounds, he was unfazed by what some would consider a handicap.  "Straight works most places," he said today.  "There's a little local knowledge here with the elevation changes, but I hit it very well -- 135 [yards]  is still going to be 135 no matter where we're playing. This golf course demands a lot of good ball striking and I hit a lot of fairways this week."

One of those fairways was on the 530-yard eight hole where Hogarth drove it dead center, then hit a fairway metal 30 feet to the right of the flagstick (and away from the water that guards the green) and drained the roller-coaster putt for an eagle 3 that propelled him on to victory.

The 47-year-old Pate, winner of the 1999 SCGA Amateur and 2000 SCGA Mid-Amateur, had hoped to make an early run on Hogarth.  "I just couldn't really get anything going said Pate afterwards, "but Tim played great."

Bartman's fate was sealed with his second nine yesterday morning when the winner of the recent SCGA Four-Ball and Foursomes titles (with Robert Funk) shot 41.  "I had to get up at 4:30 a.m. to drive down here for my morning round," said Bartman later.  "Guess that wasn't such a smart idea."  Bartman finished even par for his other five nines.

The top five finishers and ties gained exemptions into the upcoming California Amateur Championship at Monterey Peninsula CC and the 2007 SCGA Amateur Championship at Victoria Club.  Scott Almquist of Coto de Caza earned the final exemption by making eagle 3 on the 527-year 14th hole, then holing a 123-yard wedge shot for eagle 2 on the finishing hole.  "I knew the shot was right at the flagstick," said Almquist, "but I couldn't see the hole from the fairway.  When the gallery exploded in cheers, I figured it had gone in.  Good thing, too, because I had the yips putting today."  He tied with Tyler Crawford of Rancho Mirage for fifth place.

It wasn't a good day for the Etue brothers.  Chris was forced to withdraw due to a bad back and brother Mark was disqualified for playing a ball from an incorrect place.

RESULTS:

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF ASSOCIATION
24th SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship
at Mission Viejo Country Club; Mission Viejo, Calif.
6,943 yards; par 72

FINAL 54-hole results:

211 -- Tim Hogarth, Northridge, 70-71-70.

219 -- John Pate, Santa Barbara, 73-73-73.

221 -- David Bartman, Los Angeles, 77-72-72.

223 -- Scott McGihon, Bermuda Dunes, 76-72-75.

224 -- Scott Almquist, Coto de Caza, 75-77-72; Tyler Crawford, Rancho Mirage, 77-72-75.

225 -- Craig Steinberg, Oak Park, 75-78-72; Jason Bittick, Coto de Caza, 71-78-76; James Meyer, Dana Point, 75-70-80.

227 -- Dan  Sullivan, Pasadena, 76-77-74; Craig King, Santa Barbara, 76-73-78.

228 -- Gerry Simoni, Carlsbad, 72-81-75; Gary Havro, Claremont, 80-75-73; Don DuBois, Newport Beach, 72-77-79.

229 -- Chip Bridges, Encinitas, 74-78-77.

230 -- Rich Tolly, Laguna Hills, 78-76-76; Alan Stearns, Santa Ana, 77-76-77; Ed Cuff, Rancho Santa Fe, 75-77-78; Todd Strible, San Marcos, 74-78-78.

231 -- Ryan Gale, Huntington Beach, 78-77-76; John Balfanz, Bakersfield, 78-73-80.

232 -- Jerry Chang, Los Angeles, 76-78-78.

233 -- James Popoff, La Habra Heights, 78-79-76.

234 -- Pete Roberts, San Marcos, 75-79-80; David Ober, Riverside, 77-78-79; Steve Bogan, Placentia, 74-78-82.

235 -- Michael Carpenter, Newport Beach, 81-74-80; John Adams, San Clemente, 77-78-80.

236 -- Robert Funk, Canyon Lake, 74-81-81; Perry Dickey, Oceanside, 75-78-83; Craig Calkins, Manhattan Beach, 77-79-80.

237 -- Eddie Repanich, Los Angeles, 78-76-83; Mark Gardner, Redlands, 75-79-83.

239 -- Patrick Carrigan, Walnut, 72-81-86; Kelley Moser Jr., San Marcos, 79-77-83; Dale Keene, Bakersfield, 80-77-82; Johnny Holmes, Riverside, 80-77-82.

240 -- Spencer Pollack, Orange, 75-82-83.

241 -- Brad Jones, Los Angeles, 82-73-86; Jim Tassano, Camarillo, 75-80-86; Mel Collins, Long Beach, 78-77-86.

242 -- Ted Olsen, Coto de Caza, 77-78-87.

244 -- Chad Quilausing, Murrieta, 80-75-89

WD -- Chris Etue, Chatsworth.

DQ -- Mark Etue, Carlsbad.