November 8, 2023
Chula Vista resident Craig Davis has had special things happen at Red Hill Country Club before.
Back in 2020, Davis wrapped up this fourth straight SCGA Senior Amateur title at the Inland Empire layout.
On Wednesday, Davis performed magic there again.
He'd post a final round 4-under 68, the low round of the championship, and later defeated Paul Smith in a sudden-death playoff to claim the 2023 California Senior Amateur Championship.
When it counted the most, Davis was at his best. In the final round, he'd post four birdies with zero bogeys. Three of the birdies came in succession from holes Nos. 12-14.
Smith, from Oxnard, carded a final round 70. Davis would clinch the victory on the third hole of the playoff.
Tim Hogarth of Simi Valley shot a 70 to finish solo third at 213.
Olympic Club member Randy Haag, who was going for a three-peat, carded a final round 72 to finish T-4 at 215 with Ron Ewing.
November 7, 2023
This year's California Senior Amateur will come down to the final round, and perhaps even extra holes.
Following Tuesday's second round, the leaderboard was a logjam. Three players--Paul Smith, Ron Ewing and Tom Kroll--are all tied at the top at 2-under par 142.
Smith, of Oxnard, was the biggest mover, carding a 71 to get into a tie for the lead.
Lurking just a shot behind is another group of three players--Tim Hogarth, Randy Haag and Mike Stieler. Hogarth, the first round leader, fell back with a 74. Haag, the event's two-time defending champion, and Stieler, this year's NCGA Senior Championship winner, both shot matching day-low scores of 70.
The only other player to three-peat as champion was Jeff Burda from 2008-2010.
Craig Davis and Mark Smith, both SCGA members, are only two shots behind at 144.
The cutline for the final round (low 30 and ties) came at 7-over 151.
In the North-South Challenge, the SCGA defeated the NCGA, 421-423. The Challenge, which is contested over the first two days of the championship, takes the best three scores from each region (NCGA and SCGA).
November 6, 2023
Tim Hogarth is the player to chase after day one of the annual California Senior Amateur Championship.
On Monday, Hogarth, a standout SCGA player, took the lead at this year's event at Red Hill CC with a solid opening round score of 3-under 69. The 57-year-old Hogarth would post four birdies to go against just one bogey--all on the front-nine. After making the turn, he made nine straight pars.
Four players--Tom Kroll, Ron Ewing, Bill Bunce and Craig Davis--are tied for second at 70.
Two-time defending champion Randy Haag is T-12 after an opening 73.
In the North/South Challenge, the SCGA leads the NCGA, 209-211. The Challenge, which is contested over the first two days of the championship, takes the best three scores from each region (NCGA and SCGA).