PASADENA, CA (May 17, 2009)--Tim Hogarth said none of his three consecutive victories in the Pasadena City Championship, including the latest one Sunday at Brookside Golf Club, are no more special than any of the others.
He just likes the feeling of victory.
The Northridge resident almost made it look easy in Sunday's final round with a three-under 69 and 72-hole total of nine-under 277 that gave him a three-shot victory over Loyola Marymount University's Jake Sarnoff, who finished at 71-280. Brian Edick (76) and Kevin Fitzgerald (70), last year's runner-up, were next, 10 shots back at 290.
"It felt like they were playing a different course than the one I was playing," Edick, playing in the final group with Hogarth and Sarnoff, said with a laugh. "They just lapped the field this week.
"They both played awesome. I just wanted to get out of the way."
There was little, if any, drama on Sunday aside from Sarnoff twice closing within two strokes on the back nine. But Hogarth made big putts when he had to, particularly a downhill 10-footer for birdie on the par-4 14th that gave him a three-stroke edge.
"I just ran out of holes to catch him," Sarnoff said. "I didn't make enough putts and he made only one bogey all day. That made it tough for me to win the tournament.
"I thought if I could shoot two scores under par the last two rounds I would have a really good chance to win. I shot 70-71 and I was pretty happy with how I played under the pressure. Unfortunately, he was on fire."
Hogarth, now second all-time in consecutive Pasadena City victories (behind only Bruce McCormick's four in a row from 1948-51), said he wasn't at his best Sunday but it was good enough.
The 42-year-old said he is pleased he can play quality golf not only as he gets older but especially when he isn't as sharp as he would like.
"I get a little bit of satisfaction from being able to shoot a score without my best game and find a way," said Hogarth, whose 69 marked his 12th consecutive round at par or better at Brookside, his home course. "That's something that's been lacking in my game in the past.
"Usually when I play well is when I'm going on all cylinders. But as I'm getting older I'm finding a way to play even if I'm not all the way on."
Hogarth, who will be playing in today's U.S. Open local qualifier at Annandale Golf Club and then try to win his seventh Los Angeles City Championship on June 11-14 at Rancho Park Golf Course, said he didn't feel comfortable Sunday until his second shot was on the 18th green.
He called his latest victory "satisfying" to an extent.
"It's always nice to win," he said. "It's nice to come out and not lay a big egg. A lot of people expected a lot of things. I am happy to win, but I'm more happy to perform well. It really doesn't matter what tournament it is.
"Anything I play in I want to do the best I can. I want to win, and it's all about competing."
ABOUT THE Pasadena City Championship
The Pasadena City is a historic championship
that
dates back to 1929 and has
long been one of
Southern California's most prestigious
tournaments.
A WAGR counting event
and
SCGA Player of the Year points tournament.
Proceeds
from the Championship will support youth
development
programs for the First Tee of Greater Pasadena.
The Championship Flight is an open flight (no
age
limit) conducted over 54 holes. The field will be
cut to the top 30% and ties after 36 holes, to
play
the finals on Course #1 Sunday.
Net Flights are open to all players 18 or older
with
12-month low handicap index ranging from 2.7
to
31.5. The field will be divided into
six flights to play over 54 holes. Cut after
Saturday
rounds to 30% and ties for all flights. Finals for
all
Net Flights are to be played on Course 1 on
Sunday.
View Complete Tournament Information