STUDIO CITY, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2008) - Reigning SCGA Amateur champion Kevin Marsh and veteran amateur Howie Knodt of Chula Vista have won the Southern California Golf Association's Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year honors for 2008.
The 35-year-old Marsh, who lives in Henderson, Nev. but belongs to La Cumbre CC in Santa Barbara, finished 195 points ahead of 2008 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion Jeff Wilson of La Quinta. Former three-time SCGA Amateur champion Scott McGihon of Bermuda Dunes and 2008 SCGA Match Play champion Matt Hoffenberg of Simi Valley finished fourth and fifth. Points were accumulated in SCGA, USGA and other designated tournaments from November, 2007 through this month.
Oklahoma State sophomore Rickie Fowler of Murrieta finished with 15 more points than Marsh but did not play in or attempt to qualify for the SCGA Amateur, SCGA Mid-Amateur or California Amateur Championships and, thus, was not eligible for the award (which he won last year). Fowler earned all of his points through participation in USGA national championships. He made the cut in the U.S. Open and reached the round of 16 in both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links.
Marsh won his second SCGA Amateur in July at Saticoy CC (he won his first SCGA title in 1996 at Santa Maria CC). He was runner-up to Jeff Wilson in the SCGA Mid-Amateur, finished third (with partner John Pate) in the SCGA Foursomes Championship, reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur, qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur, and finished fourth in the Santa Barbara City Championship.
Knodt, 55, a member at San Diego CC, earned points in 13 events and finished 145 points ahead of 2008 SCGA Senior Amateur champion Clark Heath of Coto de Caza, who earned points in just three events. 2008 SCGA Senior Match Play champion Boyd Martin of Corona del Mar finished in third place.
Knodt finished third in the 2008 California Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship earlier this month, and followed that up by making the round of 32 at the U.S. Senior Amateur last week. He also won the San Diego City Senior Championship, finished tied for 19th at the SCGA Senior Amateur, and qualified for three different USGA championships.
