story by Miguel Melendez, courtesy Pasadena Star News>

PASADENA, Calif (May 16, 2010) -- Standing from a distance behind the gallery to avoid watching the final group, Greg Moss couldn't help but crack a smile when it finally came to an end.

He knew it was over because all eyes were on him as to congratulate his gritty performance.

Moss made a frantic rally that started with a birdie from a bunker on the 13th hole to all but catapult him atop the leaderboard to win the 75th annual Pasadena City Amateur Championship on Sunday at Brookside Golf Club.

Moss birdied the 13th and 14th holes en route to a back-nine 35 to finish at even-par 286.

"When I pulled it out of the 13th I thought I would be right in it," the Sherman Oaks resident said. "I couldn't make a putt all day. I had two holes before where I couldn't get anything going. But when I got that birdie I was ready to go."

It was Moss' first victory since winning the West Coast Conference golf championship a year ago with Loyola Marymount.

"I hadn't played this tournament in a couple of years," he said. "Before I was trying just to make cuts and get into the weekend and I hadn't been playing well recently.

"But I knew I'd done enough in the last year or so, made the progress where I felt I could compete. Once I saw (three-time defending champion Tim) Hogarth's name get out (withdraw) you knew I had a big smile because anytime he's in it you know he's going to contend."

Ramsey Sahyoun, the third-round co-leader with Jake

It was first appearance in the tournament for the senior from Campbell Hall High School who is headed to USC on scholarship next season. He had no birdies on the back nine.

"I was playing cautious on the front nine," he said. "I was too aggressive with my putt, actually, and it cost me at the end.

"I was just trying to be more aggressive. I tend to be more conservative, but I tried to be more aggressive. I was confident with the putter. I figured let's hit it hard, but it didn't pay off."

Sahyoun had a double bogey on the eighth hole.

"I let a lot of people back in with that shot," he said. "I was never sure of that shot. But I'm happy that I was in contention. It was fun to test myself."

Kevin Fitzgerald of Riverside finished third at 74- 288. Sarnoff finished a distant 10th with an 84-296.

"I think the word for the day is sloppy," Fitzgerald said. "I had some good shots and I hit some bad ones. Little things around the greens weren't good. It was really up and down. I didn't feel I had control of where I was hitting the ball."

Tournament Notes from amateurgolf.com: