Morris topples a local giant for SCGA Match Play title

Trip Morris left no doubt against three-time SCGA Player of the Year Tim Hogarth in the championship match of SCGA Match Play at La Costa Resort.

Morris, who was the runner-up at the SCGA Amateur Championship at his home club of Lakeside GC back in July, dominated from start to finish to win by a convincing 6-and-4 margin against the future SCGA Hall of Famer. Morris won four of the first six holes to go 4 up early and never looked back. With Hogarth unable to find his rhythm, it was the Long Beach State freshman who pounced on the SCGA legend to take home his first SCGA title.

“He’s a great player, he didn’t have everything that I know he has,” Morris said of meeting Hogarth at the end of a second consecutive double-round day. “We just played real steady out there. My dad and I made a lot of good decisions off the tee all week. …We knew exactly where we’d be off the tee and it just turned into good iron play. Made a few putts here and there.”

In fact, Morris kept going back to his iron play. The Valley Village, Calif., native has put considerable work into that part of his game lately. It’s turning into results. Morris said he’s been hitting his irons lately better than he ever has.

Morris had taken down Raymond Navis, a rising sophomore at Loyola Marymount, in the morning match. For his part, Hogarth ended a strong run by AmateurGolf.com’s own Kyle Rector with laser-like iron play and solid ballstriking of his own.

The win certainly leaves a good taste in Morris’ mouth as the college season approaches at Long Beach State.

“Having qualifying at Long Beach, I know that I’m as good as any of the guys out here. I just have a good feeling going into Long Beach.”

In the senior championship, John Mack turned on the burners this year after five years of competing in the SCGA Senior Match Play and never making it out of the first round. In the final match, Mack and opponent Greg Moss were even through 13 holes, but Mack pulled away to end the match with a 3-and-2 victory after winning the final three holes.

In the women's championship, Caroline Cantlay found herself 3 down at the turn against Amari Avery, the reigning California Women’s Amateur Champion, but found a way to claw herself back and force a playoff.

On the first playoff hole, Cantlay stuffed her approach to 15 feet, before 15-year-old Avery fired a laser to about 5 feet for a birdie look of her own. Playing first, Cantlay, the Cal Poly junior, poured in a no-doubter birdie to put the pressure on Avery, who lipped out her attempt.

Quotes and information from the SCGA used in this report