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Courtesy SCGA
Courtesy SCGA
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Rico Hoey won the 117th SCGA Amateur Championship at Barona Creek in Lakeside in mid-July to add his name to a trophy that includes the likes of Tiger Woods, Al Geiberger and John Merrick.

“I’m speechless,” said Hoey, a Rancho Cucamonga native who just completed an impressive junior season at USC. “I honestly don’t have the words to describe what winning this event means to me. I’m honored.”

Hoey, who also won the Junior World Championship at Torrey Pines in 2012, shot 66-70-66-67 for a four-round total of 19-under par, setting a scoring record for the SCGA Amateur once held by Woods.

“That’s really huge for my confidence,” Hoey said of the record. “It shows that I can make some birdies out there and get it done. Hopefully it’s able to stand for a long time.”

Hoey’s recent college season included a second-place finish at the NCAA Individual Championship, second-team All-American honors and being asked to represent Team USA at the Arnold Palmer Cup, an annual team competition between American and European collegiate golfers. His previous individual victory was at the 2014 Gifford Collegiate at Cordevalle, the site of this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.

The win at the SCGA Amateur Championship was against an impressive field that featured top amateurs from the Southland. Taking advantage of Barona Creek’s par- 5s, Hoey played the longer holes in 9-under par during the four rounds. 

Finishing second, four shots behind Hoey at Barona Creek, was Dan Erickson, 17, 2015 SCGA Match Play champion who matched Hoey’s final-round of 67. Clay Feagler, who will play golf at Pepperdine beginning this fall, shot a 1-under 71 in the final round to finish third. Rounding out the top five was P.J. Samiere of San Diego State, who finished at 13 under, and 2016 state high school champion Hidetoshi Yoshihara, who played at Woodbridge High in Irvine and will attend UCLA this fall. The low round of the tournament was an 8-under 64, shot on the opening day by Pepperdine star Roy Cootes, who finished tied for 15th. Other notables in the field included 2004 champion Tim Hogarth, who finished 10th, and defending champion Nathan Celusta, who finished 21st.

Next year’s tournament will be at Mission Hills Country Club July 6-9. The format will be extended to four days of 18-hole play, as opposed to the traditional 36-hole opening day followed by two days of 18-hole stroke play.