Gonzalez Comes Up Just Short

Chula Vista’s Ernie Gonzalez saw his one stroke lead in the final round of the San Diego County Open dissolve with a bogey on the 18th hole, and with it the county title.

Mike Reidel of Pacific Palisades and Gonzalez were tied going into the final round of the tournament at Rancho San Diego, before Reidel birdied the final hole to finish at 201 and take a one-stroke victory over Gonzalez on the par-72 Ivanhoe Course.

In the Open Amateur division, Tim Todd of Yorba Linda defeated UNLV-bound Chris Riley of San Diego by a stroke. Todd finished with a 209 to Riley’s 210.

Alton Duhan of Los Angeles was in a three-way tie in the senior professional division after the final round but won in a playoff over Tommy Jacobs of Del Mar and Lloyd Harris of Mesa, Ariz. All three were tied at 208.

La Jolla’s Frank Merhar won the senior Amateur class with a three-stroke victory over Ray Hughen of National City.

In the open division, Reidel sank a putt from 20-feet out to finish the day with a 69 on the par 72 course. He was 14-under for the tournament. Gonzalez, who missed a 12-foot putt that would have given him a tie, shot a 70 on the day.

Torrey Pines graduate Todd Demsey dropped to fifth place after the fourth round of the 90th Western Amateur Tournament in Benton Harbor, Mich. Demsey, who had a three-stroke lead after three rounds, shot a 77 on the 6,884-yard, par-71 Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club course for a 288 total, eight strokes behind John Harris.

SUMMER GAMES

A summer long program of athletic instruction and competition culminates today at Southwestern College, when more than 600 South Bay athletes, ages 9-17, compete in the Eastlake South Bay Summer Games.

The games, in their third year, begin with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m., followed bytrack and field events at 10. Competition throughout the day will also feature team handball, basketball and swimming and events for physically challenged athletes.

Former Olympians will be on hand to present awards to winners of the games during closing ceremonies. The program, sponsored by the Eastlake Development Company and the City of Chula Vista Parks and Recreation Department, was developed to provide exposure to, and participation in, Olympic sports.