It Won’t Be Easy as Steinberg Tries to Take the Fifth

Make no mistake, the Southern California Golf Assn. Amateur Championship is Craig Steinberg’s tournament.

The Van Nuys resident has four SCGA Amateur titles, more than any other player in the tournament’s 99-year history other than Paul Hunter, who won in 1908, 1909, 1921, 1924 and 1926.

This week at the SCGA Members’ Club in Murrieta, defending champion Steinberg hopes to join Hunter as the only five-time winners. But it isn’t going to be easy.

Steinberg, 40, who has an optometry practice and a law degree, will face tough competition on a tough course.

Ed Cuff Jr. of Temecula, who defeated Steinberg on his way to winning the California Amateur championship last month, is trying to make history of his own. If he wins, he will be the first player since Johnny Dawson in 1942 to hold the California Amateur and SCGA Amateur championships at the same time.

Mark Johnson of Helendale, who has won more SCGA tournaments than anyone, seeks his first SCGA Amateur championship.

Tim Hogarth of Chatsworth, the 1996 U.S. Public Links champion, and Bobby Rodger of Pepperdine, runner-up to Cuff in the California Amateur, could also challenge.

But Steinberg has been on a roll and appears ready. He won the L.A. City Championship in May and was medalist in the stroke-play portion of the California Amateur before Cuff eliminated him, 1 up,in the second round of match play.

“I like stroke-play tournaments,” Steinberg said. “I find match play frustrating at times. The last two years at the State [Amateur], I had been playing well but I had to face Johnson last year and then Cuff this year. In stroke play, you have a chance until the end.”

The SCGA has taken measures to ensure the course is well-defended against a birdie barrage.

The rough will be about 2 3/4 inches high and not be mowed for the tournament.

Sand has been added to the bunkers and it has not yet fully settled, making it easier for balls to plug.

“It will make it more difficult if you are in the bunkers to get out,” said John Alber, assistant director of rules and competitions for the SCGA. “But they are hazards and players should be penalized for going in.”

Steinberg, one of the most accurate players from driver to wedge, isn’t concerned about the potential difficulties.

“The tough sand traps and thick rough won’t hurt me,” he said. “I certainly hope the rough is high.”

The tournament begins today with two rounds. The 84-player field will be cut to 42 and ties. Those making the cut will play 18 holes on Saturday and another 18 on Sunday. Tee times begin at 7 a.m. each day.

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Paul Holtby, director of instruction at Los Robles Golf Course in Thousand Oaks, finally got revenge on Crystalaire Country Club.

The 31-year-old Moorpark resident shot rounds of 67-69--136 on Monday at the Llano course to win the Southern California Section PGA Players’ Championship.

Holtby increased his lead in the SCPGA points and money rankings, but more importantly he ended a run of frustration at Crystalaire. He twice failed to advance out of the first stage of PGA Tour qualifying school and was disqualified from the SCPGA Players’ Championship last year because he signed an incorrect scorecard.

“My goal today was to finish,” Holtby said after his victory.

A 1990 graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Holtby tried his hand at mini tours but struggled.

“I was playing professionally by credit card,” Holtby said. “That’s not the way to go.”

After a year teaching at Braemar Country Club in Tarzana, Holtby accepted a job at Los Robles that offered him more time to work on his game.

This year, he has two SCPGA victories, qualified for the Buick Invitational and advanced to sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open.

“I’m at a facility where I can practice now,” Holtby said. “Our staff is very supportive in giving me the opportunity to play.”

PGA Tour qualifying school is again at Crystalaire later this year, and Holtby’s recent victory there has improved his confidence.

“There’s a high probability that I’ll be back,” he said.

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L.A. City Women’s champion Linda Chen-Olsen of Granada Hills leads a group of four top amateurs into an elite field at the Trans-National Amateur Championship Monday through July 18 at San Joaquin Country Club in Fresno.

Chen-Olsen, who shot three-under-par in three rounds this week at Rancho Park G.C. to win the L.A. City championship by a stroke, joins Jody Duclos of Moorpark, Elise Kimm of Valley Village and Cheryl Musser of West Hills in one of the top events in women’s amateur golf.

“It’s like the U.S. Amateur,” Chen-Olsen said. “All of the same players are there.”

Included in the field is Jenny Chuasiriporn, the top-ranked woman in the Golfweek/Titleist amateur rankings. She finished second last week in the U.S. Women’s Open.

Grace Park and Kellee Booth, both ranked in the top five, are also entered.

Olsen was a semifinalist in the U.S. Mid-Amateur championship in 1997. Duclos was runner-up in the California Amateur in 1993.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Olsen said. “It’s always on the East Coast, so it’s hard for me to get to play in it.”