Notebook: Elder Hogarth Feeds Off Experience

By Stuart Hall and Ken Klavon

Mamaroneck, N.Y. - Tim Hogarth had not hit an acceptable iron shot the entire second round of the U.S. Amateur Championship. So there he stood on the left edge of the 18th fairway with 185 yards to the green, in a quandary as to what to hit.

"Terrible," said Hogarth of his previous iron play. "I was like please put me on [ESPN's television coverage] from behind so my pro can see me and tell me what the heck is going on because I can't hit the ground, I can't take a divot, everything is skinny and to the right. I was just trying to hang in and luckily I found the right time to hit a good shot."

Tim Hogarth watches a shot on the third hole Thursday during his second-round match play victory over Terry Miskell. (John Mummert/USGA)

His 5-iron approach flew to the back portion of the 18th green and then meandered back to the hole, finally resting 12 feet to the left of the flagstick. Minutes later, Hogarth rolled in the birdie - his first of the day - for a 1-up win over Terry Miskell of New Braunfels, Texas.

The match pitted two of the field's eldest remaining competitors as Hogarth is 38, Miskell 37. Only Danny Green, 47, and Fran Vana Jr., 41, were older. Hogarth, of Northridge, Calif., the 1996 U.S. Public Links champion, arrived not anticipating to play the full assortment of two stroke-play and six match-play matches in order to win. And he realizes the toll of playing a doggedly long and damp Winged Foot Golf Club could take by week's end.

"Well, when the adrenaline goes you're feeling pretty good and you keep going," said the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion. "Yesterday, everybody pretty much thought I was crazy because I went over to Quaker Ridge and played more. Every match I play is extra. If it ends up that I make it to the final, then maybe somebody will have to carry me away."

With each win, Hogarth said his experience in 13 previous U.S. Golf Association Public Links, Mid-Amateur and Amateur competitions will be of benefit.

"Experience is huge," he said. "There is a lot of be said for being able to calm down and knowing you're not out of it if you get off to a bad start, or when to clutch it up if you have to. For me, having won a USGA event, I know I can do it. It's just a matter if I can do it at that time."

Late Wednesday morning, the time was right for Hogarth.

Jeff Overton wouldn't say he had a relatively easy match against John Keller in the second round, winning 5 and 4, but he did take advantage of various miscues committed by his opponent. There was none more glaring than Keller's missed 3-footer on the par-3 10^th hole.

Keller, down three holes at that point, had just won No. 9 then narrowly missed an ace on 10. The best Overton, the medalist at last year's U.S. Amateur Public Links, could do was get within 18 feet of the hole. A downhill slider awaited him.

Overton found the line and guided the ball in for an impressive birdie. An excellent putt for a halve, he thought. But Keller rushed his swing to lose the hole and pretty much the match.

"I just thought to myself that I had to get my line," said Overton, 21. "He changed his strategy after that and missed it on the low side. That's match play."

Since being bounced from the quarterfinals at the APL, the Indiana University senior has had time to reflect on lessons learned from that championship.

"You can't get ahead of yourself in these match play events. You have to stay in the moment and not think ahead; not think about winning," he said.

The deeper Andy Svoboda, 24, goes his pack of followers seems to expand. During his second-round 6-and-5 victory over Robert Keller Thursday morning, Svoboda had at least 60 people watching.

The four-time Winged Foot club champion won't deny that he doesn't notice it, adding that the support can be energizing.

"It's kind of both," he said. "I think there's a little bit of added pressure, but it's also an opportunity of a lifetime to play in front of all the fellow members and friends here at Winged Foot."