Rico Hoey of Rancho Cucamonga claimed the biggest victory of his career and did it in style.
Hoey, who will be a senior at USC, shot 5-under-par 67 in the final round to win the 117th Southern California Golf Association Amateur by four strokes over Dan Erickson of Whittier at Barona Creek Golf Club in Lakeside.
“I’m speechless,” said Hoey, whose total of 19-under 269 broke by four strokes the tournament record set by Scott Travers in 2010. “I honestly don’t have the words to describe what winning this event means to me. I’m honored.
“To know that I’ve set the scoring record, that’s really huge for my confidence. Hopefully, it’s able to stand for a long time. … I’m just happy to come out with a win. I was just trying to give myself a chance.”
Hoey finished with a score of 66-70-66-67–269, while Erickson, a junior at Ferndale High, finished at 68-70-68-67–273.
Clay Geagler of Dana Point was third at 71-66-66-71–274, followed by P.J. Samiere of Kailua, Hawaii, at 71-66-67-71–275 and Hidetoshi Yoshihara of Irvine at 71-68-72-65–276.
Mark Wilson of Cypress totaled 68-68-72-70–278 to tie for sixth with Nick Geyer of Albuquerque, N.M., who came in at 72-67-71-68–278.
Bowen Osborn of Los Angeles finished eighth at 68-72-67-72–279, followed by Joshua Warthen of Pismo Beach at 71-73-71-66–281 and Tim Hogarth of Northridge, who won the tournament in 2004, at 69-67-73-73–282.
Other former winners of the tournament include Tiger Woods, Al Geiberger, John Jacobs, John Merrick, John Pate and Charlie Wi.
