Berganio Reaches Match-Play Final of Publinx Golf

David Berganio Jr. of Sylmar advanced to today’s match-play championship of the 66th U.S. Amateur Public Links golf tournament with a pair of victories Friday at the Otter Creek golf course in Columbus, Ind.

Berganio, 22, edged Richard Mayo, of El Paso, Tex., 1 up in the quarterfinals, then defeated Eric Frishette, of Carroll, Ohio, 3 and 2.

He will face defending champion Michael Combs of Kennewick, Wash., in the 36-hole match-play final today.

Combs scored easy quarterfinal and semifinal victories to advance to the title match.

Combs defeated Mark Strickland of El Cajon, 5 and 4 in the quarterfinals. He then beat Mark Takahama, of Kahului, Hawaii, 5 and 4, in the next round.

Berganio, a junior at the University of Arizona, won medalist honors during two rounds of stroke-play qualifying earlier in the week.

His second round was particularly impressive as Berganio carded six birdies and a bogey in shooting a five-under-par 67, just two shots off the course record.

Berganio was introduced to golf in 1983, when he was a 14-year-old eighth-grader, by Father George Miller, a priest at Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Pacoima.

By the time he graduated from Alemany High five years later, Berganio was a four-time Del Rey League individual champion and was considered by some to be the best high school golfer in Southern California.