Cerritos’ Hie in Good Company After Winning Title
By Peter Yoon, Times Staff Writer
June 2, 2006

Comparisons to Tiger Woods are almost inevitable when you’re a hotshot high school golfer, but there aren’t many who can say they matched a Woods accomplishment.

Rory Hie can.

Hie, a Cerritos senior, shot six-under-par 66 Thursday at the SCGA Members Golf Course in Murrieta, then made a par on the first hole of a playoff with Jamie Lovemark of San Diego Torrey Pines to win the Southern California regional championship.

Hie won the Southern Section championship on May 22, and Thursday’s victory made him the only player since Woods in 1991 to win both titles in the same season.

“Wow,” said Hie, somewhat taken aback by his accomplishment. “That’s pretty cool.”

Hie, who has signed with USC, had seven birdies and a bogey in his round Thursday. His iron play was impeccable as evidenced by his 17 greens in regulation and eight approach shots to within five feet of the pin. Of his seven birdies, only one came on a putt of more than five feet.

On the playoff hole, he found a fairway bunker with his two-iron tee shot but hit a nine iron from 131 yards to within 15 feet for an easy two-putt. Lovemark found the trees on the right side with his drive and had to pitch out. His third shot ended up 15 feet short of the hole and he missed the par putt, setting the stage for Hie’s victory.

“I just tried to make as many birdies as I could,” Hie said. “It was a one-day tournament, so I had to play as aggressive as possible.”

He also had to play with the correct irons. A year ago, Hie received a new set of irons the day before the Southern Section championships and took a chance by using them in the competition. He shot 74, finished tied for 41st and did not advance to the regional.

“I switched back the next day,” he said. “And I’m still using the old ones. I guess I was just too excited to get them. I couldn’t wait to use them.”

Success is nothing new to Hie, who is ranked No. 8 in the nation among boys and has been as high as No. 2. He has won two national junior tournaments and has 20 top-10 finishes. Last summer, he advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur public links championships and he will play in the sectional qualifier for the U.S. Open on Monday.

“I’m playing very well right now,” Hie said. “I have confidence in every part of my game.”