Boring has a blast

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers GRIP IT AND RIP IT—Russell Boring, an Agoura High grad, lifts a shot during Sunday's final round of the Simi Valley City Amateur Golf Championships. Boring won the event in a playoff. An Agoura High grad won the Simi Valley City Amateur Golf Championships last Sunday at Simi Hills Golf Course.

Russell Boring, 19, defeated Kevin Coghlan of Carlsbad in the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff to claim the title.

"It definitely was a sigh of relief when I birdied the fourth hole of sudden death," Boring said. "I haven't won a tournament for a while, so it feels nice to be back in the winner's circle."

Boring, who attends Ventura College, said his familiarity with the course paid dividends.

"The big factor for me was experience," Boring said. "Today I was just able to put the ball in better places than I was able to in high school, and I putted the ball a little better."

Coghlan, who along with Boring shot a 135 at the end of the 36-hole regulation, enjoyed the tough competition.

"He beat me fair and square," Coghlan said. "What it came down to basically was he birdied that last hole and I didn't. Simi Hills has a nice layout, though, and it was still a fun two days of golf."