Turlock grad in match play

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DALY CITY — Turlock's Sam Smith wants today to last all day.

The 2009 graduate of Turlock High has qualified for the 32-man match-play bracket of the 98th California State Amateur after a 4-over-par-76 Tuesday at Lake Merced Country Club.

His first-round foe today is Northwestern sophomore Joshua Dupont of Poway. He'll see another opponent in the afternoon if he's victorious.

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Smith, who co-led the stroke-play portion of the tournament after his first-round 67 spiced by a hole-in-one, lacked the same drama Tuesday. "I got quick with everything on the back nine, maybe a little immature," he said.

Regardless, his 67-76 — 143 total left him tied for 12th, one ahead of Dupont (70-74 — 144).

Modesto's Jeff Burda (76-74 — 150) and son Patrick (75-75 — 150) missed a playoff for match play by four strokes. Further off the pace were Oakdale's Jamie Looper (77-78 — 155) and Modesto's Jeff Martinez (78-78 — 156).

Diablo's Geoff Gonzalez (71-64 — 135) and defending champion Nick Delio of Valencia (69-66 — 135) shared medalist honors. Gonzalez, 21, a Cal Poly senior, rode three birdies and three eagles to an 8-under 64, which threatened the course-record 63 held by Nationwide Tour player Roger Tambellini. Finishing third was veteran Tim Hogarth of Northridge (68-69 — 137), who won the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links and the '99 State Amateur.