Century Amateurs In the Red : Golf: Group’s true colors come through in victory over the professionals. The victory tied the series at 10.

Red was the winning color on the final day of the Century Club Matches and 10 lucky amateurs wore it on their shirts, not their cheeks.

As they waited for the final foursome to come in, professional and amateur golfers huddled above the 18th hole at La Jolla Country Club Sunday. They were trying to determine how many more points their respective teams needed to win.

The amateurs needed six. They didn’t embarrass themselves. They got seven and a 69-66 victory, which tied this series at 10.

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come down to me,” said El Camino Country Club’s Jim Myers, who was in the last group to finish and parred the last 11 holes to keep the amateurs within reach. “I didn’t know it was that close. Otherwise, I hate to say it but those guys may be right, I might have blown it.”

That was hardly the case. Myers shot a 1-over-par 72 to tie for medalist with amateur Pat Duncan of the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Course.

The amateurs trailed by 15 points after Saturday’s Pinehurst Scotch play, but Sunday’s individual and best-ball of partners matches were worth double the points earned the first day.

“We thought there was time (to catch up), it was pretty close all day,” Myers said.

But the most lopsided score of the day, and by the team that bolstered the amateurs’ effort considerably, came from Frank Merhar and Tom Kroll. La Jolla Country Club’s Merhar and Kroll, of Taylor Made Golf Course, outscored professionals Tommy Jackson and Fred Wood, 18-0.

“They were struggling all day long,” Kroll said of Jackson and Wood, who shot 85 and 82. “They just never got it going and we played steady.”

Overnight rains turned Saturday’s crusty course soft, which suited most of the players just fine.

“It was easier than Saturday,” said professional Scott Mahlberg of the Stardust Country Club. “It was clear most of the day, especially the back nine.”

Conditions surrounding his game weren’t as favorable. Mahlberg, an eight-year veteran of this tournament, shot a respectable three-over par, but was disappointed with his effort.

“It was a pretty frustrating day,” he said. “The guys were telling me it was close and try and get every point you can, but I did the worst in my round.”

Far removed from the greens but not the action was amateur captain Wayne Bell, who one team member credited with good pairing strategy.

“Wayne really thought out the strategy,” Kroll said. “Looking at the pairings, we knew we had to win all our points.”

Bell said he decided to put veteran players with the novices to sooth any possible frayed nerves.

“It’s less pressure for them that way,” said Bell, who have been involved in this tournament since 1976 and has a good feel for what players can and can’t do. “You try to put people with the same strengths together to help each other out and people with the same personalities. You have to try and keep them compatible.”

Golf Notes

This tied for the second closest victory margin in this tournament, where winners play for the Hine Cup. The amateurs last victory came in 1988, by the same score as this year’s 69-66. It kept the professionals from a third consecutive victory. Only once has an team won three consecutive--the professionals did it 1981-83. The largest victory margin here was in 1985, when the amateurs won by 62 points. Two points set the pros ahead in 1979, which was the closest event in its history.