Torrey Pines High grad James Erkenbeck will play defending champion Matt Anderson of Murrieta today in the second round of the 97th California Amateur Championship at Lakeside Golf Club in Toluca Lake.

Erkenbeck, who will be a freshman at New Mexico this fall, was one of three San Diego-area golfers to win in match play yesterday. In all, 16 golfers advanced.

The other local winners were Matt Hoffenberg, a sophomore-to-be at San Diego State, and Poway's Josh Dupont, who attends Northwestern.

Erkenbeck made six birdies, including three in a row on the back nine, in defeating Ramie Sprinkling of Camarillo 7 and 5.

Hoffenberg, who shared medalist honors with two others, never trailed in defeating Connor Alan-Lee of Solana Beach 4 and 3. Hoffenberg made an eagle-3 on the second hole and followed that with three consecutive birdies to take a 4-up lead.

Dupont defeated Marshall Colby of Thousand Oaks 5 and 4 and will play 1994 State Am champion Steve Woods of Cupertino today. Hoffenberg will play Matt Marshall, a student at UC Davis.

Anderson, Erkenbeck's opponent today, finished with eight consecutive pars to grind out a 3-and-2 win over Bryce Holloway of Bakersfield. Anderson, who attends Pepperdine, is seeking to become the first person to win back-to-back titles since Dr. Frank “Bud” Taylor in 1954-55.

Quarterfinals and semifinals are tomorrow. The 36-hole championship match is Saturday.

– UNION-TRIBUNE