BERGANIO'S `ARMY' WILL SEE HONEST EFFORT.

Byline: GERGORY J. WILCOX

The galleries at this week's Nissan Open will likely mass behind Tiger, Boom Boom and the Walrus - golfers who by virtue of their considerable skill need only be identified by a first name.

But the effort of Sylmar's David Berganio Jr. to ascend from his position of 164th on the PGA Tour's money list will not go unnoticed. He will bring his own gallery to Riviera Country Club in his first local appearance as a card carrying member of the big tour.

``I've asked for a lot of tickets, 20 each day,'' Berganio said Wednesday from his mother's house in Sylmar, just before heading off to Riviera for some practice. ``At some tour stops, you can get as many as you want, but in L.A. they are pretty tight.''

His entourage, small by Woodsonian standards, will include family and friends from his neighborhood in the East San Fernando Valley.

``There are not very many times when you get to play in front of your friends and family, but I always try my hardest and try to play well,'' Berganio said.

In the past, he has been very good indeed, twice winning the tough U.S. Public Links Championship and being named the Pacific-10 Conference MVP while competing for the University of Arizona. He also finished tied for 16th at last year's U.S. Open.

But life in the big show is proving to be a challenge. Berganio set a lofty goal for himself in October, shortly after earning his tour credential by virtue of a fourth-place finish on last year's Nike Tour.

His target is $700,000 in winnings, with a big chunk of that - $225,000 - coming on the tour's West Coast swing.

``The competition is a little tougher all the way down the list,'' Berganio said, comparing the PGA to the Nike Tour. ``And it's just bigger money and more people. But you still have to play golf.''

Berganio is up against a deadline for one of those goals as Riviera is the tour's last Western stop. He needs a win, and the $252,000 first prize, to reach it.

The year started with a slight but aggravating injury, so the bank account may have to be back-loaded later in the season.

``I'm not in a panic situation and I'm not really worried about it; it will come,'' he said of his move up the money list that he believes can be accomplished by playing in 30 to 32 tournaments.

Berganio had hoped to play in at least six events by now but has only managed four after straining a back muscle in Phoenix. That resulted in a forced 10-day vacation, during which he did not pick up a club.

He has only made one cut, at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Springs. So far, Berganio's earnings total $4,204.

``I'm really not in the groove of the way I like to practice,'' he said.

He missed playing at the AT&T National Pro Am at Pebble Beach, one of the venues he was looking forward to.

``I'm kind of glad I didn't go; I heard it was a mud fest,'' Berganio said with a chuckle.

He arrived in Sylmar last week and spent some time trying to groove his swing on the driving range at El Cariso Golf Course, where he learned the game. He played a practice round with Woods on Tuesday, paying more attention to the condition of his game than his score or the length of Tiger's tee shots.

``Tiger is cool,'' Berganio said.

Riviera is familiar territory, so the game plan is simple: hit the fairways and greens, make some putts and then the cut. Berganio can rip his drives about 285 yards, which is long, but he knows that Riviera cannot be overpowered.

Nor can the PGA Tour. He will take what Riviera gives him and then head for the Doral Open next week in Miami, just another vagabond on a wonderful road trip.

``It's a job for me,'' he said of being a touring golf professional, he said. ``I hardly do any sight seeing. I just go and play golf.''

THIS WEEK

LPGA TOUR

Alpine Ladies Masters

Dates/Site: Today-Sunday at Gold Coast, Australia.

Course: Royal Pines Golf Club (6,250 yards, par 72).

Purse (Winner's Share): $650,0T00. ($97,500).

Television: The Golf Channel (Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.-1 a.m.).

Last year: Australia's Jane Crafter eagled the final hole for a one-stroke victory over two-time winners Laura Davies and Jane Geddes. Crafter, also the 1992 winner, shot a 5-under 68 for a 19-under 273 total.

Last week: Sweden's Annika Sorenstam won the Hawaiian Open, closing with a 1-over 73 for a one-stroke victory over Meg Mallon. Sorenstam, who also won the Tournament of Champions, had a 10-under 206 total.

PGA EUROPEAN TOUR

Dubai Desert Classic

Site: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Schedule: Today-Sunday.

Course: Emirates Golf Club (7,102 yards, par 72).

Purse (Winner's Share): $1.14 million ($190,155).

Television: The Golf Channel (Thursday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-noon).

Last year: Scotland's Colin Montgomerie won the first of three 1996 titles, closing with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez. Montgomerie had an 18-under 270 total.

SENIOR PGA TOUR

Next event: Toshiba Senior Classic, March 14-16, Newport Beach.

Last week: Buddy Allin won the American Express Invitational for his first Senior title, closing with a 3-under 69 for a one-stroke victory over Jim Colbert. Allin had an 11-under 205 total.

OTHER TOURNAMENTS

Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf: Japanese Regional, Saturday-Sunday, Golden Palm Country Club, Kagoshima, Japan.

FNB Tour South Africa: Royal Swazi Sun, Royal Swazi Sun Country Club, Mbabane, or title, closing with a 3-under 69 for a one-stroke victory over Jim Swaziland.

Asian Tour: Classic India Open, Thursday-Sunday, Delhi Country Club, New Delhi, India.

CAPTION(S):

Box

Box: THIS WEEK (see text)