TOUGH TEST EXCITING FOR GEYER.

Byline: DAVE SHELBURNE Golf

He's not the youngest player in the field - that distinction goes to record-breaking Murrieta Valley High sophomore Rickie Fowler. But 17-year- old Nick Geyer of Agoura Hills certainly is part of the youth movement at this week's Pechanga State Open, and he is thrilled at the chance to compete as an amateur and high school golfer against some of the top professionals in the state.

``It's going to be a phenomenal field,'' said Geyer, whose father David will be his caddie in the 160-entry State Open competition that starts Thursday at SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta and runs through Sunday - for those who make the 36-hole cut.

Some of the best players include Valencia resident Jason Gore, a three-time Nationwide Tour winner who twice has qualified for the PGA Tour, 2002 U.S. Amateur champion Ricky Barnes and defending State Open champion John Wilson, who won this tournament last year at Brookside GC in Pasadena.

And one of the best on the par-72 SCGA course is 16-year-old Fowler, who won the CIF/SCGA championship - the Southern California high school final - with a course-record-tying 62 in June.

Geyer, who will start his senior year at Viewpoint High of Calabasas two days after Sunday's final round, is another young player of proven ability. The 5-foot-10, 140-pounder already has accepted a full scholarship from the University of New Mexico, a program that has sent 10 golfers on to the PGA Tour.

Despite his youth and relative inexperience, Geyer has high hopes going into his toughest tournament to date.

``I set a goal of making the cut, and if I get past that and play well, maybe even seeing my name on the leaderboard,'' said Geyer, one of the brightest stars in an exceptional 2004-2005 area senior class.

Ben Fox, a senior at Oakwood of North Hollywood, has accepted a scholarship to the University of Arizona. Brett Kanda, a senior at Flintridge Prep of La Canada, has committed to UNLV. Joe Greiner, a senior at Hart of Newhall, has attracted interest from Princeton and Columbia. Erik Jarvey, a senior at Highland of Palmdale, is considering Loyola Marymount.

Geyer, who chose New Mexico after attracting interest from Illinois, Oregon State, Duke and NCAA champion California, is coming off a junior year that produced two top-10s and a top-five in AJGA tournaments and a top-30 finish in Western Junior.

``It was a little up and down, but I was pretty content,'' said Geyer, who is really content to be playing in this field this week.

``It's pretty much the cream of the crop as far as California pros are concerned,'' he said, ``and there are some great amateurs entered. And I'm coming in playing well.''

--Local flavor: Former Hart High of Newhall and Pepperdine standout Gore, the last amateur to win the State Open, is one of 18 area entries - six with Santa Clarita Valley ties - participating in this week's 84th State Open.

Other Santa Clarita Valley golfers include Tom Case of Saugus, the Valencia threesome of Benji Cherney, Brian Edick and former Cal State Northridge golfer Tony Chieffo, and Travis Matye of Lancaster, who helped College of the Canyons win a state community college championship in 2000. ...

--Cowboy up: Paul ``Cowboy'' Holtby of Simi Valley, Southern California PGA section Player of the Year in 1998 and a challenger for that honor much of this season with two-time defending Player of the Year Ron Skayhan, also is in the State Open field.

Holtby, who earned his nickname from the wide-brimmed cowboy hat he wore to ward off the heat in mini-tour events, qualified to play in two Southern California PGA Tour events this year - the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines and the Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club. ...

--Also: UCLA men's golf coach O.D. Vincent and ex-Bruins Parker McLachlin and John Merrick are other area or former area entries in the State Open. Also entered are ex-CSUN player Paul D'Ambra of San Luis Obispo, Jeff DiTullio (Thousand Oaks), Michael Dunsmore (Tarzana), Kevin Erdman (La Crescenta), James Jones (Moorpark) and Robert Dacey, head pro and co-record-holder at Tierra Del Sol in California City.

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

ON THE GREEN