VALENCIA'S GORE CLAIMS STATE TITLE.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Jason Gore of Valencia rang in midnight early on Scott Watson's Cinderella run through the 86th California Amateur golf championship.

Gore, 22, the former Hart High School star who went on to win two Pacific-10 individual titles for Arizona before leading Pepperdine to its first NCAA championship last month, added the State Amateur title Saturday with a blistering comeback in the afternoon session of the 36-hole final.

Gore opened afternoon play with a par save from a greenside bunker, followed by an eagle chip-in on the 502-yard par-5 second hole. He won both to wipe out Watson's two-hole midway lead, then went on to win five of the next six holes to complete a 6 and 5 comeback victory.

``Those first two holes were the key,'' Gore said. ``I'm sure when he saw my ball in the bunker that he expected to go 3-up, and when I got it up and down that had to hurt. Then to have me chip in on him just added to the pressure.''

Gore's seven wins in the first eight holes of the afternoon ended an incredible story by the tournament's hottest golfer.

Watson, a 25-year-old Walnut Creek resident and former UC Davis golfer, had survived a seven-man playoff just to qualify for the match-play phase. Then, he needed an eagle out of a bunker to win on the 20th hole of his match-play opener, only to draw defending champion Mark Johnson in the third round.

Watson stunned Johnson 4 and 3, got past 17-year-old Westlake High School whiz J.T. Kohut 3 and 2 in the quarterfinals and then upset tournament record-setting medalist Tim Hogarth of Chatsworth 4 and 3 in the semifinals.

After that win, Watson said, ``I have no idea what's going on. It's like I'm living in a wonderful dream. I have no business being here, but I'm loving it.''

Gore also was impressive, defeating Chris Johnson 3 and 2, Jeff Burda 6 and 5, Dan Arroyo 3 and 2, and Ed Cuff Jr. 1-up to reach the final before rallying to catch Watson, whose magic faded as Gore's comeback mounted.

Gore, who attacked the flagstick throughout the day, went on to shoot two-under-par 34 on the afternoon front nine while Watson wilted. Watson double-bogied the par-4 third hole and then three-putted three consecutive holes. By the ninth hole, Gore was 5-up and Watson was left to think about all the good things that had happened and what might have been.

``You have to put things in perspective,'' Watson said. ``This tournament started with 1,100 people and I came in second. I was thrilled to make it to the championship match; I'm just sorry I couldn't keep it going for one more round.''

The morning round was an up-and-down affair, as Watson birdied Nos.4, 5 and 7 to take a 3-up lead after eight holes. Gore answered by winning three consecutive holes on the back side to even the match, including the par-four 13th where he holed a nine-iron shot from 136 yards.

But Watson responded, winning the par-4 15th and par-3 17th holes with pars to take a 2-up lead at the intermission.

``I was totally discouraged,'' Gore said.

But a putting lesson from his dad and his caddie (long-time friend Adam Hill) got Gore back on track for the afternoon session. ``I knew I was moving my head,'' Gore said. ``My dad said I wasn't aligned right and Adam said I didn't have the ball positioned correctly. Basically, I was totally screwed up - I was lucky I was only 2-down.''

Gore is obviously a good student. With the flagsticks set in what the course superintendent described as final-round U.S. Open positions and the greens running 11-12 on the Stimpmeter, Gore reeled off nine pars and a birdie while Watson was slowly self-destructing.`

MARCH TO GLORY

Here's how Jason Gore won the California amateur title:

Medal round 76-74-150

First round: d. Chris Johnson 3 and 2

Second round: d. Jeff Burda 6 and 5

Quarterfinal: d. Dan Arroyo 3 and 2

Semifinal: d. Ed Cuff Jr. 1-up

Championship: d. Scott Watson 6 and 5

CAPTION(S):

Box

Box: MARCH TO GLORY (see text)