First round co-leader Tim Hogarth
(SCGA Photo)

Playing at Brookside Golf Club, Schafer grabbed his portion of the lead with a six birdie, one double-bogey round. Starting on the back nine Schafer turned in 2-under 34 thanks to 14th and 15th hole birdies and following consecutive pars early on his second nine he seemed to be in command of his game. However, as it can happen in golf the wheels suddenly feel off the track for Schafer on the 3rd hole as he carded a double-bogey to fall back to level-par for the day.

Unfazed by the slip up, Schafer quickly bounced back on the ensuing hole with the first of his three straight birdies to reach 3-under, then after pars on Nos. 7 and 8 the Long Beach, CA resident carded a birdie on the 9th to conclude a four birdie in six hole closing stretch.

Hogarth, who is in the midst of another impressive year, had a much more steady round of golf. The winner of his fifth Pasadena City Championship earlier this year, Hogarth carded five birdies and a bogey during his round.

The birdies for Hogarth, the 1996 U.S. Public Links winner, who started on the second nine came on Nos. 11, 18, 1, 4 and 7 while the bogey was recorded on the 2nd hole.

Hogarth has been in the mix all season long in Southern California Golf Association events but is yet to pick up a victory, his top finishes include a tied for 10th showing at the Southern California Amateur and a tied for 12th finish at the Southern California Mid-Amateur.

The second place trio includes Dan Sullivan, Genki Tamashiro, Jonathan Rodriguez-Minkoff at 3-under while in a share of sixth place at 2-under it is Mark Miller, Calvin Xie and Joey Herrera.