Golf: Towersey shatters Big Canyon course record

Richard Dunn

No matter how you slice it, Marianne Towersey’s scorecard was one

for the record books.

Towersey, the two-time reigning queen of the Tea Cup Classic and the

all-time women’s club champion at Santa Ana Country Club, played as a

visitor Tuesday in the Ladies/Guest Day at Big Canyon Country Club and

shot a course-record 69, three under par.

After several rounds in the low-to-mid 70s by numerous women since the

course at Big Canyon was reconstructed in the fall of 1998, Towersey

became the first to break 70, sinking five birdies (along with two

bogeys) in her record-setting performance.

On her scorecard, Towersey’s round looks even better, because she birdied

16, 17 and 18. Her group, however, started on 11. Towersey birdied No. 9

to go four under, then bogeyed the last hole (10) to finish at 69.

“I really wasn’t keeping track of my score,” Towersey said. “I knew I was

under par, but I was focusing more on our partners’ game.”

Towersey, who played in the group with Margaret Anderson, Linda Maggard

and Louise Hemmerle, said she “hit the ball really well. The course is in

great shape and the greens are smooth. A lot of putts dropped.”

In the event, Towersey’s foursome finished as runners-up behind Sally

Holstein, Debbie Albright (Newport Beach Country Club), Martha Redfearn

and Laura Hollbrook (Friendly Hills).

Holstein was Big Canyon’s club champion last year and played in the Tea

Cup Classic, while Albright, also a Tea Cup veteran, is shooting for her

fifth straight Newport Beach club title today.

Towersey, a winner in 15 of the last 18 women’s club championships at

Santa Ana, cracked the 70 barrier for only the second time in her

distinguished amateur career, the first time in California. She also shot

69 in a round last summer in Minneapolis.

Towersey, however, does not hold the women’s course record at Santa Ana.

The mark belongs to LPGA Tour member Pearl Sinn, who carded a 63 in early

January 1999 -- ironically, while playing with Towersey.

Big Canyon is set to host the 2000 Women’s U.S. Mid-Amateur in October,

and Towersey would appear to have an excellent chance of contending for

the title, considering her recent exploits.

“That’s a great event, and it’s very prestigious for Big Canyon Country

Club to have it,” Towersey said.

Santa Ana Country Club will host qualifying rounds for the mid-amateur

(over 25) in early September.

Inclement weather has pushed back the women’s club championship at Santa

Ana Country Club, rescheduled for Aug. 25 (final round), which means it

will take place after Tea Cup Classic IV. Towersey will be trying for her

16th club title in 19 years.

Dee Dee White of Newport Beach Country Club is the area’s all-time

women’s club champion with 17 titles.

One of the realities of the Toshiba Senior Classic is that it survives on

the West Coast all alone on the Senior PGA Tour schedule like a remote

island.

But, next year, if things come together in San Jose, it appears the only

PGA stop in Orange County, hosted by Newport Beach Country Club, will

have some company.

On the Senior PGA Tour drawing board is the Toshiba Classic in the ninth

week (March 2-4, 2001), followed the next week by a new event in San

Jose.

For good measure, the week after is the PGA Tour’s Nissan Open in Los

Angeles (reportedly to be played next year at Valencia Country Club),

creating a possible three-week West Coast swing for national media.

“I think it will happen,” said Toshiba tournament director Jeff Purser,

who has been involved in discussions surrounding the possible San Jose

event. The San Jose Sharks Foundation would be the managing charity,

Purser said.

One of Purser’s biggest tasks each year is recruiting players, many of

whom live in Florida. But his job would get easier if there were two

stops on the West Coast for members of the senior tour.

Just a reminder: The putting challenge and silent auction fund-raiser for

veteran baseball umpire Jack Wildes, a familiar face among Newport-Mesa

School District players in the last 40 years, will be May 27 at The

Greens.

The inaugural Jack Wildes Golf for Life Putting Challenge from 8 a.m. to

noon will help raise funds for the Wildes family. He was diagnosed with

cancer in August 1999 and is facing the hardest game of his life.

The facility is an 18-hole putting course. The Golf for Life event is

headed by Costa Mesa’s Dave and Dana Wildes. Details: (714) 540-1968.

The fifth annual We Care Golf Tournament, hosted by Tax & Financial

Group, is May 15 at Pelican Hill Golf Club to benefit the Make-A-Wish

Foundation, which grants wishes to children who suffer from

life-threatening illnesses.

Tax & Financial Group adopted Make-A-Wish as its main charity after being

moved by heartwarming stories from children. All proceeds of the

tournament go directly to the fulfillment of granting wishes.

In the past four years, the tournament has raised nearly $250,000 to

grant 65 wishes. Details: (949) 233-8100.

The Tommy Bahama Newport Beach Open for amateurs, professionals and

corporate foursomes is May 15 at Newport Beach Country Club. The event

benefits the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce.

The tournament crowns an amateur Newport Beach city champion, though the

field is open. There will be a shotgun start at 8 a.m. for pros and

amateurs with handicaps of 12 and under.

The annual Casino Night and Putting Contest will be held the Saturday

night prior to the event (May 13) at Sterling BMW in Newport Beach.

A purse of $10,000 in cash and prizes will be at stake in the pro

division. Details: (949) 729-4400.

Richard Dunn’s golf column appears every Thursday.