Golf: Special ring for 2000

Richard Dunn

What a year to host a golf tournament for the first player to score

2,000 points in an NBA season.

Officially labeled Yardley VII, organizers are heating up for their June

event at Newport Beach Golf Course, a tournament that raised over $40,000

last year for the Newport Harbor High golf programs.

But this millennium year, fitting for Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer

George Yardley, could also be the last in which Buck Johns serves as

chairman of the tournament committee.

For three years, Johns and his wife, Colleen, have turned the event into

one of the most philanthropic golf tournaments in Newport-Mesa School

District history.

The tournament, once benefiting the football program in the early 1990s,

reportedly netted $22,000 in the first year, then Yardley II and Yardley

III “were very limited” in operation and funds raised.

After a year in hibernation, Johns helped resurrect the Yardley name for

the golf tournament and promoted Newport Harbor’s “Most Famous Alum” and,

perhaps, its “Best School Booster,” as a way of rallying the troops and

supporting golf coach Jim Warren’s fast-growing programs -- of which

there are five.

Yardley IV netted just over $8,500 in 1997, the event’s first year back,

then skyrocketed to over $30,000 in 1998, before hitting 40K in ’99.

Yardley VII in 2000 -- hosted by the former Detroit Pistons swingman who

dropped in an NBA high 2,001 points in 1957-58, becoming the first to

crack the 2,000-point barrier -- is expected to be bigger and better than

ever.

In total, the Yardley-based golf tournaments have raised over $100,000

for Newport Harbor. But Johns, the GOP heavyweight and Newport Beach

entrepreneur who runs the tightest ship in the harbor, could “retire” as

chief executive of the golf tournament. His youngest son, Mitch, a

standout on the Sailors’ golf team, is graduating this year.

For the second year in a row, Yardley VII on June 26 will provide several

purposes, including a community service outreach to Olive Crest

Children’s Home and an essay contest for students, all of which involves

Newport Harbor’s players and, possibly, enhances their college

applications. For details on Yardley VII: (949) 856-2200.

Local pros Eric Woods (Corona del Mar High), John Sullivan (Newport Beach

Golf Course) and Bruce Hooper (Newport Beach Country Club) are among the

players registered for the Tommy Bahama Newport Beach Open on May 15.

The event, which benefits the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, is

open to amateurs, professionals and corporate foursomes at Newport Beach

Country Club.

Over $10,000 in cash and prizes will be at stake. Defending champion

Perry Parker is not listed among the pro entries.

Also, the tournament crowns the amateur champion as the Newport Beach

city champion, but anybody can enter as long as they meet handicap

requirements.

There will be a shotgun start at 8 a.m. for pros and amateurs with

handicaps of 12 and under.

Among the tee prizes are Tommy Bahama shirts and a custom pair of

Foot-Joy golf shoes.

The annual Casino Night and Putting Contest will be held on May 13 at

Sterling BMW in Newport Beach. Details: (949) 729-4400.

CHIP SHOTS ... Results of the 2000 Ladies Club Championship at Mesa Verde

Country Club: Championship flight (four rounds) -- Denise Woodard, 335;

Izumi Sueoka, 351; Natalie King, 352; Debbie Brown, 354.

All other flights are three rounds. First flight -- Sue Jane Chi, 261;

Sang Bukaty, 273; Carol Banks, 276. Second flight -- Sandy Perrin, 288;

Bettye Roland, 291; Bev Stinson, 292. Third flight -- Janice Yu, 295; Pat

Creed, 297; Arlene Peterson, 300. Fourth flight -- Tina Carroll, 301;

Bette Hamre, 304; Virginia James, 306. Fifth flight -- Young Han, 301;

Sue Lloyd, 319; Marilyn Skarin, 324.

Richard Dunn’s golf column appears every Thursday.