Golf: Timing is right for Newport Beach Open

Richard Dunn

At this pace, the Newport Beach Open could serve as “the (golf)

niche right behind the Toshiba Senior Classic,” which Richard Luehrs of

the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce is talking about.

With a larger professional field, increased prize money and close to 200

total players expected to tee it up Monday at Newport Beach Country Club,

the sixth annual event, presented by Tommy Bahama and hosted by the

chamber of commerce, is knocking on the door in becoming a recognized

mini-tour stop in the Southern California PGA.

“Next year, we hope to have ourselves indexed on the tournament schedule

where all of the Southern California pros will be aware of our event,”

said Jeff Parker, director of operations for the chamber.

“We want (the pros) to give us a look. We want to under-promise and

over-deliver in terms of tournament experience. We’re in a growth

program, but it has been a successful product for us. With the amount of

time of energy placed on golf in this area, we feel the chamber is right

on target as far as what it needs to offer to the general public.”

In addition to the play of corporate foursomes in the afternoon (2 p.m.

shotgun start), more than 50 pros and 30 amateurs (with handicaps of 12

and under) will compete in the morning round (9 a.m. shotgun).

Parker said the total purse for pros is up to $10,000 (a $2,000 increase

from 1999), including a watch worth about $4,000.

Last year, former UCI standout Perry Parker (Dana Point) won the event

with a 69, the second year of the new format that includes pros. Eric

Woods (a Corona del Mar High product and pro on the Canadian Tour), was

the first pro to win the Newport Beach Open in 1998.

Parker last year made double bogey on 17, then made birdie on 18, getting

to the par-five green in two about 40 feet from the flag. Parker

two-putted to win by a stroke ahead of runners-up Bruce Hooper (Newport

Beach) and John Burkle (Aliso Viejo) at 70 each. Ken Wiese, Brad Greer

and Darren Ernst, all of Huntington Beach, shot even-par 71.

Last year’s women’s title was captured by Wendy Davidson of Palm Desert.

Perhaps the best part of the Newport Beach Open is the $250 player fee,

which includes golf, lunch, course beverages, a tee bag with merchandise

and admission to Casino Night on Saturday at Sterling BMW in Newport

Beach -- the wildest party this side of the Toshiba Senior Classic.

The tee bag will include a Tommy Bahama shirt and a custom pair of

Foot-Joy golf shoes, said Luehrs, the chamber’s chief executive the past

10 years. The Los Angeles Times, Daily Pilot, Hyatt Newporter, Taylor

Woodrow Homes and Traditional Jewelers are also local corporations

involved in the Newport Beach Open.

The annual Casino Night and Putting Contest kicks off the event with

festivities that include a full-scale casino, silent auction,

entertainment, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a reception. Everyone in

attendance is automatically registered in a drawing for a one-year lease

on a Sterling BMW.

Casino Night is $25 per person for those not playing in the tournament.

Further, a putting contest on a fabricated green along the Sterling BMW

showroom will include a qualifying round, followed by the championship

finals, where one contestant will eventually putt for a top prize of

$10,000. Details: (949) 729-4400.

Big Canyon Country Club’s Martha Redfearn, a Newport Coast resident, won

the women’s division Sunday at the Aliso Viejo Golf Skills Challenge, a

regional stop on the Toyota Golf Skills Challenge National Tour.

The challenge includes eight major skill shots: long drive, middle iron,

chip, short iron, putting, pitch over hazard, trouble shot and greenside

bunker. Three shots are allowed per skill, with only the best shot

counting toward the golfer’s overall score.

Estancia High’s Eagle Golf Classic is June 19 at Costa Mesa Golf &

Country Club beginning at 10 a.m. in a four-player best-ball scramble

format. The cost is $340 per foursome or $90 for an individual.

The seventh annual event includes green fees, cart, dinner and prizes.

The event benefits the Estancia Athletic Department. Chuck Perry is the

tournament contact: (949) 951-5435.

A putting challenge and silent auction fund-raiser for veteran baseball

umpire Jack Wildes, a familiar face among Newport-Mesa School District

players the last 40 years, will be May 27 at The Greens in Irvine.

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

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

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

Group, is Monday at Hill Golf Club to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation,

which grants wishes to children who suffer from life-threatening

illnesses.

The 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.

Richard Dunn’s golf column appears every Thursday.