Golf: Players in Toshiba Senior Classic leave lasting impression

Richard Dunn

What’s great about the 78-player field in the Toshiba Senior

Classic is that there are 78 great stories in the field for a

sportswriter.

As an eyewitness for the last seven years, golfers on the Senior PGA

Tour, without a doubt, are some of the most interesting subjects in the

sporting world.

Their “old-man’s outlook” and self-depreciating humor, along with

their maturity, experience and wisdom, put them in a class by themselves.

While covering major league baseball players on a regular basis for

seven years from 1984 to 1990, it became apparent that, well, some of

them never learned class.

USC and UCLA football players and coaches were often great to deal

with, especially former Bruins Coach Terry Donahue in the glory years of

the 1980s.

When the Rams were around, I became acquainted with NFL types and how

they treat members of the media. The list of Olympic athletes to mention

is too long to even consider. Pro surfers have a certain off-the-lip

flair and most pro beach volleyball players are tan inside and out.

But my point is that no “athlete” is better to work with, more

prepared, intriguing, delightful and articulate than players on the

Senior PGA Tour.

Sure, some guys have a bad round and blow you off for an interview.

That’s just part of the newspaper business. And there’s always some

golfer who comes in from Mexico with a terrible flu bug, coughs in his

hand, and then reaches out to shake my hand. (I guess it was my fault

accepting Ed Dougherty’s warm greeting this year.)

Some arrive with more baggage than the media guide ever reveals,

others have major championships and big trophies to always hoist in

conversation.

There’s always something else going on for them on the side, always

family in their lives, like grandchildren. They have business endeavors,

like Don Bies’ Orange Julius restaurant or Allen Doyle’s driving range or

Gary McCord’s “Golf For Dummies” books.

Their wives shop until they drop, or caddie for them on the golf

course.

As golfers, some never played on the PGA Tour and now enjoy a new

lease on life, like Tom Wargo, Dana Quigley and Walter Zembriski. Some,

like Doyle and Terry Mauney, played only briefly on the PGA Tour.

And then, of course, you have marquee names like Lee Trevino and Hale

Irwin, both of whom were in a pretty good mood last week.

Since the Senior PGA Tour has blossomed to 38 official money events in

its 22nd year, there are more and more players setting their sights on

the big bucks of the 50-and-over circuit, the golf equivalent of the

lottery for some.

And, as the 2001 Toshiba Classic wrapped up, it was only fitting that

Spaniard Jose Maria Canizares was awarded the grand prize of $210,000 and

his first Senior Tour victory.

“It is very nice to win because I am playing with some of the best

players in the world,” Canizares said after his nine-hole playoff victory

over Gil Morgan.

Oh, and most of them are humble.

There was some question over the length of Canizares’ winning putt

Sunday at No. 17, but the bottom line is that he said it was “eight

yards” to the hole.

Most estimated the putt between 15 and 20 feet. Canizares was

questioned about the length, as a certain reporter fired back in the

interview room, “that’s 24 feet!”

Canizares said he didn’t understand the measurement of feet, only

yards and meters. “Eight yards,” repeated Canizares, who, of course, had

the real angle.

McCord, who played in Monday’s Toshiba Classic Celebrity Pro-Am a day

after the tournament, intends to repeat his 2000 schedule, when he played

in 20 Senior PGA Tour events and worked 19 other weeks for CBS as a golf

commentator, in addition to about 50 corporate outings, a golf tournament

(The Santa Claus Classic in Arizona) and golf school.

“I need to take some time off,” said McCord, who lives in Scottsdale,

Ariz., sort of.

“Last year I went 29 straight weeks on the road, including 14 straight

weeks at one point when I never went home. I’ve got a nice house, I

think. And I get to see my wife (Diane) next week. I think I remember

what she looks like.”

Canizares became the third straight first-time winner on the Senior

Tour. The last time that happened was this time of year two years ago,

when Doyle, McCord (at the Toshiba) and Bob Duval each won.

Mesa Verde Country Club assistant golf professionals Geoff Cochrane

and Jeremy Clevenger shot 7-under 64 and tied for second Monday in the

Southern California PGA Metro Chapter Pro-Pro event at Yorba Linda

Country Club.

The format was better ball of partners on the front nine and a

scramble on the back nine.

Ron Skayhan and Mike Mitchell shot 63 to win the event and earn $400

each. Clevenger, the chairman of the tournament, and Cochrane each won

$315.

The Mesa Verde team tied for runner-up with Frank Rodriguez and

Spencer McDaniel. Five teams shot 67 and tied for fourth, while four

teams carded a 68 and tied for ninth.

Clevenger and Cochrane both serve under Mesa Verde head pro Tom

Sargent.

Richard Dunn’s golf column appears every Thursday.