Golf: Ozonian battles wind, heat on way to title

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT COAST - Ryan Ozonian of Newport Coast shot a final-round 75

for a two-day total of 152 to capture the overall boys division title at

the Junior Amateur Golf Scholars (JAGS) Summer Series recently at Goose

Creek Golf Club in Mira Loma.

In the opening round, temperatures climbed over the 105-degree mark

with relentless winds, as Ozonian fired a low-round of 77 to lead the

tournament after 18 holes.

On the second day, Ozonian carded a 6-over-par 41 on the front nine,

with temperatures down to the mid-90s, but with continued winds.

On the back nine, Ozonian posted a 1-under 34 to secure his first JAGS

Tour title.

“The wind was really blowing on the front and it was hard to read the

greens and stay focused,” Ozonian said. “I wasn’t going to let this

tournament get away from me, so I settled down and started the back nine

hitting fairways and greens in regulation and dropping putts for a

bogey-free 1-under 34.”

The next JAGS Tour stop is July 19-20 at Green River Golf Course in

Corona. Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club will host a JAGS Tour stop Aug.

28-29.

The JAGS Tour, a year-round tour for boys and girls 13-18, has seven 36-hole tournaments with no cut for the 2001 summer series.

Membership in JAGS is not a requirement to play, but all players must

meet the 3.0 grade-point average standard. JAGS entry fees include green

fees, range balls, lunch and awards. Details: (562) 493-8416 or (714)

952-3316.

Mark Les of Costa Mesa, a former men’s club champion at Costa Mesa

Golf & Country Club, qualified for the Southern California Golf

Association Amateur Championship Friday through Sunday at La Jolla

Country Club.

Les shot 1-under-par 71 in a June 27 qualifier at the SCGA Members’

Course, finishing as the first alternate, then ultimately gaining a spot

when the SCGA informed him recently of his tee time (Friday at 9:38

a.m.).

In the qualifier, Les played in an eight-man playoff for three spots,

after shooting 1-under. He parred the first two playoff holes, bogeyed

the third and birdied the fourth to secure the first alternate position.

Les, at 46, is also one of the oldest players in the SCGA Amateur

Championship field.

Former major leaguers, including celebrity host Bobby Grich and Costa

Mesa resident Bob Coluccio, helped the Goodwill Golf Classic raise over

$100,000 last month at the annual charity event at Coto de Caza Golf

Club.

Coluccio, who played mostly for Milwaukee and St. Louis as an

outfielder during the 1970s, was among the winners on the South Course

for low net.

Coluccio teamed with Curt Carson of Mission Viejo, Hank Mayhew of

Corona del Mar, Bruce Barley of Irvine and Mark Hardtke to win the

Corporate Challenge Award.

Ed Machoskie of Newport Beach played on the North Course-winning team

for low net.

The 12th annual Bob Hope/Dr. Howard House Golf Tournament to benefit

the Orange County Associates of the House Ear Institute is Sept. 17 at

Pelican Hill Golf Club. Details: (949) 499-2826.