Golf: Woodard was truly a classic for Tea Cup

Richard Dunn

Never got to officially wish Mesa Verde Country Club’s Denise

Woodard well after playing five straight years in the Tea Cup Classic.

Woodard, who was dethroned as the six-time defending women’s club

champion last week by Akemi Khaiat, never won the Tea Cup, but was always

a Classic.

The spirited Woodard, the only grandmother and entrepreneur to play in

the locals-only event for the four women’s club champions in the Daily

Pilot circulation, might have lost her reign (and parking spot) at Mesa

Verde. But she’ll forever be remembered in Tea Cup lore.

Woodard owns and operates the busiest Mail Boxes Etc. in Orange County

in terms of mail boxes and shipping, after opening her Costa Mesa-based

shop only one week after the inaugural Tea Cup Classic -- Aug. 8, 1997.

She captured her sixth straight club title last year by a whopping 27

strokes, believed to be the largest margin of victory in club history for

women.

Here’s a toast to you, Denise.

Pelican Hill Golf Club has been honored for the eighth consecutive

year for operating one of the top 20 best resort golf shops, according to

Golf World Business magazine.

The award is based on overall shop revenue, its physical layout and

displays, and merchandising.

Speaking of Pelican Hill, the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach has

announced a package in conjunction with the resort course that can save

people up to $600.

The Orange County Chapter of Childhelp USA will host its 20th annual

Celebrity Golf Classic May 21 at Pelican Hill with former All-Pro Los

Angeles Rams center Rich Saul in the middle of things as celebrity host.

Medhi Eftekari of the Four Seasons Hotel and theater magnate Jim

Edwards of Newport Beach are the co-honorary chairmen of the event, which

raised about $165,000 last year for Childhelp USA. Details: (949)

829-6922.

Newport Beach Country Club is hosting a U.S. Open local qualifying for

the third year in a row.

The 102nd U.S. Open Championship is June 13-16 at Bethpage State Park

(Black Course) in Farmingdale, N.Y.

The local qualifying at Newport Beach is 18 holes on May 15, with the

Southern California Golf Association operating the event. Newport Beach

is one of seven Southland courses to be used during qualifying week (May

13-20) by the SCGA.

The Derby at Santa Ana Country Club, a prestigious annual men’s

member/guest event on the SCGA calendar, is May 16-18. The time-honored

Derby changes the playing format each round during the competition.

The seventh annual We Care golf tournament, hosted by Tax & Financial

Group, will be May 14 at Pelican Hill Golf Club. The event raises funds

for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County. Details: (800) 373-2177.

Richard Dunn’s golf column appears every Thursday.