Golf: Albright wins seventh straight club title
Richard Dunn
NEWPORT BEACH - Debbie Albright of Newport Beach Country Club
captured her seventh consecutive women’s club championship Friday, while
breaking club championship records for margin of victory (36 strokes) and
scoring (72-75-74-76--297).
“The party was over after 27 holes,” Newport Beach head professional
Paul Hahn said.
“It might be the first time anybody’s shot four rounds in the 70s.
It’s the first time she’s done it. That was kind of her big goal, to
shoot four rounds in the 70s, and I think she handled it pretty well.”
Albright, the course-record holder for women at 70, won the 2001 club
championship by a career-high 19 strokes after posting a four-round 305.
Albright finished ahead of runner-up Janice Sauter (84-85-80-84--333)
and third-place Nancy Curci (88-81-85-80--334). Marilyn Pope was fourth
and Brenda Parrott fifth.
“Debbie’s playing really well right now, and if she can keep this
consistency going, she’s going to be able to defend (her Tea Cup Classic
title this summer),” added Hahn, referring to the annual event for the
four women’s club champions in the Daily Pilot circulation.
Dee Dee White holds the club record for consecutive titles with nine
straight from 1967 through ’75 and is the club’s all-time leader in
career club titles with 17.
Albright, who finished second in the Tea Cup Classic in 1997, ’98 and
2000, won on her home course last year. She led the field after 13 holes
in the 18-hole Tea Cup and never looked back, carding a 6-over 78.
By winning her seventh straight Newport Beach Country Club women’s
title, Albright automatically qualified for Tea Cup Classic VI this
summer at Santa Ana Country Club (TBA). It is part of the Fletcher Jones
Motorcars/Daily Pilot Club Championship Series.
Olivia Slutzky (Big Canyon Country Club), Marianne Towersey (Santa
Ana) and first-time Tea Cup qualifier Akemi Khaiat (Mesa Verde Country
Club) will attempt to dethrone Albright in Tea Cup Classic VI.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.