Hemphill wearing his heart on a sleeve

Richard Dunn

In Gregg Hemphill’s line of work, he can mix business with

pleasure.

“It’s nice to be able to work in the golf industry,” said

Hemphill, a sales manager for Fidra golf apparel. “I get to play a

lot and I’m around golf a lot. It’s fun. I love golf. It’s nice to

work in an environment in which you love.”

Hemphill, who doesn’t return from his “business trip” to Scotland

until Tuesday, is Santa Ana Country Club’s back-to-back men’s club

champion and will once again tee it up in the Jones Cup with Santa

Ana Director of Golf Mike Reehl.

Last year, Hemphill and Reehl rallied to force a three-hole

playoff against eventual winner Big Canyon Country Club, which will

host Jones Cup III on Friday at 1 p.m.

“Yeah, Mike Reehl hit the most unbelievable 3-wood I’ve ever seen

to birdie 18 and get us into a playoff (in Jones Cup II at Santa

Ana),” said Hemphill, 34, referring to Reehl’s approach shot at the

par-5 finishing hole, which landed to within 15 feet of the flag and

set up an eagle attempt.

In the Jones Cup’s better-ball of partners format, Hemphill

birdied the par-5 No. 15 as Santa Ana started its late run on the

back nine. On the par-4 16, Big Canyon bogeyed to open the door,

while Santa Ana made par to move within a stroke of the lead.

On 18, Reehl’s 15-foot eagle try for the victory ran past the

hole, then he made birdie coming back as Santa Ana finished at

4-under 68 to tie Big Canyon and force a playoff.

“Whoever gets hot is going to win the Jones Cup,” Hemphill said.

“Really, that’s what it comes down to. You’ve just got to make a

bunch of birdies in this event. At Big Canyon Country Club, you can

make bogeys out there, too, so it’ll be exciting that way ... (the

Jones Cup) was fun last year and I look forward to it again.”

Hemphill, who lives on Balboa Peninsula and joined Santa Ana

Country Club seven years ago, added his name to the long and

distinguished list of men’s club champions last year at the oldest

golf club in Orange County, then repeated this year when he defeated

Chris Veitch, 3 and 2, in the match-play final. The men’s club

champions at the four private country clubs in the Daily Pilot

circulation are invited by their respective clubs to play in the

Jones Cup, a pro-am better-ball of partners. Any full-time staff

member at the club can play as the pro, and, while the event serves

as a reward for club champions, any dues-paying member can play as an

amateur.

In the Jones Cup, a one-day, 18-hole community showdown of

high-profile local golf professionals, two foursomes tee off

back-to-back with a pair of galleries in tow. A drawing is held

beforehand to determine which two clubs play as a group.

Hemphill and Reehl will face Mesa Verde Country Club head pro Tom

Sargent and Pete Daley, host Big Canyon Director of Golf Bob Lovejoy

and Danny Lane, and Newport Beach Country Club head pro Paul Hahn and

Jeff Wright.

A 1986 Corona del Mar High graduate, Hemphill played college golf

for four years at William & Mary in Virginia and served as captain

his senior year. During college, Hemphill played mostly at Kings Mill

Golf Course and won a club championship there in 1991. Later, he quit

playing golf for five years, then returned to the game.

The public is invited to gallery at the Jones Cup, as long as

dress-code requirements are satisfied.