Down to the wire

Bryce Alderton

Several story lines crop up when talking about today’s Jones Cup IV,

which begins at 1:30 p.m. at Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa.

First, there is the duo of amateur Will Tipton and Bob Lovejoy,

who will gun for Big Canyon Country Club’s third consecutive

tournament title.

Second, is the venue. Mesa Verde hosted last week’s Tea Cup

Classic and will be the site for today’s event, the first time one

course has hosted both events in the same year since the Jones Cup

began in 2000. The Tea Cup began in 1997.

Third, is the four amateurs from the private clubs in Newport-Mesa

who will each be making their inaugural Jones Cup appearance.

Several juicy tidbits abound, but as history has shown, the Jones

Cup has regularly displayed some down-to-the-wire finishes, putting

drama at a premium.

In 2000 it was Mesa Verde head pro Tom Sargent making birdie on

the final hole after an incredible flop shot at Newport Beach Country

Club, giving him and partner Pete Daley a 2-under-par 69 and a

one-shot victory over the host team of NBCC head pro Paul Hahn and

men’s club champion Bob Kraft.

Lovejoy, Big Canyon’s Director of Golf, and partner Ron Maggard

needed three playoff holes to defeat the host Santa Ana team of

amateur Gregg Hemphill and Mike Reehl, the club’s Director of Golf,

to bring home the Jones Cup trophy in 2001. Lovejoy made birdie on

the 18th -- a dogleg left -- for the victory after Santa Ana’s birdie

barrage on the back nine got them back into contention. Both teams

ended at 4-under-par 68.

Last year amateur Danny Lane birdied two of the final three holes

as he and Lovejoy claimed the title with a 2-under-par 70 on their

home course, two shots ahead of runners-up Santa Ana and Mesa Verde.

Much like Hahn in Jones Cup II, Santa Ana amateur Gregg Hemphill

had an eagle putt on the par-5 18th to force a playoff, but it didn’t

fall. Hahn’s putt on the par-5 18th at Santa Ana a year earlier would

have forced a three-way playoff.

In contrast to the Tea Cup, the Jones Cup is a better-ball of

partners format, where the best score from either the amateur or

member of the club’s golf staff is used.

The format lends itself to taking more risks than one would if he

or she were playing in an individual, stroke-play format, such as in

the Tea Cup.

“If your partner is in play, you can take a few more risks,” said

Will Tipton, Big Canyon’s reigning club champion.

The same goes if both players are doing well, said Mesa Verde club

champion Steve Rhorer, taking the spot occupied the last three Jones

Cups by Daley.

“If both players are playing relatively well, you can be more

aggressive on tee shots or putts,” Rhorer said.

Boyd Martin, a six-time club champion at Santa Ana who has played

Mesa Verde several times, said the winning score might be 5- or

6-under par, which would be the lowest score in tournament history.

The men will play from the blue tees, which make the par-71 track

top out at 6,726 yards.

If last week’s Tea Cup was any indication, the loudest cheers were

made for the home course representative, Akemi Khaiat. Sargent and

Rhorer will be on their home course today.

Just like the Tea Cup, galleries are encouraged at today’s Jones

Cup, part of the Fletcher Jones Motorcars/Daily Pilot Club

Championship Series.

“It can do anything but help us,” Rhorer said of playing on his

home course. “Hopefully we can take advantage of that.”

There will be eight equally hungry players trying to do the same

thing.