Scramble a sizzler

Bryce Alderton

There was no shortage of drama in both gross and net divisions in

local qualifying for the Buick Scramble Saturday at Costa Mesa Golf &

Country Club’s Los Lagos course.

The amateur tournament featured 14 foursomes vying for two spots

into the sectional round, scheduled July 27-28 at the Legends course

at the PGA of Southern California Golf Club in Calimesa.

Costa Mesa resident Jim Miller, along with Jim Kentros, Ed Hunter

and Scott Robinson, won the net division while the foursome of Dave

Sargeant, Roger Collins and Tim and Randy Labeda claimed the gross

title Saturday. Both teams advance to one of 104 sectional qualifying

rounds for the national championships, scheduled Oct. 7-10 at the

Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando, Fla.

Two teams from each of the 104 sites will qualify for the national

championships.

Miller, Kentros, Robinson and Hunter defeated Michael Valentine,

David Yee, Gary Bergluns and Jeff Goad -- all Costa Mesa men’s club

members -- in a one-hole playoff on the par-5 first hole after both

teams shot 60 in the 18-hole, scramble format.

Kentros sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the playoff hole, said Sean

Collins, a teaching pro at Costa Mesa and Roger Collins’ brother.

The winning foursome prevailed despite having just three players

for the extra hole after one golfer left early.

Sargeant made a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th to give his team the gross title by one stroke. The Labedas and Collins are also

Costa Mesa men’s club members.

In a scramble, each player hits and the group selects one ball

where each member will play his or her next shot.

Saturday’s rules mandated all teams used two drives from each

player.

Teams will expand to five players to include a pro in the

sectional rounds. Sean Collins will join Roger Collins, the Labedas

and Sargeant.