Two residents from Newport Beach and one...

Two residents from Newport Beach and one from Costa Mesa were among

17 golfers to qualify for the Southern California Golf Association

Mid-Amateur championship after their rounds last week.

Newport Beach’s David Franey shot a 1-under-par 71 to tie three

others for the low round at the SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta July 13

and earned a spot into the SCGA Mid-Amateur championship Aug. 30-31

at Pauma Valley Country Club. Santa Ana Country Club’s Chris Veitch

shot an even-par 72 on the 6,970-yard SCGA Golf Course to tie three

others and earn entry into the championship.

A day earlier on the same course, Costa Mesa’s Laurent Khaiat tied

four others with a 72, two shots back of Bill Borden of Alpine and

Steven Wolfe of Vista, who each carded the two low rounds.

Regan Kusmes of Newport Beach earned an alternate spot with three

others after his 73 while Newport Beach resident Greg Meyer shot 74.

* Ray Carrasco, who joined Pelican Hill and Oak Creek golf clubs

in 2003 as their senior tour professional, leads the 2004 European

Seniors Tour money list after his most recent victory July 4.

Carrasco, a former PGA Tour player who competed in two U.S. Opens

(1981 and ‘83) holed a 45-foot birdie putt on the final hole to claim

the Ryder Cup Wales Senior Open at Royal St. David’s Golf Club to

provide a boost heading into the marquee Senior British Open

championship, which begins Thursday on the Dunluce Links of Northern

Ireland’s Royal Portrush Golf Club.

The win in the Wales Senior Open added to a resume that includes

victories in the Jamaica Senior Classic in 2003 and the 2002 Senior

Masters for Carrasco, who also offers advice as a teaching

professional at Pelican Hill.

* Dennis Paulson, a former Costa Mesa High golfer who has finished

in the top 25 in seven of 14 PGA Tour events this year, will be

honored at this year’s 84th California State Open Golf Championship,

Sept. 1-4 at the SCGA Golf Course.

Paulson claimed tournament titles in 1990 and ‘96, joining a

storied list of past champions that include Walter Hagan, Gene

Littler and Jerry Barber.

Former major league home run champion Mark McGwire, a member at

Shady Canyon Golf Club in Irvine, has accepted an invitation to

compete in the championship.