Sunday magic on No. 18

Rick Devereux

Magical moments happened on the 18th green at Newport Beach Country

Club Sunday in the final day of the Toshiba Senior Classic.

The most memorable shot of the tournament was Mark Johnson’s final

shot of the senior golf event, a long chip that bounced past the cup

and spun into the hole to give the former beer delivery man an eagle

on the par-5 setup.

Johnson finished the day with a 1-under 70 to cap a 13-under 200

for his first Champions Tour victory.

“It’s a dream come true,” he said. “It’s been a six-year process.

It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Johnson’s chip from 90 yards was no doubt an incredible way to end

the Toshiba, but other players found ways to make a lasting

impression, as well.

John Bland, who finished tied for fourth at 8-under 205, birdied

the final hole in remarkable fashion.

Bland’s second shot skipped past the green and under a grandstand.

He was allowed a drop in a clearing for an unimpeded swing and

chipped the ball to set up a six-foot birdie putt.

Fuzzy Zoeller also finished with a birdie on the 18th to end up in

73rd with a 7-over 220, but what the 10-time PGA winner did after his

round was what was magical.

Parker Clouse, a 12-year old from Mission Viejo, asked Zoeller for

a golf ball as he was walking off the green. Zoeller asked Clouse if

he golfed. Clouse said that he did, and Zoeller proceeded to give the

youngster his set of irons, the 4-iron through wedge.

“I just wanted a ball, but I got his clubs,” Clouse said with a

smile.

This is the first time Clouse has attended the Toshiba, but this

was the third time his father, Jim, has been at the tournament.

“He’s coming with me again, that’s for sure,” Jim said.

Jim said the two golf about a dozen times in the summer and, even

though Fuzzy’s irons are too long for Parker, he will not “borrow”

them until his son grows into the gift.

“Those are his clubs now,” Jim said.

While not on the 18th hole, Brad Bryant did have a magical shot.

Bryant, who finished tied for 15th at 5-under 208, hit his first shot

long on the 203-yard eighth hole. The ball rolled behind a trio of

palm trees, making a chip shot for the right-hander all but

impossible.

Bryant held a wedge backward in his right hand, faced away from

the hole and lobbed a shot to the edge of the green. He would

two-putt for bogey, but it was a remarkable no-look wedge shot.

But the shot everyone was talking about at the end of the day was

Johnson’s eagle on No. 18.

“That was just a spectacular shot to end the tournament,”

tournament co-chairman Hank Adler said.

“That was an incredible finish,” tournament director Jeff Purser

said. “That’s the darndest shot I’ve ever seen.”

The 18th was also the spot where it was announced $1,068,000 was

raised this year for Hoag Hospital, an amount that surpasses all

other charitable donations on the Champions Tour.