GOLF ROUNDUP

NOTHING HALFWAY ABOUT HIS EFFORT

Newport Beach’s Warren Caves has qualified for next month’s Southern California Golf Assn. Mid-Amateur Championship in Murrieta.

Caves, a member at Big Canyon Country Club, tied for eighth in qualifying at the SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta, shooting one-over par 73. The 57-year-old had four birdies and five bogeys in his round.

Costa Mesa’s Laurent Khaiat and Newport Beach’s Regan Kusmes did not advance out of qualifying at the SCGA Course. Two other locals ? Newport Beach’s John Carrido and Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club member Tim Moyers ? played in another qualifier at Wood Ranch Golf Club in Simi Valley, but also did not qualify.

Additional qualifying tournaments are scheduled for Monday at Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano, and March 21 at Angeles National Golf Club in Sunland.

The SCGA Mid-Amateur, a 54-hole tournament open to players 25 and older with a handicap index of 5.4 or lower, will be played April 10-11 at Bear Creek Golf Club.

DRIVING WITH CELEBRITIES

The Long Drive Golf Assn. has announced a celebrity long drive exhibition that will be held before the organization’s inaugural event, the Costa Mesa Classic, March 25 at Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club.

Scheduled to participate are former Major League Baseball players John “Blue Moon” Odom, Clyde Wright, Rich Amaral, Brent Mayne and Jeff Gardner, and former NFL players Vince Ferragamo, Leroy Irvin and Reggie Doss.

Each participant will hit six balls, with the longest drive winning. The LDGA will make a donation to the winner’s charity of choice.

The event will start at noon. For more information, call (714) 963-4406, or visit the tournament website at www.ldgatour.com.

COUNTDOWN TO TOSHIBA

The Merry Mex has returned.

Toshiba Classic organizers announced that Lee Trevino will play in next week’s PGA Champions Tour event at the Newport Beach Country Club. Trevino, who had played the first nine Toshiba tournaments, missed last season’s event after undergoing surgery on his lower back.

Players have until 2 p.m. Friday to commit to playing in the Toshiba Classic.