GOLF ROUNDUP

SALT-ING AWAY THE MONEY

Costa Mesa native Bryan Saltus scored the biggest payday of his professional career over the weekend when he finished second at the Asian Tour’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open.

Saltus carded a 16-under-par 272 at Lakeside Country Club in Seoul, South Korea, to finish one shot behind Suk Jong-ryul. The Newport Harbor High graduate took home $78,125 for his performance, which included a chip-in birdie on the 11th hole during the final round.

“It’s a nice feeling,” Saltus told reporters afterward. “I can’t imagine what I’m going to buy myself with the money that I’ve won.”

The runner-up finish vaulted Saltus to No. 20 on the Asian Tour’s money list with $83,750 in earnings this year.

His next event is this weekend’s SK Telecom Open, which will include American Michelle Wie, who’s playing the tournament on a sponsor’s exemption.

CGA AMATEUR

Newport Coast’s Amit Chopra has qualified for the California Golf Assn. Amateur Championships next month at Pebble Beach.

Chopra tied for first in sectional qualifying at the Golf Club of California in Fallbrook, firing a one-under-par 71. He made six birdies in the round and tied with Alpine’s Sean Schweikert for medalist honors.

The Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club member nearly won the qualifier outright, but made double bogey on the 18th hole.

The CGA Amateur will be held June 19-24 at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course.

A pair of golfers with local ties did not advance out of qualifying. Newport Beach’s David Franey and Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club member Tim Moyers each shot three-over and finished tied for 17th.

CGA SENIOR AMATEUR

Newport Beach’s Dennis Noren qualified for the California Golf Assn. Senior Amateur Championships with a 13th-place finish in qualifying at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena. Noren shot a five-over-par 77 to tie with seven other golfers for 13th.

In addition, Costa Mesa resident Farrell Hinkle tied for 21st at six-over and will be an alternate for the tournament, scheduled for June 22-24 at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.

Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club member Roland Balangit, Newport Beach resident Ray Biggerstaff and Newport Coast’s Dave Patty did not advance out of the qualifier.

RATE-A-COURSE

Golf Digest’s May issue includes a listing of “America’s Best Places to Play,” with course ratings by readers for more than 8,000 North American courses.

Two courses in the Newport-Mesa area received ratings from readers.

Not surprisingly, Pelican Hill Golf Club’s Ocean North and Ocean South courses each received 4 1/2 stars out of a possible five. Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club’s Mesa Linda Course received a rating of three stars, with the Los Lagos Course receiving 3 1/2 stars.