Golf tournament to benefit 1/1 Marines, families

Newport Beach will tee off for a good cause with a golf tournament Nov. 12 to benefit the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Proceeds from the event will provide support for the troops and their families.

Opening ceremonies will begin 10 a.m. led by the 1st Marines Regimental Color Guard and the Nicholson Pipes and Drums Corps with Ed Arnold of KOCE-TV’s Real Orange as emcee. Ms. America 2006-07 will greet golfers at the tournament.

Golfers will play a scramble format with a shogun start 11 a.m. at Newport Beach Country Club. Every foursome will get the opportunity to play with a Marine as a fifth golfer for at least part of the course.

Prizes will include cars, cash, sports-massage therapy and a million-dollar shootout.

Although the bulk of the 1st Battalion will remain in Iraq for several more months, several of its members are at Camp Pendleton — including some who are recuperating from wounds. So a small group, representing the entire Battalion, will be on hand. Newport Beach officially adopted the battalion in December 2003.

For more information, call the Newport Beach 1/1 Committee at (949) 644-3202, Tournament Chairman Dan Marcheano at (949) 645-7077 or Event Coordinator Daiva Rugienius at (714) 573-0110. Donation checks may be made out to: The city of Newport Beach — 1/1 Fund and sent to 3300 Newport Blvd., P.O. Box 1768, Newport Beach, CA 92658-8915.

— Brianna Bailey