TOSHIBA CLASSIC NOTEBOOK:

NEWPORT BEACH — Toshiba officials announced that five players will be making their tournament debut this year and at least one of those, Sandy Lyle, is making the Toshiba Classic his first stop on the PGA Classic Tour.

The other players, John Cook, Bernard Langer, Fred Funk and Jeff Sluman are all playing in the Toshiba for the first time in their careers.

With other players joining these five, like Jay Haas, Tom Kite, Lee Trevino, Gary Player and Hale Irwin, Toshiba officials say they have assembled the deepest field in the tournament.

 Speaking of new things to the Toshiba, another fresh event is the “Swing from the Green” recycling event.

Toshiba officials announced this new program as a way to help the environment and cut back on what is known as e-waste.

To take part, Toshiba organizers say those who bring in old electronic equipment, like desktop PCs, laptops, computer monitors and printers will receive two free tickets to the tournament for every item.

According to a press statement, Mark Simons, vice president and general manager, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc, said: “By providing two free one-day passes to the tournament for bringing an electronic device to recycle, we hope to give everyone a day of entertainment and instill a sense of environmental responsibility for the future as they dispose of devices that have long since served their purpose.”

 The tournament festivities get back underway today at 7 a.m. starting with the Breakfast of Champions at the Newport Beach Marriott. The breakfast headliner is Jay Haas who will answer questions from Daily Pilot Publisher Tom Johnson. Twelve local high school students will also be honored with Toshiba laptop computers and two of the 12 will win $10,000 scholarships each. Immediately after the breakfast, the fourth annual Shot from the Top takes place on the roof of the 16-story Marriott Hotel. Pro golfers and members of the media team up with high school students to hit a shot onto a green below. The student winners will also get a Toshiba laptop.

 Want to know what you look like hitting out of the sand trap? Or how about your tee shot? The Daily Pilot is shooting photos of amateurs at all three of the pro-ams and the Shot from the Top and offering them for sale online. To see the photos go to www.dailypilot.com/toshiba_classic ... Half of the proceeds from the sale of the photos will be donated to the Toshiba and Hoag.

TONY DODERO may be reached at (714) 966-4608 or by e-mail at tony.dodero@latimes.com.