Toshiba takes off

With a brisk breeze clearing the air the day before, all of Orange County was in clear view Tuesday, and from my vantage point, I could see the Pacific Ocean glistening on the horizon.

That vantage point was the roof of the 16-story Newport Beach Marriott, where the fourth annual Shot from the Top took place with a view nothing short of majestic.

“There is not a better panoramic view in all of Newport Beach,” said Laura Mettler, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. “Probably all of Orange County.”

But for 30-plus people on that roof, the object was to focus less on the breathtaking view and instead zero in on the second hole of the Newport Beach Country Club, 162 feet below.

Not an easy chore when you are shaking like a leaf.

The anxiety wasn’t a fear of heights, but of jamming my golf club into the mat and sending the ball ricocheting through the crowds behind me.

But Newport Harbor High golf team members Ali Thomas and Mychael Clark didn’t have the jitters.

The pair, along with seven other pairs of high school athletes, won the right to compete and to win Toshiba computers for their schools.

“I’m so excited to have this opportunity to hit some shots off the top of a hotel with some pros,” Ali said.

Mychael agreed.

“I think qualifying was a little more scary,” he said. “I’m probably never going to have the chance to do this again.”

Hosted by CBS golf personality and professional golfer Gary McCord, the Shot from the Top has taken on a life of its own in its four years, becoming a media-charged event.

Eight high school teams consisting of two students, one professional and one journalist hit two balls off the top of the roof and onto the green.

The winners accumulate points based on how close they get to the hole.

The first professional golfer to tee off was Andy Bean. McCord added some drama to the event and had Bean blindfolded for his shot.

That didn’t matter to Bean, who dropped his first ball seven feet from the hole.

“You can’t hit it seven feet to the hole blindfolded,” an incredulous McCord said. “We might have found an answer to your game, Andy Bean.”

When Ali took her turn on the mat, McCord asked her who her role model was.

“My mom,” she said.

“Good,” McCord said. “I was just hoping it wasn’t Britney Spears.”

In the end, Ali and Mychael, who dropped his ball 20 feet from the hole, tied for third with Laguna Hills High, both schools taking home a passel of laptops care of Toshiba.

With a 250-point score, Trabuco Hills High won the biggest laptop prize, finishing in first place in the Shot from the Top for the second year in a row.

As for yours truly, well, you see, my first shot sailed low and way past the green, and it looked like it bounced off a spectator’s umbrella. I’m not too sure about that.

But taking a deep breath for my second shot, I glanced behind me and heard my friend John Reger’s advice.

“Nothing but fairways and greens,” he said.

So I slowed down my backswing and voila, I landed on the fringe for a 10-point score.

Now that wasn’t enough to help my team, University High, from finishing near last place.

But hey, there is always next year.

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