NINTH ANNUAL JONES CUP:

When Jones Cup veteran Bob Lovejoy was asked about his expectations for his team in this year’s tournament, he confidently replied, “Win.”

Big Canyon Country Club has such a high standard for good reason. The club has won five titles. Its five-person team will attempt to defend its title in the ninth annual Jones Cup on Tuesday at Newport Beach Country Club.

All eyes will be on the Big Canyon squad as they attempt to repeat and continue to dominate the Jones Cup.

Last year, the team didn’t seem to be a threat because its key golfer Will Tipton was absent from competition on tournament day.

But with some big shots by Tipton’s replacement Mike Carpenter and a title-clinching birdie on the 18th by Warren Cave, Big Canyon took home its fifth Jones Cup.

The tournament brings the five best players from each of the Newport-Mesa country clubs: Big Canyon Country Club, Mesa Verde Country Club, Newport Beach Country Club and Santa Ana Country Club. The teams will play a best-ball format.

The roster for Big Canyon is solid with club pro Robert Pang, ladies champ Martha Redfearn, men’s champ Tipton, senior men’s champ Caves and captain Lovejoy leading the way.

Four of the five are from last year’s championship team and with Tipton returning to the tournament squad, it looks like this team will be hard to beat. However, with last year’s contest only being decided by one stroke, it will be up to Big Canyon’s experience to give the quintet the edge.

The group’s leading voice of encouragement and wisdom will come from Lovejoy and his experience from playing in the Jones Cup since it started in 2000. He won his first Jones Cup in 2001 and has been on the team for each of the five victories Big Canyon has racked up in the eight-year history of the Jones Cup.

“We will need to play really good.” Lovejoy said. “All the teams have great players and it will be hard to remain defending champs.”

Lovejoy is also looking forward to playing on the NBCC course.

“I am excited about it being at the Newport Beach Country Club because the course is always in great shape,” he said.

Redfearn was also on last year’s winning team and knows that no matter what condition the golf course is in, the team needs to make putts in order to win. She helped to top the competition in last year’s bout by making an eagle on the second hole.

“It’s always a fun day of golf,” Redfearn said. “But since it’s not at [Big Canyon] this year it may be a little more difficult.”

With the history of the tournament being dominated by Big Canyon, it will be no surprise if Lovejoy, Pang, Redfearn, Tipton and Caves have a target on their backs. But that will not matter come tee-time and the Jones Cup crowd may be in store for another Big Canyon victory.

MARK RATTO may be reached at (714) 966-4616.