Coming up Big again

NEWPORT BEACH — The ninth annual Jones Cup featured something that has never happened before, yet something that always seems to happen.

The Jones Cup, which pits the top players from each of the four country clubs in the Newport-Mesa area, had its first three-team playoff Tuesday at Newport Beach Country Club.

Big Canyon Country Club won its sixth Jones Cup as Will Tipton dazzled the gallery with an eagle putt and Bob Lovejoy nailed a birdie on 18, the playoff hole. That helped Big Canyon beat out Newport Beach and Santa Ana in the three-team playoff.

Mesa Verde was left out of the playoff, finishing in fourth with an eight-under-par 63 finish in the two-best-ball format. Big Canyon, Newport Beach and Santa Ana had tied at 11 under after 18 holes.

Robert Pang, Warren Caves and Martha Redfearn also played for champion Big Canyon, which also captured its second straight championship.

— Steve Virgen