Richard Dunn
At this pace, the Newport Beach Open could serve as "the (golf)
niche right behind the Toshiba Senior Classic," which Richard Luehrs of
the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce is talking about.
With a larger professional field, increased prize money and close to 200
total players expected to tee it up Monday at Newport Beach Country Club,
the sixth annual event, presented by Tommy Bahama and hosted by the
chamber of commerce, is knocking on the door in becoming a recognized
mini-tour stop in the Southern California PGA.
"Next year, we hope to have ourselves indexed on the tournament schedule
where all of the Southern California pros will be aware of our event,"
said Jeff Parker, director of operations for the chamber.
"We want (the pros) to give us a look. We want to under-promise and
over-deliver in terms of tournament experience. We're in a growth
program, but it has been a successful product for us. With the amount of
time of energy placed on golf in this area, we feel the chamber is right
on target as far as what it needs to offer to the general public."
In addition to the play of corporate foursomes in the afternoon (2 p.m.
shotgun start), more than 50 pros and 30 amateurs (with handicaps of 12
and under) will compete in the morning round (9 a.m. shotgun).
Parker said the total purse for pros is up to $10,000 (a $2,000 increase
from 1999), including a watch worth about $4,000.
Last year, former UCI standout Perry Parker (Dana Point) won the event
with a 69, the second year of the new format that includes pros. Eric
Woods (a Corona del Mar High product and pro on the Canadian Tour), was
the first pro to win the Newport Beach Open in 1998.
Parker last year made double bogey on 17, then made birdie on 18, getting
to the par-five green in two about 40 feet from the flag. Parker
two-putted to win by a stroke ahead of runners-up Bruce Hooper (Newport
Beach) and John Burkle (Aliso Viejo) at 70 each. Ken Wiese, Brad Greer
and Darren Ernst, all of Huntington Beach, shot even-par 71.
Last year's women's title was captured by Wendy Davidson of Palm Desert.
Perhaps the best part of the Newport Beach Open is the $250 player fee,
which includes golf, lunch, course beverages, a tee bag with merchandise
and admission to Casino Night on Saturday at Sterling BMW in Newport
Beach -- the wildest party this side of the Toshiba Senior Classic.
The tee bag will include a Tommy Bahama shirt and a custom pair of
Foot-Joy golf shoes, said Luehrs, the chamber's chief executive the past
