Golf Channel

Tony Altobelli As any golf hacker knows, "You drive for show, but you chip and putt for dough." The same law also holds true in high school and for Newport Harbor High sophomore Daniel Kush, it's that phase of the game which helps him cash in on the opposition. "That's definitely what I work the most on," Kush said. "I think that's my biggest strength out there." With "Tiger mania" sweeping the world and everyone trying to rip the ball 300-plus yards, Kush's biggest advantage comes when the ball is on the green.

Past Toshiba Classic champions, and the top 30 players on the Champions Tour, amassing hundreds of wins combined, will tee it up at the 19th annual tournament, set to tee off March 11-17 at Newport Beach Country Club, the Toshiba Classic announced Tuesday. Among those committed include 2008 Toshiba Classic winner Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Fred Funk, Mark Calcavecchia, 2007 Toshiba Classic winner Jay Haas, 2010 Toshiba Classic winner Fred Couples, part-time Corona del Mar resident John Cook, Corey Pavin and Toshiba Classic defending champion Loren Roberts.

The Toshiba Classic 2007 version is now in the books, and judging by the cash it brought in for Hoag Hospital, bookkeepers are plenty busy right now. That's because this year's tournament raked in a record $1.31 million. All week long, tournament organizers were boasting that the Toshiba Classic was going to make $10 million worth of charitable contributions to Hoag in 10 years. This year's tournament ensured that boasting was justified, as the official tally is now $10.1 million, including a $10,000 check from the PGA. That money, as Hoag CEO Richard Afable noted last week, goes to help fund some of the hospital's most prized care facilities.

As dozens of professional golfers stream into Newport Beach for this year's Toshiba Classic, hotels and businesses are preparing for the influx of athletes, media and support staff. The tournament can mean big bucks for the city's hospitality industry and premium exposure for Newport Beach and the dozens of corporate sponsors that tag their logos onto the event. "The biggest win is the exposure Newport Beach gets as a whole," said Bill Gunderson, manager of the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa, which is serving as the main sponsor of the event.

1. What is the unusual name of a Newport Coast resident who volunteers with Project Access, a Newport Beach-based organization that assists low-income residents of 13 sites throughout Southern California? A. Grizzly Adams B. Paris Westin C. Bugs Rabbitt D. Honeybee Hyatt 2. Environmental regulators are considering putting restrictions on what boating-related item? A. Anchors B. Boats C. Paint D. Sail material 3. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian got the OK to build 130,000 square feet of new facilities where?

Richard Dunn Jake Paine, a 3-year-old South County boy who made a hole-in-one last summer, apparently already has a PR agent, who is touting him as "the nation's youngest celebrity golfer." While those words might apply a degree of pressure to young Paine's development in the game, he's about to play 18 holes for the first time Monday in a charity tournament at Newport Beach Country Club. Since scoring an ace on the 66-yard hole No. 6 at the Lake Forest Golf and Practice Center, Paine has appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" and "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," but has yet to play 18 holes on a real golf course.

Richard Dunn NEWPORT BEACH - There's quite a difference between Doug Tewell this year at the Toshiba Senior Classic and Doug Tewell last year here as a Senior PGA Tour rookie. On the bubble in 2000, Tewell was the tournament's first alternate and never got a chance to tee it up in the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club. Tewell, however, played nearby Big Canyon Country Club a few times with his good friend, Roland Osgood, and other Big Canyon members.

Vanguard University senior Amanda Couch has been named Golden State Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week in women's soccer. Couch had a goal and an assist in Saturday's 3-0 home conference win over Arizona Christian and added a goal in a 2-0 GSAC triumph over San Diego Christian on Oct. 3. Couch leads the No. 11-ranked Lions in assists (six) and is second in goals (six) and points (18). Vanguard is 9-2, 5-0 in conference and has posted shutouts in five straight wins.

The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, based in Newport Beach, has announced the four finalists for the 2011 Lott IMPACT Trophy in college football. They are (in alphabetical order): Emmanuel Acho of Texas, Dont'a Hightower of Alabama, Luke Kuechly of Boston College and Manti Te'o of Notre Dame. All four are linebackers. Acho is a senior while the other three are juniors. The award goes to the defensive player who has had the biggest IMPACT on his team, both on and off the field.

NEWPORT BEACH - As if John Cook needed more of an advantage at the Toshiba Classic this week. The 11-time PGA Tour winner, who grabbed his ninth victory on the Champions Tour in January, doesn't totally have an edge on the Newport Beach Country Club golf course. But it's safe to say Cook is in his comfort zone. He owns a home in nearby Corona del Mar and is just "five minutes," away from NBCC. Cook calls it a bonus, as he looks to add to his hot start on the Champions Tour this year.