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Toshiba Classic
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NEWPORT BEACH—The name of three-time PGA Tour winner Olin Browne has surfaced in golf media outlets over the last few months — but not because of what the 50-year-old has done on the golf course. Browne’s daughter, Alexandra, has been involved in a high-profile relationship — at least in professional golf standards. She is the girlfriend of 21-year-old Tour rookie and Murrieta native Rickie Fowler, who has already contended in two events in 2010 and solidified himself as one of the sport’s stars of tomorrow. But in Friday’s first round of the Toshiba Classic, Olin made it back into the news for a more familiar reason, posting a 5-under-par 66 to share fourth place at the Champions Tour’s annual stop in Newport Beach. Paired with co-leader Bob Tway, the 50-year-old made six birdies and an unfortunate bogey on the par-5 third, one of the easiest holes at Newport Beach Country Club. He finished with 28 total putts, a respectable number considering the layout’s putting surfaces are regarded as some of the most treacherous on the senior circuit. “I would have liked to have made a few more putts, but I think that’s the nature of this golf course,” said Browne, whose last professional win came in 2005 at the PGA Tour’s Deutsche Bank Championship. Browne is a former member of the men’s golf team at Occidental College, located in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Eagle Rock, and has a lot of friends following him this week. Plus, his son, Olin Jr., is a senior at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Alexandra is a freshman at Pepperdine. “It’s great to come out and see my kids,” Olin said. “It’s good to be back in the area.” Browne has yet to find a groove on the Champions Tour. He had a respectable debut campaign in 2009 with four top-10 finishes in 13 events, and has experienced a ho-hum 2010 season with ties for 17th and 22nd in two tournaments. One aspect he’s enjoying in ’10 thus far is seeing senior rookies like Corey Pavin, Fred Couples and Paul Azinger, players whom he was used to seeing on a regular basis when he was a full-time PGA Tour member. We’ve all known each other for 20 years — some guys longer than that because they played junior golf together. It’s good to come out here and see people I haven’t seen in a number of years,” Browne said. “It’s a lot of fun to be here.” Saturday’s second round tee times have been moved up to an 8:30 a.m. start in an effort to conclude play before scattered showers reach the Newport Beach area in the afternoon. Click here for a complete leaderboard. Check back to Southland Golf throughout the weekend for more coverage of the Toshiba Classic. ALSO SEE: Shot From the Top is fun at 16 stories Five local players to watch at Toshiba Classic Breaking down the 2010 Toshiba Classic field John Cook ready for 2010 Champions Tour season Toshiba Classic persists, but Champions Tour stop at Valencia folds |
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