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The mini-California swing of the Champions Tour might be only two events, but the tournaments provided enough quality moments to fill up two months. The Toshiba Classic at the Newport Beach Country Club and the AT&T Champions Classic at Valencia Country Club have been back to back for several years and the pros usually play in both because of the ease of the schedule. This year, more stars entered because of the weeklong break after the AT&T. Loren Roberts, Jay Haas, Tom Kite, Fuzzy Zoeller and Hale Irwin, among others, played in both tournaments. There were plenty of winners at these events and what follows are some of the highlights. TOM PURTZER It was a battle of the bad backs as he and Loren Roberts slugged it out for four extra holes at the AT&T Champ-ions Classic before Purtzer won with a long birdie putt. Both golfers have had back problems, but neither let it show during the playoff that ended just before dark. It was the longest playoff on the Champions Tour since 2002. LOREN ROBERTS Though he didn’t win the AT&T, he did set a Champions Tour record for consecutive rounds at par or better. On Friday he broke Larry Nelson’s mark of 32 and then stretched it to 35 with sub- par rounds on Saturday and Sunday. JAY HAAS He didn’t allow for any suspense on Sunday at the Toshiba Classic, taking his second-round lead and not letting anyone close to him. The 53-year-old broke the tournament record with 19-under par and won the event by two strokes. It was his first victory of the season on the Champions Tour. VALENCIA COUNTRY CLUB The course, which is one of the favorites on the Champions Tour, signed an extension with AT&T to host the event through 2008. The club has hosted the tournament since 2001. HOAG HOSPITAL The benefactor of the Toshiba Classic got its eighth consecutive check for more than $1 million and has now collected more than $10 million in 10 years. The Newport Beach hospital uses the money for various programs. MARK O’MEARA The former Mission Viejo resident made his debut on the Champions Tour this year. At the Toshiba Classic, playing on a course he played in high school, he spent the week visiting with old friends and making some new ones, as evidenced by the size of his gallery. O’Meara had a decent tournament, finishing tied for fifth. The following week at the AT&T Champions Classic he finished tied for 10th. MARK McCUMBER McCumber had the pleasure of having his 15-year-old son, Tyler, caddy for him during the AT&T. “He’s a better golfer than I am,” McCumber said. But the week was more than just golf. It allowed the two to spend time together and McCumber said it was something he definitely looked forward to doing with his son. THE FANS The galleries were not only treated to some incredible golf, but also got to interact with some of the professionals through clinics held at both events. The Champions Tour players are far more accessible than those on the PGA Tour and many were milling around common areas after their rounds talking to fans. Those who played in the pro-am ate lunch with their amateur partners after the round. BEN CRENSHAW The part-time Dana Point resident has not won on the Champions Tour, but is playing some of his best golf right now. At the Toshiba, Crenshaw shot rounds of 65, 67 and 68 to finish tied for third, his best finish on the tour since he joined in 2002. He has cured his woes with the driver and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the winner’s circle this year. PETER JACOBSEN How about the toughness of one of golf’s funniest guys? Jacobsen was in Florida having a procedure done on his back and was playing golf at the Toshiba a week later. Not only did he compete, he finished tied for fifth. “I went from the operating room to the media room,” Jacobsen quipped. SG |
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