Virgen’s View: Time for Mesa Verde to shine

Mesa Verde Country Club possesses rich history, as it was home to five PGA tour events and four LPGA tournaments.

Nancy Lopez won twice there. There’s a room dedicated to “Champagne” Tony Lema, who garnered the nickname after serving bubbly to the media after he won the 1962 Orange County Open Invitational.

George Archer won the first Toshiba Classic at Mesa Verde in 1995 before the Champions Tour event moved to the Newport Beach Country Club.

Today, Mesa Verde is an iconic landmark amid large homes. There is pride regarding two of its honorary members. Brian Campbell and Jake Knapp are young up-and-comers, Campbell on the pro tour and Knapp on the Canadian tour.

The timing seems perfect for the 18^th annual Jones Cup to roll onto Mesa Verde on Thursday. Tom Sargent, the head pro in his 22^nd year at MVCC, is certainly excited for the tournament, featuring local country clubs, Big Canyon, Newport Beach, Santa Ana and Shady Canyon, vying for the Jones Cup/bragging rights.

There is something special, most definitely unique, about Mesa Verde in comparison to the other clubs in the Jones Cup. Some might view MVCC as simple, as the other four clubs are more upscale, with Shady Canyon being the newest and Newport Beach and Santa Ana recently receiving significant renovations. Big Canyon can boast that Fred Couples is a member, and in the past Tiger Woods was as well, and the course has gained a reputation in golf circles as the finest in Newport with celebrities, such as Michael Jordan, playing there.

Mesa Verde can boast that it is home of the Jones Cup, in more ways than one, because the club won the 17^th edition last year.

Sargent, affectionately known as “Sarge,” was careful when describing Mesa Verde in comparison to the other competing clubs. He didn’t want to knock theirs, and stuck to the beauty at Mesa Verde.

“It’s a good, solid golf course,” Sargent said. “There’s nothing Mickey Mouse about it. It’s just straightforward golf. It’s a good test. It plays a lot longer than the yardage … You really have to play well.”

The one-day tournament in a best-ball format will assuredly be a challenging test for Mesa Verde.

“It’s harder to play on your home track,” Sargent said. “That never makes you a favorite. Everyone thinks you’re going to win. Also, it’s hard to win twice in a row, but we will give it our best shot.”

Mesa Verde won its fifth Jones Cup last year when it beat Shady Canyon in a playoff. It was MVCC’s first cup win since 2010.

This year’s MVCC team features four from last year, including Sargent, club pro Mike Fergin, men’s champion Ryan Gale and senior men’s champ Mitch Allenspach. Kim Izzi, Mesa Verde’s ladies champion, is the club’s new player.

Last year’s ladies champ, Madelaine Campbell, who was also on MVCC’s 2010 winning team, is now playing for Santa Ana. She’s a member of both clubs. Maybe the SACC ladies champion will be a good-luck charm, as Santa Ana remains in search of its first Jones Cup victory.

Big Canyon has won nine Jones Cup events, the last in 2013 when Big-C completed a three-peat.

Newport Beach has won twice, Shady Canyon once.

“It’s just fun to play against the other clubs,” Sargent said. “Most of us know each other real well. It’s for local bragging rights, and we remind each other during the year. It’s just fun, fun for the members. Our members have come out to watch us every one of the 18 years.”

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18^th annual Jones Cup tee times

Shady Canyon – 12:30 p.m.

Newport Beach – 12:40 p.m.

Santa Ana – 12:50 p.m.

Big Canyon – 1 p.m.

Mesa Verde – 1:10 p.m.

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18^th annual Jones Cup rosters

Big Canyon – Robert Pang (captain), Chris Valeriano (professional), Jillian Braverman (ladies champion), Will Tipton (men’s champion), Don Wynne (senior men’s champion).

Mesa Verde – Tom Sargent (captain), Mike Fergin (pro), Kim Izzi (ladies champion), Ryan Gale (men’s champion), Mitch Allenspach (senior men’s champion).

Newport Beach – Carlo Borunda (captain), Derek Cole (pro), Debbie Fleming (ladies champion), Haeseung Lee (men’s champion), Bart Thomsen (senior men’s champion).

Santa Ana – Geoff Cochrane (captain), Nick Kumpis (pro), Madelaine Campbell (ladies champion), Gavin Reid (men’s champion), Greg Hopkins (senior men’s champion).

Shady Canyon – Brian Gunson (captain), Kirk Manley (pro), Robyn Puckett (ladies champion), Kevin Baker (men’s champion), Charles Kavanaugh (senior men’s champion).

steven.virgen@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveVirgen