January to Play in Pro-Am Portion of Senior Tournament

Don January, the leading money winner, and his six closest pursuers will tee off today at Mountaingate Country Club in the pro-am portion of the $250,000 Carta Blanca Senior Classic. First tee time is 8 a.m.

Among the celebrities participating in the first Senior tour event in Los Angeles will be Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, Ernie Banks and tournament host Johnny Mathis.

The amateurs will also participate Friday, when the 54-hole tournament begins. Saturday and Sunday will be for the professionals only.

January, the all-time top money winner on the Senior tour, which started in 1980 with more than $800,000, moved into this year’s lead when he won last week at Phoenix, boosting his winnings to $51,0000. January won $299,000 last year. Trailing him this season are Peter Thomson, Miller Barber, Orville Moody, Billy Casper, Gene Littler and Lee Elder.

All of the top seniors except Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead will play in the pro-am, as will Ken Still, the most recent PGA player to reach 50 and become eligible for the Senior tour.