GOLF / TACO BELL NEWPORT CLASSIC : Eaks Censors the News, Stays on Course for Victory

R.W. Eaks ignored the leader board for most of the day while playing in the Taco Bell Newport Classic Saturday.

It wasn’t until he reached the 18th tee at Newport Beach Country Club that the temptation to ask overcame him. The news he got was good--at nine under, he had a two-shot lead.

He went on to make par despite hitting his second shot into a green-side trap of the par five and won the tournament by a stroke over three others. There was no celebration when Eaks, a Nike Tour player, knocked in a one-footer for par on No. 18. He shot 66-67 for a 133.

Shortly after the putt, it was announced that Tom Stankowski of Ventura, who had started on the back nine, made a birdie on eight to reach eight under. Stankowski had a chance at birdie on nine when he hit his approach shot to within about 13 feet. But his uphill putt to tie missed just right and rolled past the cup.

“I knew that at nine under I had a good chance,” said Eaks, who won $15,000. “This feels really good to get the year started this way.”

Eaks, from Scottsdale, Ariz., was one of six players tied at six under early on but his run of birdies on 11, 12 and 13 pushed him into the lead. The birdies came on putts of 10, three and 12 feet.

Eaks’ playing partner, Stan Utley of Columbia, Mo., tied him at nine under with a two-foot birdie putt on the par-five 15th. Eaks was on the fringe in two but hit a poor chip shot and missed a five-footer for birdie.

Eaks regained the lead when Utley three-putted 16 for a bogey. Eaks was in danger of making a bogey when his drive went well right and his second shot was right of the green.

But he chipped to about 10 feet and made the putt. “I knew if I was going to have any chance of winning, I had to make that putt,” he said.

Utley three-putted the par-three 17th for another bogey to fall to seven under before coming back with a birdie on 18.

Utley (66-68), Stankowski (68-66) and Jeff Hart (70-64) of Solana Beach tied for second at 134. Hart’s 64 included a six-under 30 on the back nine.

Mark Wurtz of Bermuda Dunes and Chris Smith of Peru, Ind., started the day tied for the lead after each shot 65 in the opening round. Wurtz shot 70 and finished in a tie for fifth. Smith closed with a 74.

Cathy Mockett of Newport Beach, the first woman to play in the event as a professional, shot 80-79. Hart and Charlie Rogers won the pro-am competition, finishing at 18 under.