SENIOR GOLF NOTEBOOK : Stockton Warms Up to Weather

If the temperatures get into the 80s this weekend, it will be great news for Dave Stockton.

But maybe not such great news for the rest of the field that is set to compete in the 54-hole Toshiba Senior Classic, which starts Friday at Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa.

Warm weather is something that Stockton, who is bothered by a sore back, thrives on.

His back troubles started locally--in the water off San Onofre beach.

Stockton, who was born in San Bernardino and graduated from USC, was involved in a surfing accident when he was 15.

He was hit with a surfboard and suffered a broken back.

“I perform better when it’s warm,” Stockton said. “In cold weather, I stiffen up.”

As an example, Stockton offered up his play at the FHP Health Care Classic at Ojai last month.

He opened with a 63 that included the only hole-in-one on the tour so far this season. But the weather turned cold and wet the next day, and Stockton said he was lucky to shoot 70. He lost the rain-shortened event by three shots.

“I still don’t feel like I have my game back (since Ojai),” Stockton said. “I get short and quick. . . . One of my stated goals this year was that I wanted to get off to a quicker start.”

Stockton did so by winning the GTE Suncoast Classic in Tampa, Fla., his 10th Senior PGA Tour victory. He has 11 PGA Tour titles.

Stockton also has been the top money-winner on the Senior tour the last two seasons. He earned $1.4 million last year.

“Being first on the money list the last two years I’m feeling almost bullet-proof,” Stockton said. “I’m getting a lot closer to being as good a player as I thought I could become.”

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Attendance: Almost as interesting as who will win the initial Toshiba tournament, is how well it will draw.

Don Andersen, the tournament director, said he hopes to the crowd will be about 35,000 over the three days.

“We got a tremendous break with the weather,” Andersen said. “That could be the difference on how well a first-year event does.”

Andersen is most proud of how well the event has come together in such a short time. The tournament didn’t go on the schedule until late October, 1994.

“We were really working on a short leash,” Andersen said. “But we have a wonderful group that has pulled together.”

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Around the tee box: The two pro-ams, Wednesday and today, offer tour players a chance to play the course as well as have a good time with the fans.

After a long wait on the first tee, Jim Colbert launched an impressive drive that faded into the middle of the fairway. His shot drew a loud applause and cheers from the gallery.

Colbert turned to the crowd and said: “I don’t mind the compliments, but why is everybody so surprised? What did you think? I was going to hit a grounder?”

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A team led by Don Bies won Wednesday’s pro-am with a 19-under-par 51, a shot ahead of Gary Groh and his team. Bies received $500, Groh $400. Robert Dominguez, a Monday qualifier, was low pro with a five-under 65, which was worth $500.

Today’s pro-am starts at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Lee Trevino, Bob Charles, Stockton, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Tom Weiskopf are among those playing in the morning.

Jim Albus, George Archer, Bruce Crampton and Al Geiberger are among those playing after noon.

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Friday’s First-Round Pairings, Tee Times

7:30 a.m.--Calvin Peete, Homero Blancas, Bob Dickson.

7:40--Ed Sneed, Butch Baird, Bud Allin.

7:50--Walter Zembriski, Charlie Sifford, Deane Beman.

8--Jimmy Powell, Orville Moody, Kermit Zarley.

8:10--Tom Weiskopf, J.C. Snead, Tom Shaw.

8:20--Bob Murphy, Tommy Aaron, Isao Aoki.

8:30--George Archer, Al Geiberger, Larry Gilbert.

8:40--Don Bies, Larry Ziegler, John Brodie.

8:50--Lee Trevino, Dale Douglass, Bruce Devlin.

9--Tom Wargo, Jim Dent, Bruce Crampton.

9:10--Jim Albus, Dave Eichelberger, Larry Laoretti.

9:20--Bob Charles, Harold Henning, Rocky Thompson.

9:30--Simon Hobday, Terry Dill, John Paul Cain.

9:40--Chi Chi Rodriguez, Tony Jacklin, Gibby Gilbert.

9:50--Dave Stockton, Charles Coody, Jack Kiefer.

10--Jim Colbert, DeWitt Weaver, Al Kelley.

10:10--Dave Hill, Gene Littler, Ken Still.

10:20--Gay Brewer, Bobby Nichols, Jerry McGee.

10:30--Lee Elder, Gary Groh, Bobby Mitchell.

10:40--Walt Morgan, Dick Hendrickson, Bob Brue.

10:50--Dick Rhyan, Dick Goetz, Bruce Summerhays.

11--Ben Smith, Robert Landers, Harry Toscano.

11:10--Marion Heck, Bill Hall, Art Schilling.

11:20--Robert Gaona, Chuck Montalbano, Jim Marshal.

11:30--Bob Zimmerman, Bob E. Smith, Robert Dominguez.

11:40--Tony Perla, Don Davis, Roy Abrameit.