A Senior Classic
The Toshiba Senior Classic, in its fifth year at Newport Beach Country Club and sixth in Orange County, is one of the most successful events on the Senior PGA Tour. One of the reasons is the fan-friendly golf course; Newport Beach Country Club is mostly flat and offers many excellent viewing locations. A closer look at the tournament and venue:
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2000 Tournament Information
Course: Newport Beach Country Club
Organizer/lead charity: Hoag Hospital Foundation
Participants: 78
Purse: $1.3 million ($195,000 to the winner)
Dates: Today-Sunday
Web site: https://www.toshibaseniorclassic.com
Tee-off: 8:30 a.m. today; 8 a.m. Saturday; 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
Parking: Free. Lot at Newport Dunes off Jamboree and Backbay Drive today and at Fashion Island Saturday and Sunday.
ESPN broadcast: Noon-2 p.m. today; 2:30-4 p.m. Saturday, 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Senior PGA Tour Facts
Eligibility: Nationally ranked players over 50
Tournaments: 39 official events
Total prize money: $54 million
Charitable donations: Exceeded $11 million in 1999.
Tricky Test
The seventh green at Newport Beach Country Club can be diabolical. The slope is severe, causing balls that hit the green to kick left. Players whose second shots wind up above the hole could have trouble making par. The green, says Superintendent Ron Benedict, is “scary fast.”
The Ones to Watch
Top golfers among the field of 78:
BRUCE FLEISHER
1999 Senior PGA Tour player of the year has won two of the first five events of 2000 and is atop the tour’s money list.
Driving distance: 266.8
Driving accuracy: 82.7%
Scoring average: 69.08
Putts per round: 29.08
HALE IRWIN
1997 and 1998 senior tour player of the year finished second and third in his two events this year.
Driving distance: 270.0
Driving accuracy: 78.6%
Scoring average: 69.33
Putts per round: 29.17
GARY MCCORD
Defending champion of the Senior Classic finished tied for second at last week’s LiquidGolf.com Invitational.
Driving distance: 286.8
Driving accuracy: 60.7%
Scoring average: 70.5
Putts per round: 29.17
TOM KITE
Senior tour rookie with 19 PGA Tour victories. Kite’s best finish as a senior was a tie for ninth at the Royal Caribbean Classic last month.
Driving distance: 270.3
Driving accuracy: 77.4%
Scoring average: 70.0
Putts per round: 30.17
LANNY WADKINS
Has 21 PGA Tour victories. Won his senior tour debut, the ACE Group Classic last month, joining a list of eight players to achieve that feat, including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Bruce Fleisher
Driving distance: 263.5
Driving accuracy: 72.6%
Scoring average: 70.44
Putting average: 29.11
Hole by Hole
*--*
Hole Par Yards 1 4 339 2 4 390 3 5 532 4 3 143 5 4 430 6 4 418 7 4 368 8 3 203 9 4 407 10 4 416 11 4 344 12 4 373 13 3 170 14 4 397 15 5 492 16 4 437 17 3 190 18 5 510
*--*
Par total: 71
Yards total: 6,559
Best Viewing Spots
* 6th tee: A small hill provides clear views of players putting on holes 2, 7, 11 and 5; tee shots of holes 3 and 6.
* 7th green: Watch golfers contend with one of the trickiest spots on the course. Other key spots are the 1st, 15th, 17th and 18th holes.
Gallery Protocol
* No cameras, cell phones, coolers, radios or signs. Lawn chairs are permitted, but must be attended at all times.
* Please observe silence throughout each shot.
* Do not move to next location until all contestants in each group have played or holed out.
Last Year’s Results
At Newport Beach Country Club -- Par 71
*--*
Name Score Par Prize 1. Gary McCord 204 -9 $180,000 2. John Jacobs 204 -9 $88,000 2. Allen Doyle 204 -9 $88,000 2. Al Geiberger 204 -9 $88,000
*--*
McCord won playoff on fifth extra hole.
* Purse: $1.2 million
* Amount raised for charity: $828,500
* Total attendance: 65,000
Source: Newport Beach Country Club, Toshiba Senior Classic, Times reports