Florida Foe Leads to Investigation

The golf teams at Santa Margarita and Servite high schools are under investigation by the Southern Section for possible rules violations related to matches last month against Lake Highland Prep of Orlando, Fla.

Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton said Santa Margarita and Servite, ranked No. 1 and 4, respectively, in Orange County, did not have section approval to play out-of-state teams. Staunton also plans to verify each team’s schedule to ensure the schools are not violating the section’s 18-match limit by counting the Lake Highland match as an exhibition.

Ty Tryon, a Lake Highland Prep sophomore, finished 39th at the PGA Tour Honda Classic March 11, a day before his high school team visited Southern California for three matches. The Highlanders are under investigation by the Florida State High School Activities Assn. for playing out-of-season matches.

RECORD DONATION

The Toshiba Senior Classic donated $1.035 million to charity, breaking its record for largest single donation in the 22-year history of the Senior PGA Tour.

Last year, the Senior Classic donated $1.011 million, becoming the first Senior Tour event to surpass the $1-million mark. It remains the only event on tour to donate more than $1 million.

The majority of this year’s proceeds ($900,000) will be used to help fund the Hoag Women’s Pavilion, a seven-story health services facility that will open in 2004. Nine other charities will split the balance of the proceeds.

NET AMATEUR BERTHS

Regan Kusmes of Newport Beach, Randy Cumming of Mission Viejo and Philip Lawler of Lake Forest qualified Tuesday for the President’s Flight of the SCGA Net Amateur Championship.

Kusmes shot a net seven-under-par 65 at the SCGA Members Club to lead all qualifiers in the President’s Flight, for those with an index of 7.4 or lower.

Steve Maguire of Laguna Niguel qualified in the Vice President’s Flight (7.5-12.4); Larry Walraven of Laguna Niguel and George Pyle of Tustin qualified in the Secretary’s Flight (12.5-18.4); and Ken Tucker of Irvine, Phil Eaton of Rancho Santa Margarita and Sal Mangano of Mission Viejo qualified in the Treasurer’s Flight (18.5 and higher).

BOLLINI MISSES CUT

Nico Bollini shot 74-74--148 and missed the cut in the Argentine Open, a European PGA Tour Event last week in Buenos Aries.

Bollini, a Servite High senior, qualified for the tournament by winning the Argentine Amateur championship. He tied for 115th in the 153-player field and missed the cut by five strokes. It was the first professional event for Bollini, who was playing as an amateur and will attend USC next year.

SPECIAL TEAM

The Saddleback College men’s team has had quite a run this season, shooting a course-record one-under-par 359 at Tijeras Creek two weeks ago, then shooting a school-record seven-under 348 at Rio Hondo in Downey two days later.

But the highlight of the season might be what the Gauchos are doing off the course. For the third consecutive year, the team is helping athletes prepare for the Special Olympics Summer Games golf competition.

The team will join Marty LaRoche, the Tijeras Creek head pro, each Saturday for the next five weeks at Tijeras Creek to help with the basics of golf. Approximately 30 athletes will attend the clinics, which run from 1-2:30.

“It’s one of the many little highlights of our season,” Saddleback Coach Bill Cunerty said. “Our guys really look forward to working with these kids.”

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TEE TIMES

APRIL

* 5: SCGA Amateur Net qualifying, El Dorado Park GC, Long Beach.

* 9: Larry Syhre Memorial Tournament, Coto de Caza. Benefits Pediatric Adolescent Diabetes Research and Education. Information: (800) 851-3543.

* 10: SCGA Amateur Net qualifying, Sundale CC, Bakersfield/Meadow Lake GC, Escondido.

* 11: SCGA Amateur Net qualifying, SCGA Members Club, Murrieta/Doubletree Resort, San Diego.

* 11: Entry deadline for California Amateur Championship.

* 12: SCGA Amateur Net qualifying, Menifee Lakes CC/Via Verde CC, San Dimas.

* 19-20: SCPGA Senior Pro-Pro Sweeps, Soule Park GC/Ojai Valley Inn and Spa.

* 21: Lifestream Invitational, Westridge GC. Cost is $110. Benefits Lifestream Worship Center in Norwalk. Information: (310) 320-6553 or (310) 518-0451.

* 23: Newport Beach Open, Newport Beach CC. Cost is $275. Open to professionals and amateurs. Information: (949) 729-4400 or www.NewportBeach.com.

* 23: SCPGA Four-ball Stroke-play Championship, El Niguel CC.

* 25: Entry deadline for U.S. Open qualifying.

* 28: Huntington Beach City Championship, Meadowlark GC. Cost is $80. Open to men and women. Registration deadline is April 5. Information: (714) 536-5486.

* 29: Mission Viejo High School Softball tournament, Strawberry Farms. Cost is $160, benefits Mission Viejo softball team. Information: (949) 589-1135.

* 28-29: Anaheim City Championship, Dad Miller GC.

* 30: Children in Poverty Golf Tournament, Navy GC, Seal Beach. Cost is $100. Information: (714) 241-3135.

* 30: SCGA Amateur Net Championship, Desert Princess CC, Cathedral City/Cimarron Golf Resort, Cathedral City.

* 30: SCPGA Four-ball Match Play Championship, PGA of Southern California GC, Calimesa.

MAY

* 1-2: SCPGA Senior Four-Ball Championship, PGA of Southern California GC, Calimesa.