Fergin, Watkins Earn Spots in PGA Event

Mike Fergin of Tustin and Stan Watkins of Newport Beach are among six golfers who earned berths in the PGA Tour’s Buick Invitational through qualifying Monday in San Diego County.

Fergin, a member of the Canadian Tour and a former employee at Newport Beach Country Club, shot a 10-under-par 62 to win a qualifier at El Camino Country Club in Oceanside. Dave Staton of Phoenix shot 66 at El Camino to earn his spot.

Watkins, a California mini-tour regular who played at Clarmont-Mudd-Scripps College, shot 65 to win a qualifier at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course. Kevin Na, 16, of Diamond Bar, birdied the first hole of a six-way playoff to claim another spot.

David Stephens of Lakewood and Paul Holtby of Moorpark earned spots through SCPGA qualifying at Torrey Pines.

The Buick Invitational is today through Sunday at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. Tickets: (619) 220-TIXS.

SENIOR DAY

The Toshiba Senior Classic will implement a senior day, offering half-priced tickets to spectators 60 and over during the first round March 2 at Newport Beach Country Club.

Tickets must be purchased at the gate on the day of the event and will be $9. Regular admission is $18.

Defending champion Allen Doyle, 2000 Senior Tour player of the year Larry Nelson and golf icon Tom Watson are among those who will play at Newport Beach, March 2-4. Information: (949) 515-4840 or www.ToshibaSeniorClassic.com.

SUMMER SPRINGS TO ACTION

Mel Summer has been selected course superintendent for Black Gold Golf Club, which opens this spring in Yorba Linda.

Summer, a Class A member of the Golf Course Superintendents Assn. of America, has previously worked at Summit Golf in Corona, Costa Mesa Country Club and Pelican Hill.

CUP RUNNETH IN OC

Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa has been selected as the site for the 2001 Girls’ Junior America’s Cup Team Matches, Aug. 6-9.

The competition features 18 teams from the Western United States, Canada and Mexico. The selection criteria for the Southern California team are: playing ability, sportsmanship, character and the ability to represent the SCPGA Junior Golf Program in a professional manner.

Last year, Stella Lee and Angela Won of Irvine, Sara Mohiuddin of Alta Loma and Seiko Onoue of Buena Park represented the region and finished fifth.

The Boys’ Junior America’s Cup will be played the same week in Billings, Mont. Jay Choi of Buena Park, Ryan Cole of Fullerton, Daniel Im of La Mirada and Anthony Kim of Palm Desert won the cup for Southern California last year.

LUCKY NO. 4 MILLION

Rich Davidson of Huntington Beach was the 4-millionth golfer to play Dad Miller when he teed up Jan. 31 at the Anaheim course.

Davidson, a retired Los Angeles Department of Airports worker, was playing a makeup round after his Jan. 24 round was rained out.

Davidson receives a free round each month for the next year and more than $200 in merchandise.

Dad Miller opened as a nine-hole course in 1961. More than 100,000 rounds are played there each year.

FUTURES TOUR SCHEDULE

The Futures Tour announced that Barona Creek Golf Club in Lakeside and Diablo Grande Ranch Course in Patterson have been added to the 2001 schedule, completing a four-tournament California swing.

The Futures Tour, the official developmental tour for the LPGA, opens March 8-11 at Quail Ranch in Moreno Valley. The Barona Creek event is March 15-18, followed by the Cumash Casion event at Hunter Ranch in Paso Robles, March 21-24. The California Classic at Diablo Grande, March 29-31, completes the swing.

BOOTH STARTS HOT

Kellee Booth of Rancho Santa Margarita posted her best finish in an LPGA Tour event when she tied for sixth at the Office Depot tournament last week at Doral in Miami.

Booth, in her second season as a full-time member of the tour, shot 70-69-73-72--284 and earned $26,776, a career-best payday. She finished four strokes behind winner Grace Park.

In three tournaments this season, Booth has finished 10th, missed the cut and finished sixth. She is No. 20 on the money list with $43,669.

Tee Times

FEBRUARY

* 3: Ayala High Grad Night tournament, Los Serranos GC, Chino Hills. Cost is $100. Supports Ayala High School graduation night, providing a safe, drug-free post-graduation party for the senior class. Information: (909) 591-4656.

* 5: Tim Salmon Golf Classic, Dove Canyon CC. Cost is $250. Benefits Family Solutions, which provides residential and foster care homes for abused and at-risk children. Information: (714) 835-1333.

* 8-11: PGA Tour Buick Invitational, Torrey Pines GC, La Jolla. Tickets: (619) 220-TIXS.

* 12: Nissan Open SCPGA Qualifying, Glendora CC. Open to SCPGA Class A professionals. Deadline to enter is Feb. 5.

* 12: SCPGA Metro Chapter Apprentice Championship, Los Coyotes CC.

* 12: Huntington Beach Open, SeaCliff CC.

* 14-18: PGA Tour Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, PGA West, La Quinta. Tickets: (888) 672-4673.

* 20: Nissan Open Qualifying, Los Serranos GC. Open to all professionals and amateurs with an attested USGA index of 2.3 or less. Deadline to enter is Feb. 13.