UCI May Be More Than a Regional Phenomenon

UC Irvine, which recently won its first Big West Conference championship, begins play today in the NCAA West Regional at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis, Ore.

It is the fourth time in the regionals for the Anteaters, who advanced to their only NCAA finals in 1992.

Mike Lavery, a sophomore from Irvine High, leads the Anteaters with a 73.96 stroke average. Sophomore Jeff Coburn was the individual runner-up at the Big West championships and averages 74.27. Ryan Armstrong, another sophomore, averages 74.39, giving Irvine plenty of depth.

“Last year we had five freshmen and we got some great experience,” Irvine Coach Paul Smolinski said. “This year, we’ve showed signs of playing some great golf and it’s great to see us playing that way at the right time of the year.”

The top 10 finishers in the 27-team field this weekend will advance to the NCAA finals. The field includes Arizona State, ranked No. 4 in the nation, No. 5 USC, No. 10 Wake Forest, No. 12 Brigham Young, No. 13 New Mexico and No. 14 Arizona.

Redlands in Top 10

Michael Clarke, a freshman from Woodbridge High, Ryan Miller, a freshman from University, and Chris Kugel, a sophomore from University, helped lead Redlands to a 10th-place finish in the NCAA Division III national championships May 10 at Persimmon Woods Golf Club in Weldon Springs, Mo.

Redlands finished 51 strokes behind winner Wisconsin Eau Claire.

The Ohs Have It for Long Beach

Twins Alex and Brad Oh, formerly of Brea Olinda High, and Scott Osterhout, formerly of Marina, were part of the Long Beach team that won the community college state championship Monday at North Ridge Country Club in Fair Oaks.

Alex Oh, who won the Anaheim City Championship April 29, shot 74-70--144 and was the top finisher for Long Beach. He tied for fifth place, four strokes behind individual champion Scott Oxandaboure of Palomar.

Brad Oh shot 75-73--148 and Osterhout shot 76-78--154 for Long Beach, which won by 13 strokes over Sequoias. It is the second state title in three years for Long Beach, which was runner-up last year.

Brower, Sinn in Open

Laurie Brower, a graduate of Villa Park High, and Pearl Sinn, a resident of Huntington Beach, have qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open.

Brower, who now lives in Lubbock, Texas, shot 74 and finished third in sectional qualifying Monday at Shady Oaks Country Club in Dallas. Sinn shot 76 and finished third last Wednesday at Somerset Hills Country Club in New Jersey.

The U.S. Women’s Open is May 31-June 3 at Pine Needles Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.

Garner Tops Qualifiers

Ben Garner of Lake Forest shot 68 Wednesday at Newport Beach Country Club to lead a group of seven players who advanced out of the first stage of U.S. Open qualifying.

Bob Jacobson of Irvine, Roger Tambellini of Templeton, Andrew Tarlow of Carlsbad and John Burckle of Mission Viejo finished a shot behind Garner. Tom Kanazawa of Huntington Beach and Matt Schreiber of Laguna Niguel, a senior at Aliso Niguel High, shot 70 and earned the final two berths in sectional qualifying June 4 at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana.

Buena Park teaching professional Bobby Lasken shot 71 Monday at El Camino Country Club and also earned a berth in the sectional qualifying tournament. Lasken played in the 1991 U.S. Open at Hazeltine National in Minnesota.

The top finishers in the June 4 sectional qualifier will advance to the U.S. Open June 14-17 at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla. The number of available spots has not been determined.

Cole to Play at UCI

Ryan Cole of Servite High has committed to UC Irvine.

Cole, a member of the victorious SCPGA Junior America’s Cup team last summer, has been part of a Servite team that finished second in the CIF-SCGA championships two years ago and won the Southern Section Western Divisional last year. He has qualified for the Southern Section individual championships twice in the last three years.

Anaheim Names Golf Manager

Michael Lautenbach has been named golf operations manager for the City of Anaheim.

Lautenbach, who has been general manager at Empire Lakes in Rancho Cucamonga for the last five years, replaces Janet Donovan, who has retired after 14 years in the position.

If you have an item or idea for Chip Shots, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at peter.yoon@latimes.com

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TEE TIMES

MAY

* 18: Rosemead Invitational Golf Tournament, Westridge GC. Cost is $100. Benefits Rosemead School of Psychology. Information: (562) 903-4737.

* 18: 10th Annual St. Joseph’s High School Tournament, Lakewood CC. Cost is $110. Benefits the Master Building Project. Information: (714) 840-5654.

* 19: Assistance League of Santa Ana ChariTEE Classic, Strawberry Farms. Cost is $250. Benefits school-age children of Santa Ana. Information: (714) 734-0695.

* 20: Tustin Kiwanis Club Celebrity Tournament, Tustin Ranch GC. Cost is $180. Benefits Tustin-area schools. Information: (760) 632-7770.

* 21: California Senior Amateur qualifying, SCGA Member’s Club.

* 21: CDC’s Orange County Food Bank Charity Golf Classic, Tustin Ranch GC. Cost is $195. Benefits Orange County Food Bank. Information: (714) 897-6670.

* 21: Crean Classic, Coto de Caza GC. Cost is $300. Benefits Alzheimer’s Foundation of Orange County. Information: (714) 283-1111 ext. 232.

* 21: 17th Annual Providence Golf Classic, Tijeras Creek GC. Cost is $275 for individuals or $1,000 for a foursome. Benefits Providence Speech and Hearing Center. Information: (714) 639-4990.

* 21: Huntington Harbor Sixth Annual Charity Golf Classic, SeaCliff CC. Benefits Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Information: (714) 840-7881.

* 21: Golf Fore MS, Dove Canyon CC. Cost is $275. Benefits National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Information: (949) 380-0178.

* 21: The Event II, Newport Beach CC. Cost is $500. Benefits John Wayne Cancer Institute. Each group plays with a celebrity. Information: (949) 721-9474.

* 29: Golf, for Kids’ Sake, Tustin Ranch GC. Cost is $150. Benefits Boys and Girls Club of Tustin. Information: (714) 838-5223.