Former President Still Connects With Public

Some of the world’s top professional golfers have assembled at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point this weekend to kick off the made-for-television season with the Hyundai Team Matches, but an amateur created the biggest stir Friday during the pro-am -- former President Clinton.

Clinton played in a group with PGA Tour player Fred Couples, Hyundai executive vice president B.H. Sung and Kevin Allen of the Washington Group.

Clinton’s day included several mulligans, a handful of shanks and a few balls in the water, but the lowlight came on the 18th hole, when he hit a spectator in the leg with his second shot.

Kevin Krogmeier, a lawyer from Monarch Beach, had been heckling Clinton’s club choice -- a fairway wood -- and telling him to switch to a five-iron. Clinton, who reportedly carries a handicap between 12 and 14, ignored the advice. He swung the wood and hit a dead pull, the ball striking Krogmeier in the left shin. Krogmeier, standing about 20 yards away, hopped up and down, then got an autographed ball from Clinton.

The real golfers take center stage today at 7:50 a.m. The format is team best-ball match play. The PGA Tour, Champions (formerly Senior PGA) Tour and the LPGA Tour have separate tournaments taking place simultaneously. The finals are Sunday.

Defending champions are Couples and Mark Calcavecchia from the PGA Tour, Lorie Kane and Janice Moodie from the LPGA Tour and Allen Doyle and Dan Quigley from the Champions Tour.

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The Kraft Nabisco Championship has changed its eligibility requirements for 2003, including exempting the top five players from the LPGA’s other three majors, an expansion from the top three players who are currently exempt. Also, the top 70 players from the official money list will be exempt for the 2003 tournament, instead of the top 60 who are eligible now.

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Times staff writer Thomas Bonk contributed to this report.

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Hyundai Team

Matches

Who: Four two-player teams from the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours

Where: Monarch Beach Golf Links, Dana Point

When: Today, 7:50 a.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.