Preparing for talent

Tournament director Sean Collins joked on the phone about part of his job setting up the 39th Will Jordan, a.k.a. Costa Mesa City Championship Saturday and Sunday.

Collins not only takes names and gives them tee times, but, as he said on the phone Wednesday, provides input where warranted to increase the difficulty just a smidge. That could mean some tougher pin positions for the 36-hole tournament at Costa Mesa Country Club.

“I try to find a way to trick it up as much as possible to keep them from shooting nothing,” Collins said. “There are a lot of great names on here. I’ve got a lot of college guys. I see from the entries that there’s twos and threes (handicaps).”

The past two tournament champions, Jeff Coburn (2010) and Jason Bittick (2009) are in the field, Collins said, as well as incoming Corona del Mar High senior standout Mike Moorhead

Coburn, the 2003 Big West Conference Golfer of the Year while at UC Irvine, shot a combined 10-under last year to claim the championship flight by four strokes.

Moorhead comes off a tie for second in the boys’ 16-18 division of the Yorba Linda Junior Invitational last month when he shot 76-71—147 at Yorba Linda Country Club.

As of Wednesday, Collins estimated 250 to 270 players had signed up for a tournament that generally draws more than 300.

Groups in the championship flight will tee off on Mesa Linda beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday. Collins said he’ll likely send threesomes off before 8 a.m., then alternate between four and three players per group to help keep play moving along.

Course superintendent Jim Fetterly is prepping both Mesa Linda and Los Lagos layouts. Collins said players should expect top-notch quality.

“He’s got the course looking great, lush,” Collins said of Fetterly’s work.

Don’t be fooled by the online registration form. Collins said he’s willing to accept golfers at the last-minute. Phone him at (714) 540-7500, extension 108 and he’ll tell you if there’s room.

“I’m always open to letting people in,” Collins said.

Players will tee off on the longer Los Lagos course on Sunday. There is no cut and golfers will also compete in two other flights according to handicaps along with a senior division.