Glendale City Golf Championship teeing off for second year

For an opening act, there proved to be quite a few quality story lines last year at the inaugural Glendale City Golf Championship.

The way Rick Dinger sees it, it wouldn’t surprise him if as many developments pop up this year.

“We had a lot of suspense last year with the tournament being decided in a playoff and just the overall newness of the event being held,” said Dinger, the tournament’s chairman. “We had around 100 people take part last year and we will have more this time around.

“People learn more about it and come from different towns to compete. We think it’s something that will continue to grow and where people can play some good golf.”

The two-day event, sponsored by Trusted Choice, will begin with a qualifying round at 8 a.m. Thursday at Scholl Canyon Golf Course. The qualifier will feature four flights based on the low index of the past 12 months.

The tournament will feature local residents, as well as participants from the Santa Clarita Valley to Orange County.

The low 16 in the championship flight and the low eight in the other three flights (Verdugo, Deukmejian and Brand) will advance to the championship, which will take place at noon Monday at Oakmont Country Club. In addition, a women’s division flight will be conducted.

Jon Levitt of Covina defeated Glendale’s Kris Hons in the fourth hole of a playoff last year to win the championship flight. Arica Rodriguez of Whittier captured the women’s division flight title by 20 strokes in 2012.

The event is geared for amateurs with a maximum handicap index of 24. All proceeds will benefit the Glendale Parks and Open Space Foundation, a non-profit organization.

Dinger said Scholl and Oakmont offer different dynamics.

“Scholl is more of a short course. Oakmont is a very long course,” Dinger said. “It comes down to who makes their putts. It’s going to require technical shots to get out of trouble.”

Among those set to take part are Hons and Keith Kinsel, a multiple club champion at Oakmont.

Hons said more participants will be on hand, making the event tougher.

“I think the scores are going to be significantly lower this time because there’s going to be excellent competition,” said Hons, an assistant professional at Oakmont from 2002-07. “I think the courses will be in great shape and it’s all going to come down to putting.”

Kinsel, who won his ninth club championship at Oakmont in June, said the first round will be the key for him.

“I’ve actually never played a round [at Scholl],” said Kinsel, a Crescenta Valley High graduate. “That’s the score that’s going to count in order to get to Oakmont.

“I had to work last year when the championship was held. I want to come out here and support the causes that it represents.”