Chip shots: It pays to stay

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - In the popular Casino Night and Putting Contest, an

adjunct to the Newport Beach Open, one amateur missed a 50-foot putt for

the $10,000 first prize, but Donovan McNabb won the drawing for a

one-year lease on a Sterling BMW.

McNabb, however, was actually the second name pulled out of the hat in

the drawing Saturday.

“You had to be present to win, and the first guy whose name was drawn

left 10 minutes earlier,” said Jeff Parker, Director of Operations for

the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the Tommy Bahama

Newport Beach Open at Newport Beach Country Club.

“It pays to stay around sometimes.”

Two years ago, Bob Black, at the time the chamber’s Chairman of the

Board, also left the Casino Night early before his name was drawn for the

one-year BMW lease.

In the Putting Contest, 10 amateurs made a 40-foot putt on the fabricated

green to advance to the finals -- eight men and two women. Costa Mesa’s

Steve Waugh eventually earned the chance to putt for the $10,000 first

prize, but came up short.

Amateur Bob McDaniel, who played in the morning round of the Newport

Beach Open with the pros Monday, will receive the chamber’s Silver Anchor

Award next month at a luncheon honoring volunteers and unsung heroes at

the Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach.

“(McDaniel) does a ton of stuff for Hoag Hospital, and he’s involved with

the (chamber’s) Commodores Club,” chamber publicist Doug Stuckey said.

The Newport Beach Open had 62 pros in the field this year, 18 more than

last year.

“We hope to turn this into a major signature item,” Parker said.

Estancia High’s Eagle Golf Classic is June 19 at Costa Mesa Golf &

Country Club beginning at 10 a.m. in a four-player best-ball scramble

format. The cost is $340 per foursome or $90 for an individual.

The seventh annual event includes green fees, cart, dinner and prizes.

The event benefits the Estancia Athletic Department. Chuck Perry is the

tournament contact: (949) 951-5435.

Newport Beach Open team results: Low gross, Randy Sequoia, Brent Aagar,

Tim Shannon and John Martin, 64. Low net, John Woolen, Larry Kaleff, Ed

Kaleff and Joe Scully, 44.

Winning second low net in a card-off was Jerry Anderson, Dave Wooten,

Jerry Johnson and Henry Schielein, 47. Third place: Bob Price, Greg

Perkins and Allan Effron, 47.

Closest to the pin winners were Patrick Swarthout (2 feet, 6 inches on

No. 4), Dave Nichols (6-8 on No. 8), Corey Fritz (8-8 on No. 13) and

Wooten (3-4 on No. 17).

Net amateur winners in the Open morning round for players with a 12

handicap or lower included: Champion Paul Pink (72 in a card-off),

runner-up Vince Taormina (72) and Danny Bibb (73).

Following Justin Barnett’s winning gross score of 76 was Craig

McCallister and Mike Meskel.