Redlands golfer wins Southern California Senior Amateur title at

Mesa Verde CC

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - Ted Lyford of Redlands escaped a double bogey at 16

and held on for a one-stroke victory Tuesday in the 23rd annual Southern

California Senior Amateur championship at Mesa Verde Country Club.

It was the first time a golf course in the Newport-Mesa area hosted

the Southern California Senior Amateur. The two-round championship was

played Monday and Tuesday.

Lyford followed his struggles on the par-3 No. 16 with two pars to

finish his round at even-par 71. He shot 73 in the opening round for a

144.

Paul Ladin of Westlake Village (74-71) and Richard Davis of Los

Angeles (74-71) tied for second at 145.

Mesa Verde men’s club champion Pete Daley, a participant in this

year’s inaugural Jones Cup, finished at 152 (76-76), while fellow Mesa

Verde member Farrell Hinkle shot 148 (76-72) in the event operated by the

Southern California Golf Association.

Newport Beach’s Dr. Michael O’Brien finished at 163 (82-81).

The SCGA Senior Amateur is for golfers aged 55 to 64. This year’s

field included for the first time a super seniors division for players 65

and older.

Ladin, however, is 68 and still competes in the seniors division. He

captured the SCGA Senior Amateur title in 1995 and the California State

Amateur championship in ’93.

No local player has ever won the Southern California Senior Amateur

championship.

On July 28, Daley teamed with Mesa Verde head professional Tom Sargent

to win the first Jones Cup at Newport Beach Country Club, a men’s pro-am

in the Fletcher Jones Motorcars/Daily Pilot Club Championship Series,

which started the Tea Cup Classic for women in 1997.