Golf: It isn’t always safe around the greens

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - It wasn’t all completely safe on the golf course

Saturday as paramedics made two trips to Hoag Hospital from the Toshiba

Senior Classic at Newport Beach Country Club.

One incident involved a man complaining of chest pains, and the other

call came after a woman was struck by a golf ball in the knee on the

par-3 hole No. 8.

J.C. Snead’s errant tee shot reportedly hit a lady in the gallery,

then he autographed the ball and gave it to her.

According to the paramedics at the scene, both people taken to Hoag

checked out OK.

The Newport Beach Police Department was called about a man reportedly

scalping tickets at the front entrance of the golf tournament Saturday.

But Newport Beach Police Sergeant Trent Harris said the man was

detained by officers and let go shortly thereafter because he was

carrying no tickets or large amounts of cash.

“It was a guy somebody noticed who was scalping tickets before

somewhere else at an event,” Harris said. “But he was OK.”

Harris estimated Saturday’s crowd at Newport Beach Country Club to be

close to 20,000, although it’s impossible to get exact attendance figures

at golf tournaments.

Harris and Toshiba Senior Classic co-chairman Jake Rohrer agreed that

Friday’s crowd was between 7,000 and 10,000, and Saturday’s crowd was

about twice the size.

Walter Zembriski, who got into the tournament Friday when Lanny

Wadkins withdrew because of the flu, said the Senior PGA Tour is “trying

to get (65-and-over players) the hell out” to make room for the younger

generation led by Tom Watson and Tom Kite.

“But I’m holding on as long as I can,” Zembriski, 65, said after his

round Saturday. “We’ll see what happens.”

Brian Barnes, who played in the Toshiba Senior Classic from 1996

through 1998, is now the lead analyst for CNBC golf telecasts of the

Senior PGA Tour.

Barnes, who has suffered with rheumatoid arthritis for several years,

retired on the spot from playing golf last October.

After seven holes in the second round at the Kaanapali Classic in

Hawaii, Barnes’ pain was too much. These days, he cannot shake hands

because the condition in his wrists is so severe.

“I also gave up smoking that day,” said Barnes, who added that being

away from cigarettes has been a lot easier than dealing with not playing

golf for living.

“It’s all different now,” Barnes said Saturday. “For the first time in

my life I have to work for somebody.”

The 55-year-old Englishman, who has the tools to become a star in the

broadcast booth, according to Sports Illustrated, broke par three times

in nine Toshiba Classic rounds at Newport Beach. He shot even par twice

and made a total of $15,876.

His best finish in the tournament was 1997, when he shot 213.

Tee times for today’s final round have been moved up 40 minutes, from

8 a.m. to 7:20 a.m., in an attempt to avoid the rain in the forecast.

The loudest roar from the gallery at 18 came when Bruce Summerhays

holed out from the bunker.