Towersey takes the fifth

Bryce Alderton

It took five over par for a fifth. A fifth Tea Cup Classic trophy,

that is, for the most decorated women’s champion in Newport-Mesa.

Marianne Towersey, who has won Santa Ana Country Club’s women’s

club championship 19 times, added her fifth Tea Cup title with a

five-over-par 76 Friday at Mesa Verde Country Club in the event that

brings together the four women’s club champions from the private

courses in Newport-Mesa for a one-day, 18-hole stroke-play

tournament.

She won by two shots over Akemi Khaiat (78), playing on her home

course, four strokes past Debbie Albright (80), from Newport Beach

Country Club, and six ahead of Sally Holstein (82), representing Big

Canyon Country Club.

The win wasn’t easy for Towersey, who shot three over during the

final two holes.

“If it was 21 holes, Akemi would have won,” Towersey said as she

stood on the 18th green, holding the crystal vase awarded to the Tea

Cup champion, to be placed at the respective club throughout the

year. “I lost concentration the last two holes, but just had to keep

it together. I feel very honored to win.”

Khaiat, who made her second Tea Cup appearance, trailed Towersey

by five shots entering the par-four 17th, but parred the final two

holes to shorten the margin.

“Fifteen, 16, 17 and 18 are the most difficult holes on Mesa

Verde, so a par or a birdie are not easy,” Khaiat said. “I was short

on 15, using a pitching wedge, which was a mistake. I was between a

nine iron and pitching wedge.” Khaiat left herself a right-to-left

eight-foot putt she missed for birdie.

“The greens were slow,” Khaiat said. “I’m not used to playing in

the afternoon.”

A soft breeze blew on a few holes during the front nine, but

quieted down on the back nine, allowing the sun to heat up the

course, along with the competition.

“I was nervous,” Holstein said. “I just tried to play my game and

whatever happened, happened.”

Holstein birdied the 148-yard par-three third, using a 7-wood to

land the ball three feet from the cup, taking a one-shot lead over

Towersey. A bogey on the par-five fourth dropped her back to even and

the two stayed that way through six holes. Towersey parred 7 and 9

while Holstein went three over during that stretch to fall into a tie

with Albright at 41.

Khaiat shot 40 to trail Towersey by two heading to the 10th, a par

four with a slight dogleg right measuring 397 yards. Khaiat hooked

her tee shot just enough as the ball one-hopped into a pond. Her

third shot found the fairway and she hit a flop shot, standing just

off the front of the green, to within six feet. But the par putt

missed and she took a double bogey.

“I hit [the driver] good ... I guess I was just aiming there,”

Khaiat said.

The 10th also proved to be disastrous for Albright, who carded a

triple-bogey seven after hitting her second shot into a pond lining

the right side of the hole.

“I decided to hit a wood, but I would not have made the green

anyways,” Albright said of her lie in the right rough. “I should have

layed up with an iron and hit a 3-wood into the green.

“I made bad decisions on two holes and that cost me.”

Albright found the left rough on the par-four ninth, which has a

lake that extends into the fairway near the green. Her second shot

clipped a tree branch and found the water, leading to a double bogey.

Albright tied Towersey and Holstein for the lead at even par

following her second consecutive birdie on the par-four fifth, the

No. 1 handicap hole from the yellow tees, where the ladies played

from Friday. The 2001 Tea Cup winner stuck a 140-yard approach shot

five feet right of the hole and converted the birdie putt.

“I’m extremely happy with the way I played,” Albright said. “I

drove the ball well and putted well.”

Towersey, Holstein and Albright each had two birdies. Towersey

birdied the par-four 14th after landing her approach shot 10 feet to

the left of the hole. Her birdie putt found the heart of the hole.

“It was a challenge to make par,” Towersey said. “I hit a couple

of good chips and two punch shots. The kikuyu in the rough holds your

club tight and takes it for a ride.”

And Towersey rode into the sunset Friday with another Tea Cup

title.