Taking a charitable risk

Bryce Alderton

Before hitting a shot from the most elevated tee of all, professional

golfer Fuzzy Zoeller made a prediction.

“If we do a good job, this might catch on,” said Zoeller, who

joined Gary McCord, David Feherty and Mark Lye atop the Newport Beach

Marriott on Tuesday morning in the first closest-to-the-pin

competition hit from the top of a hotel during Toshiba Senior Classic

week.

Zoeller did his part, hitting a 3/4 sand wedge -- his first of

three shots -- within 4 feet, 2 inches of the pin at Newport Beach

Country Club’s par-4 second hole to edge his fellow competitors and

win $2,000 for his favorite charity -- Fuzzy’s Kids.

Zoeller hit last and caught a favorable wind for his shot, which

traveled 118 yards to the green, but with the elevation, played more

like 70-75 yards.

“I’ve played golf all my life and can’t be luckier than that,”

said Zoeller, a 10-time winner on the PGA Tour who has two Champions

Tour victories to his credit. “It only takes one swing. As I get

older I have to save my swings.”

Zoeller, along with McCord and Lye, will tee off in the first

round of the Toshiba Classic on Friday morning. McCord splits his

time between the Champions Tour and as a golf analyst for CBS

alongside Feherty, who played on the 1991 European Ryder Cup team.

The combination of Feherty, McCord, Zoeller and Lye provided

several humorous moments.

The right-handed McCord, who landed within 8 feet, 3 inches with

his final shot to finish second, used his practice attempt for some

switch hitting. He stepped onto the mat and hit left-handed.

“It’s a 4-iron off the toe with a little wobble,” said McCord when

the players were asked what club they chose.

Lye, who filled in for John Jacobs (illness), used a sand wedge

and placed third (14-3) while Feherty (24-11), who went first, hit

with a 9-iron. McCord, Lye and Feherty each received $1,000 for their

chosen charities.

“It’s complete guesswork with the shot,” Lye said. “You throw it

up there and see what the wind does.”

Zoeller said he has hit balls at a driving range in Japan that

measured 10 stories -- the Marriott has 16 floors.

“It’s a different feeling for what it does to your insides up

there,” he said about the shot. “When you follow through, you don’t

dare go to your left side. You want to swing back to your right side

because that’s where the ground is back there behind us.”

All stayed grounded, much to the relief of Newport Beach Marriott

General Manager Bill Gunderson.

“I thought they were crazy for doing this,” Gunderson said

afterward about shots hit from the roof. “Risk manage- ment still

thinks it’s crazy.”

McCord didn’t want to leave the views of Catalina and snow-capped

mountains.

“I told the manager here if they could pitch me a tent and if they

have room service, I’ll stay right here.”