Teeing off for charity

Hale Irwin, the only two-time champion in the Toshiba Senior

Classic’s 10-year history, will, along with other dignitaries, hit a

ceremonial tee shot today as part of a yearlong charity campaign

launched by the PGA Tour, which includes the Champions Tour.

Irwin, along with tournament co-chairman Hank Adler, Hideo Ito,

chairman of Toshiba America, Inc., and representatives from Hoag

Hospital Memorial Presbyterian, will hit a tee shot with a replica

1938 driver at 12:15 p.m. off the par-4 first hole.

The event is part of the PGA Tour’s “Drive to $1 Billion,” a

national campaign aimed at reaching the money milestone in charitable

donations.

The ceremonial tee shot is part of every tour event this year and

commemorates the first recorded donation of $10,000 made by the Palm

Beach Invitational on Long Island, N.Y., in 1938.

To date, the tour and its tournaments had raised more than $925

million for charity since 1938.

The Toshiba Senior Classic has contributed more than $7.8 million,

the most of any Champions Tour tournament. Recent proceeds have

helped build the Women’s Pavilion, scheduled to open this fall.

Nearly all of the PGA Tour’s 100 or more annual tournaments commit

to donating 100% of proceeds to charity.

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Amateurs Paul Vollenweider, Evan Braun, Steve Tsukuno and Jorge

Reza, along with professional Morris Hatalsky, last year’s Toshiba

runner-up, claimed the Classic Pro-Am net title by one Wednesday with

a 52.

Paul Castellana, Neil Rohr, Robin Lovelace and Mike Kierdorf

teamed with pro Ron Streck to finish second at 53, netting $400.

Three groups finished tied for third at 54 including: Rick Taylor,

Gene McGillycuddy, Paul Faus and Tim Ramsey with pro Ben Crenshaw;

Ichiro Hirata, Myron Son, Jim Wold and Allen Allen with pro Bruce

Summerhays and Isao Yamakawa, Keith Knight, Arif Shakeel and Carol

Couch with pro Hubert Green.

Amateur foursomes are paired with a different pro in today’s

Classic Pro-Am, with shotgun starts at 7:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

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Terry Dill and Jim Ahern have taken the places of Tom Watson and

Al Geiberger, respectively, among the field of 78 for this year’s

tournament.

Watson called tournament officials before Friday’s confirmation

deadline to say he wasn’t coming, allowing Dill the spot, and

Geiberger followed suit Monday. Ahern, the first alternate, replaced

Geiberger. Tournament Director Jeff Purser said Watson backed out for

“personal reasons.”

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Through five events, Irwin leads the season-long Charles Schwab

Cup points race -- designed to identify the Champions Tour’s top

player -- with 703 points.

Irwin has won twice and added a tie for both second and third

place this year.

Look for his caddie, Kenny Harms, wearing a yellow bib this week.

The caddie for the respective points leader will wear the colored bib

each week, signifying the feat.

The program started at the ACE Group Classic last month and will

continue through the end of the season.

Dana Quigley (404), Mark McNulty (331), Des Smyth (277) and Watson

(262) comprise the remaining top five.

Points are awarded to top-10 finishers and ties and are based on

the money distribution for each tournament with every $1,000 earned

equaling the equivalent of one Charles Schwab Cup point. Points are

doubled for Champions Tour major championships and tripled for the

season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

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Complimentary admission will be provided for Secure Horizons

members of guests eligible for Medicare today only.

Patrons may either show their membership cards or, if one is

eligible for Medicare, stop by the Secure Horizons courtesy booth

located at the front gate to pick up a complimentary voucher and

receive free general admission to the Classic Pro-Am.

-- By Bryce Alderton