Pros aren’t getting a cold reception

NEWPORT BEACH ? Even with the weather forecast showing the possibility of rain Friday and Saturday, PGA Champions Tour players were hardly bemoaning their fate.

“I’m up here with short sleeves, thank you,” explained Gary McCord during Tuesday’s “Shot from the Top” contest.

After all, most of the players came to Newport Beach from Santa Clarita, where the AT&T; Classic was held last week. Temperatures during the tournament were downright frigid. Adjusted for wind chill, the temperature dropped to 31 degrees during Saturday’s second round.

“The weather was nasty and it was cold,” Fuzzy Zoeller said. “I had four layers [of clothing] on Friday. That was about as cold as I’ve been on a golf course in a long time.”

“The only time I’ve been colder on this tour was when we played in Oklahoma,” McCord said. “It rained and it never got over 45 degrees.”

For the record, temperatures during the Toshiba Classic are expected to be in the low 60s ? except for Saturday, when showers will drop the temperatures into the high 50s.

TWO OUT, TWO IN

The field for the Toshiba Classic underwent a mild makeover Tuesday as two players withdrew.

Bruce Fleisher and Jim Dent are out of the tournament. They will be replaced by Jim Ahern and Walter Hall.

Ahern, 57, was 41st on the Champions Tour money list last year. Hall, 58, finished tied for 28th at the AT&T; Classic in Valencia March 10-12.

PROS AND AMATEURS

The Classic Pro-Am begins this morning at 7 a.m. with 56 pros teeing it up with amateurs. The pros will play with a foursome today, before switching groups for Thursday’s second round.

Among the amateurs participating will be comedian George Lopez, who has been doing the area pro-am circuit lately. Lopez played in the AT&T; Classic pro-am last week, and has played in the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am this year.

Lopez will play in Jim Thorpe’s group today, teeing off at the 10th hole at 7 a.m., and with Lee Trevino on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the 10th.

FIRST LOOK

The Pro-Am will also be the public’s first chance to see former major league pitcher Rick Rhoden in action on the Newport Beach Country Club course.

Rhoden finished second and won a playoff in the Monday qualifier at Goose Creek Golf Club in Mira Loma.

TOSHIBA CLASSIC PRO-AM

WEDNESDAY TEE ASSIGNMENTS