Event carries a big swing

Estancia High School sophomore Ashley Peters is only about 5 feet tall, but she has a great big golf swing.

The 15-year-old varsity golfer whacked a golf ball from the rooftop of the 162-foot, 16-story Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa on Tuesday morning onto the 18th green at the Newport Beach Country Club, where it landed only 6 feet and 7 inches from the pin as part of the 2009 Toshiba Classic Shot from the Top.

The event teams up pro golfers from the Toshiba Classic, local media and high school golfers to give schools a chance at winning laptop computers by hitting golf balls off the roof of the hotel onto the green.

Although her second shot didn’t make it onto the green, her first was enough to earn Ashley the Closest to the Pin title this year, beating out professional golfers such as Andy Bean, Mark Johnson and Gary McCord.

“I think my nerves set in the second time,” Ashley said afterward.

The shot also won her a high-five from 1979 Masters and 1984 U.S. Open champion Fuzzy Zoeller, who also competed in the event.

“It was really inspiring,” Ashley said of the accolades she got from some of the pros at the event. “It made me think that maybe I can keep on playing golf in the future.”

Ashley has been playing golf since she was about 10, after her dad got her interested in the sport, she said.

“I like how it’s a sport you never have to stop playing. It’s not like you can really get injured, so you can play for a long time,” she said.

Ashley’s teammate, Storm Hagen, a senior on the varsity golf team at Estancia, managed to hit the ball 34 feet and 6 inches from the pin on his best try.

He winced and shook his head at Ashley after swinging.

“I was thinking, ‘She beat me,’” Storm, 17, said. “She really helped our team.”

With a combined score of 111 feet and 3 inches, Estancia High School came in third place in the event, winning 15 laptop computers.

“I think it’s a great event that’s doing something for the community and schools, especially now when the economy is so bad and budgets are tight,” Storm said.

Eight Orange County high schools competed in the event to win laptop computers, donated by Toshiba. The schools compete to get the lowest total feet away from the pin.

Dana Hills High School in Dana Point took home first place and 25 laptops with its combined score of 99 feet and 9 inches. Foothill High School in Santa Ana came in second, with a combined score of 109 feet and 6 inches, taking home 20 laptop computers.

“We wanted to do something for the community where our employees live and work,” said Mark Simons, Toshiba chief executive.

Toshiba has donated about $500,000 over the past five years to the Shot from the Top event for laptop computers.

PAST SHOT FROM THE TOP CLOSEST TO THE PIN TITLE HOLDERS:

1. Michael Yiu (Laguna Hills High) 3 feet, 2 inches (2008)

2. Dave Marr III (Golf Channel) 3 feet, 10 inches (2007)

3. Fuzzy Zoeller (Pro) 4 feet, 2 inches (2005)

4. Bob Buttitta (Ventura County Star) 6 feet, 5 inches (2007)

5. Andy Bean (Pro)7 feet, 1 inch (2007)

6. Dave Stockton (Pro)7 feet, 3 inches (2007)

7. Andy Bean (Pro)7 feet, 4 inches (2008/blindfolded)

8. Justine Chen (Trabuco Hills High) 8 feet, 1 inch (2008)

Reporter BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].