PAIRINGS SENIOR PAIRINGS
The 37th Tournament of Club Champions begins this Monday at Newport Beach CC. Club champions are invited to play in this 18-hole event, which is flighted based on Handicap Index. Club champions with a 2.4 Handicap or below will play in the gross division, while club champions with an index higher than that will play in the net divisions on December 12.
Newport Beach CC will host a strong field this year, including a number of past SCGA winners. Headlining this field are current SCGA Mid-Amateur Champion, Scott Almquist (pictured), current Southern California High School Champion Ben Doyle; 2-time past champion Pat Duncan; 3-time past champion John Pate and the 2006 champion Johnny Holmes.
Last year, Cavin McCall of Cottonwood at Rancho San Diego defeated Daniel Ragsdale of North Ranch CC on a fifth playoff hole to win the championship.
The Newport Beach CC is located along Pacific Coast Highway in scenic Newport Beach. The maturity of the nearly 50-year old course makes it a popular stop of the Senior PGA tour as it is currently the host venue for the Toshiba Classic. The course was origionally designed by William Bell in 1952 with later enhancements by Ted Robinson, Sr.; the course record is 60, set by Tom Purtzer.
The winner of this tournament will earn 2012 exemptions into the 113th SCGA Amateur Championship at Big Canyon CC and the 28th SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Rancho Santa Fe GC.
The 4th Annual Senior Tournament of Club Champions will also take place Monday at Seacliff CC. Senior club champions over the age of 55 and with a Handicap Index of 5.4 or less will be participating. Howie Knodt (pictured), this year's Senior Match Play champion, headlines a field that also includes recently crowned Super Senior Champion Karl Stewart; former champion Frank Merhar; 1986 Tournament of Club Champions winner, Jim Myers; and 2007 SCGA Senior Amateur Champion, Rich Tolly.
Seacliff Country Club, a Press Maxwell/Ron Fream design, is situated less than one mile from the Pacific Ocean. The par-72, 6,508-yard championship layout is lush and stands of mature oak trees and swaying palms frame undulating Bermuda fairways. An abundance of sparkling water features will challenge even the best of golfers.
The winner of this tournament will earn an exemption into the 2012 SCGA Senior Amateur Championship at Pauma Valley CC.
