Scott Almquist of Coto De Caza Golf and Racquet Club won the 37th Tournament of Club Champions at Newport Beach CC Monday. Club champions are invited to play in this 18-hole event, which is flighted based on Handicap Index. Almquist, the 2011 SCGA Mid-Amateur Champion, was the only player to shoot under par in the 128 player field. Almquist made one birdie and seventeen pars to shoot a 1-under 70.
Windy conditions, fast greens and a challenging course set up contributed to high scores for most of the field. “It was brutal out there but I like this course a lot. It’s a lot of fun out here,” he said. The average score of the day was 79.8. Ryan O’Gulnick from Woodland Hills CC took second place at even-par 71. There was a six-way tie for third place at 1-over par 72.
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 originally designed by William Bell in 1952 with later enhancements by Ted Robinson, Sr. The course record is 60, set by Tom Purtzer.
LARRY GRANT WINS SENIOR DIVISION
HUNTINGTON BEACH – High Santa Ana winds were the main theme at the 4th Annual Senior Tournament of Club Champions at Seacliff CC on Monday. The high winds though did not faze Larry Grant of El Dorado Park GC, who fired the only round under par to capture the championship by one stroke over Jung Kim of Antelope Valley CC. Grant had four birdies and a front nine of 33 to capture his first SCGA Championship. The win earns Grant an exemption into the 2012 SCGA Senior Amateur Championship, set to be held at Pauma Valley CC in July.
The SCGA Tournament of Club Champions brings together senior club champions over the age of 55 and with a Handicap Index of 5.4 or less. Seacliff CC, 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.
