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Toshiba Classic
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 Corey Pavin made up for spotty putting with solid ballstriking at the Toshiba Classic (PHOTO: Eddie Meeks). Ultimately, the 50-year-old Pavin didn’t hole enough putts to contend for the title, but he struck the ball well enough to break 70 in all three rounds en route to a 9-under-par total and a tie for seventh — his best Champions Tour showing in three events. “I had so many close putts that didn’t go in, I was just waiting for them to all fall,” said Pavin, who posted a bogey-free 67 in Sunday’s final round. “Hopefully the hole will open up one of these days. But it was still a pretty solid week.” The 1995 U.S. Open winner had a busy week in Orange County, appearing at Tuesday’s Breakfast With a Champion and participating in the Shot From the Top at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa. Such functions figure to become more frequent for Pavin, who will captain the United States Ryder Cup team in Wales this October. “I think about it all of the time, but once I start practicing and playing it’s pretty much on the backburner,” he said of that leadership duty. “There’s not much I can do right now as far as the team goes. There’s other stuff to do, but I do that when I’m not playing.” There has been one notable change in Pavin’s normal routine. “I’ve watched more golf in the last year than I’ve probably watched all of my life,” he said. Although Pavin said he will continue to alternate between competing on the PGA and Champions tours, his time on the senior circuit could end up proving to be beneficial for his Ryder Cup preparation — after all, if Toshiba Classic winner Fred Couples continues his stellar play, he might be considered as one of two captain’s picks. Who knows, Couples could even make it on his own merit if he does well on the PGA Tour. “We’ll see,” Pavin said with a smile about the chance of Couples making the team. Here’s how other golfers with Southern California ties fared at the Toshiba Classic. • Part-time Corona del Mar resident John Cook never made a serious run at the lead throughout the week, but he did close with a 3-under-par 68 that vaulted him into a tie for seventh with Pavin. It’s his best finish in Newport Beach and marks the 45th time in 55 Champions Tour events he’s concluded inside the top 25. • San Diego native and former USC men’s golf team member Scott Simpson finished tied for ninth at 8-under par, his first top-10 finish on the Champions Tour since he shared sixth at last year’s U.S. Senior Open. • Murrieta resident Tom Pernice Jr. also finished ninth, in spite of his troubles on Newport Beach Country Club’s greens. The 50-year-old Pernice failed to tally less than 30 putts in any of his three rounds but made up for that shortcoming by leading the field in greens in regulation. • Former Occidental College golfer Olin Browne, who was only one shot off the lead following the Toshiba Classic’s first round, rebounded from a second-round 73 with a 4-under 67 Sunday. He finished tied for 14th at 7-under par. • Mark O’Meara, a runner-up at last year’s Toshiba Classic, fired a bogey-free 65 in the final round after opening with disappointing marks of 71-74. The former Mission Viejo resident tied for 30th at 3-under par. For complete Toshiba Classic results, visit PGATour.com. ALSO SEE: Fred Couples cruises to Toshiba Classic victory Final Round Photos Fred Couples Photos |
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