Golf League Results for Jan. 28 and 31

Guest John Kolthoff joined 12 men and one woman of the Leisure World Golf League at Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana on Jan. 28. The morning was cool and very dry, with Santa Ana winds cranking up through noon. Willowick is a nearly 6,000-yard, par-70 course with long par 3s and demanding par 5s, two of which are more than 520 yards. Tees were set way back, and flagsticks were placed on slanted greens barely 6-8 feet from the green’s sloping edges. With these conditions, putting was a significant challenge, and only two scores were at or under par. All scores are net (gross minus handicap. A Flight handicaps are 0-19, while B Flight are over 19.

A Flight: First place: Jim Goltra, a hard-earned even par 70, plus a birdie; second: Gary Stivers, 1 over 71, plus fewest putts; third: Bill McKusky, 3 over 73, plus a birdie; fourth: tie between Dave LaCascia and Tim Looney, 4 over 74: fifth: tie between Sam Choi, Fujio Norihiro and Gene Vesely. Tim Looney also had two birdies, and Choi was closest to the pin on the 140-yard fourth hole.

B Flight: First place: Tom Ross, a well-played even par 70, plus fewest putts; second: tie between Lowell Goltra and Clay Fischer, 1 over 71; third: Liz Meripol; fourth: tie between Bob Munn and Chris Lankford. Lowell Goltra was closest to the pin on the 140-yard 12th hole.

On Jan. 31, 15 men and one woman played at Santa Ana’s Riverview Golf Course, a 5,600-yard, par-70 course that parallels and crosses the Santa Ana River several times. Challenging elevation changes and blind doglegs make this a demanding course.

Although it was quite cold at the 7 a.m. tee time, there was no wind, plus the greens and fairways were not wet. Thanks to the excellent playing conditions, scores were below average with 12 players at or under par.

A Flight: First place: LaCascia, a well-played 7 under 63, plus a birdie and fewest putts; second: tie between Norihiro and McKusky, a really good 6 under 64; third: Choi, a nice 5 under 65, plus closest to the pin on the 140-yard second hole; fourth: tie between Stivers, Jim Goltra and Larry Hillhouse. Norihiro also had a birdie.

B Flight: First place: Lankford, a terrific 7 under 63, plus two birdies, fewest putts and closest to the pin on the 100-yard ninth hole; second: Pat Paternoster, a very nice 5 under 65; third: Fischer, a fine 4 under 66, plus a birdie; fourth: Lowell Goltra, a sweet 1 under 69; fifth: Munn, 2 over 72; sixth: tie between Meripol and Bill Zurn.

The golf league plays at four local courses, all within 15-20 minutes of Leisure World. The courses are always quite full; advance reservations are available via a sign-up sheet at each round.

There is a prize pool for each round that players are not obligated to enter. Rewards are given in each flight for low net and fewest number of putts, as well as for birdies and closest to the pin on two par-3s. Holes-in-one and eagles (2 under par), although infrequent, are generously rewarded. Anyone interested should contact Gary Stivers at (714) 313-3697 or Dave LaCascia at (801) 674-5975.

—Dave LaCascia