Jones Cup players aligned

The cast of competitors for the seventh annual Jones Cup, an 18-hole best-ball gross match featuring the four private Newport-Mesa clubs, has been finalized.

The event, held Thursday at 1 p.m. at Mesa Verde Country Club, will pit five golfers from the host club against five-person teams from Big Canyon Country Club, Newport Beach Country Club and Santa Ana Country Club.

Big Canyon, which won the event by one stroke over Newport Beach last year, will be led by Director of Golf Bob Lovejoy. Lovejoy who has been part of the winning team in four of the past five Jones Cup events, will be joined by club professional Robert Pang, senior men’s champion Warren Caves, men’s repsresentative Mike Carpenter and women’s amateur Olivia Slutzky.

Newport Beach, which won the event on its own course in 2004, is lead by Head Professional Paul Hahn. Club professional Carlo Borunda, club women’s champion Debbie Albright, club men’s champion Brian Lindley and club senior champion Bob Craft round out the group.

Representing Mesa Verde will be Head Golf Professional Tom Sargent, club professional Brett Brummett, men’s champion Steve Rhorer, women’s champion Madeline Campbell and senior champion Tom McGreevy.

The Santa Ana contingent, led by Director of Golf Mike Reehl, also includes head club professional Geoff Cochrane, women’s champion Nicole Ronald, senior and men’s champion Rick Herrera and men’s amateur Bruce Bearer.

The two lowest-scoring amateurs will be invited to compete in the national Mercedes-Benz Championship.