Golf: Moving back?

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - The Toshiba Senior Classic, which suffered a

final-round rainout last year in Week 9 and is expected to battle the

weather again this year, could be moved back to Week 10 on the Senior PGA

Tour schedule for 2002.

The Senior Tour will not announce next year’s schedule until July, but

there’s a possibility it could include an additional stop in Mexico,

which would fill Week 9 on the tour calendar and push back the three

ensuing California stops a week.

That scenario would mean the Toshiba Classic, which was played in Week

10 the first three years, would return to Week 10 on the schedule.

“(Mexican officials and the Senior PGA Tour) are talking about a

second (tournament) down there,” Senior Tour player Ed Dougherty said

Monday, after playing in the inaugural Mexico Senior Classic at Puebla,

Mexico.

“They are just rumors, but the proprietor down there is trying to get

Acapulco (to host a stop). The weather there is real nice. If (the

Toshiba Classic) is (being moved), then it seems a lot of things are

falling in place.”

Newport Beach Country Club head professional Paul Hahn said “I think

they’re moving (the Toshiba Classic) back next year (to Week 10). I think

it’s planned.”

Jim Colbert, the 1996 Toshiba Classic champion who finished tied for

second Sunday at Puebla, said the second Mexican stop next year in

Acapulco would feature a $2 million purse.

“The (tournament) we just played in was a $1.5 million purse,” Colbert

said. “And now they’re talking about an event in Acapulco.”

This year’s Toshiba Classic has a $1.4 million purse.