Big Canyon is back!

NEWPORT BEACH — Where is Will Tipton?

Some at the Jones Cup asked about the whereabouts of the Big Canyon Country Club men’s champion.

The Big Canyon Country Club, host of the eighth annual Jones Cup, was without its big golfer.

One scorekeeper said Tipton was celebrating his birthday. Someone interrupted with a “he’s just not here,” trying to make sure no one knew Tipton’s location.

Mike Carpenter knew where his good friend Tipton was Thursday — playing at one of the world’s top golf courses, Pine Valley in New Jersey.

Carpenter couldn’t blame Tipton for skipping the tournament featuring Big Canyon and three other country clubs, Newport Beach, Santa Ana and Mesa Verde, in a five-person, best-ball format.

Carpenter got a chance to play on his home course.

Initially the 34-year-old thought he would miss out after finishing runner-up to Tipton at the Big Canyon finals last year. With Tipton out, Carpenter showed he was not playing second-fiddle to anyone at the Jones Cup.

Carpenter was consistent, collecting three birdies and finishing with a one-under-par 71, to lead Big Canyon to the top and dethrone defending champ Mesa Verde, 65-66. Newport Beach also had 66 and Santa Ana had 68.

The biggest birdie of the day didn’t belong to Carpenter. It was teammate Warren Caves’ birdie on the 18th hole.

The shot could be heard from a couple hundred yards away. Caves, about 20 feet from the cup, delivered the eventual winning putt. Those near the green roared, knowing the first group in led the rest of the pack.

Even the defending champions, watching from behind, knew it was over.

“I hear it went to seven [under], and I was like, ‘Oh, man!” Mesa Verde’s Steve Rhorer said. “We were at five [under]. I knew we wouldn’t beat Canyon if it birdied No. 18.”

But Caves did.

While watching Rhorer walk toward the green to finish with an amateur-best 69, Caves gave credit to someone else for lifting Big Canyon to its fifth Cup.

“It seems like you ought to be interviewing Mike Carpenter,” the 59-year-old said, searching for Carpenter, but to no avail.

Carpenter was nowhere to be found. He was already celebrating, with drink in hand.

To Rhorer, Big Canyon Country Club found the ideal replacement for Tipton.

“When I looked at the scoreboard and saw who was playing, I knew Carpenter,” said Rhorer, whose teammates included Ryan Gale, Tom Sargent, Brett Brummett and Madelaine Campbell. “I didn’t even think about Will to be honest with you. I know he’s a fantastic player. It didn’t register in my mind whether it would be Will or Mike.”

Rhorer will see Mike Carpenter again. This time they’ll meet in Kapalua, Hawaii at the Mercedes-Benz Championships on Jan. 3-8, where they earned berths by being the top two amateurs at the Jones Cup with the lowest scores.

Carpenter looked stoked for the trip and for his teammates, which included Bob Lovejoy (74), Robert Pang (76) and Martha Redfearn (86).

“This year everyone contributed,” he said, accounting for the team to go five-under through the first four holes with Carpenter’s birdie, followed by Redfearn’s eagle and Pang’s back-to-back birdies. “We didn’t do so well last year [finishing last]. It was nice to put a good score out there.

“I don’t think that it’s [Tipton’s] birthday. He’s one of my best friends. I feel bad, because I didn’t talk to him [Thursday]. If it’s his birthday … he’s 40.”