Newport comes undone

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SANTA ANA — Newport Beach Country Club had strong support from its members showing up to cheer on their friends in the 10th annual Jones Cup at Santa Ana Country Club.

The love among the club’s members and players was evident, and they all seemed in sync. Somehow that didn’t translate onto the course, and NBCC finished third at 10-under-par 134 in the two-best ball format that included four five-player teams.

NBCC, which consisted of Paul Hahn, Carlo Borunda, Debbie Fleming, Jeff Wright and Jan-Erik Palm, watched as Big Canyon Country Club finished at 11-under and tried to catch the defending champ. Behind NBCC was Mesa Verde, which accomplished the feat of catching and passing Big Canyon to win the event. Santa Ana finished fourth.

Newport Beach did have a few highlights. One came on No. 10, where club pro Borunda came up with an eagle. He said had a lucky charm, his 2-year-old daughter, Sophia.

Palm, originally from Sweden, also provided some high moments for Newport Beach. The club’s senior men’s champion produced four birdies.

“We got off to a slow start,� said Hahn, the club’s head pro. “I think everyone was nervous. They haven’t played in a while. When you play in front of your friends, it’s a lot of tougher than playing in front of people with bags on their heads.�