Holstein first to qualify for Tea Cup

Nobody here twists your arm. There’s nobody saying you absolutely

must play in the Tea Cup Classic or Jones Cup. It’s purely an

invitation.

Understandably so it might be a little unnerving for amateur

golfers who aren’t used to playing in front of galleries or under the

media scrutiny of yours truly. (We take it easy on you, trust me.)

But, still, the fabric of the two Newport-Mesa community events is to

celebrate the club champions.

The Tea Cup Classic, our primary focus in this space today on the

heels of Sally Holstein’s recent Big Canyon Country Club women’s

title, was launched by this sports section to determine an overall

women’s champion in the Daily Pilot circulation, following a slew of

large margins of victory. It started in 1997 as a way to promote

women’s golf, bring the golf community closer together and celebrate

the area’s four women’s club champions in a special one-day, 18-hole

format.

Thus, our first Tea Cup Classic invitation for 2003 goes out to

Holstein, who captured her second Big Canyon title last week in a

one-hole playoff against Martha Redfearn.

Holstein, who won the 1999 Big Canyon title and played that summer

in Tea Cup Classic III, trailed Redfearn by two shots entering the

final round, then won in the topsy-turvy final round.

At the par-4 17th, Redfearn had a one-shot lead, but hit into the

trees and then into a bunker. But Redfearn rallied with a 30-foot

putt for par, while Holstein called a penalty stroke on herself when

her ball moved on the green.

At the par-5 dogleg right 18 with a creek guarding the green,

Holstein reached the green in three, but Redfearn hit into the water

and the players finished tied after regulation. On the first playoff

hole at No. 1, Holstein made par and Redfearn hit into the drink on

the right to end the suspense.

“I basically played percentage shots. I didn’t go after the

greens,” said Holstein, who added she knows exactly how Redfearn

feels, because Holstein lost a two-stroke lead on the last hole and

hit into the water on the first playoff hole in 2000.

Holstein also added she’s ready to play in Tea Cup Classic VII at

Mesa Verde Country Club this summer, which has yet to be announced.

Last year’s Tea Cup representative from Big Canyon, Olivia

Slutzky, became the first pregnant player to compete in the Tea Cup.

She gave birth earlier this month to a baby girl, Kyra.