Qualifying Set for Crystalaire

Crystalaire Country Club in Llano will again host the first stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School, set for Oct. 13-16.

Crystalaire, which has hosted the first stage for the last three years, is one of 13 first-stage sites across the nation.

The second stage will be Oct. 27-30 and Nov. 3-6 at six sites, including La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc and Bayonet Blackhorse Course in Seaside.

The third and final stage will be Nov. 18-23 on the Dunes Course at the La Quinta Resort and the Weiskopf Course PGA West in La Quinta.

Those finishing in the top 35 will receive 1999 PGA Tour cards. The next 70 earn Nike Tour exemptions.

Applications for the tournament are available from the PGA Tour office in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Entry deadline is Sept. 18. The cost is $4,000 for those required to play all three stages, $3,750 for those exempt into the second stage and $3,500 for those exempt into the finals.

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Review board: The contract to operate the driving range and pro shop at Encino and Balboa Golf courses is up for review and the Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Parks is expected to make a decision within the next month.

The contract would be to operate the concession for 10 years. California Golf, which had the previous 10-year contract, declined to renew when its contract expired in April.

Family Golf Centers has been running the driving range and pro shop on an interim basis since April.

Others in the running for the contract are Ready Golf, Chang Ahn and a partnership between former Sepulveda Golf Club champion Lou Murez and former head pro Jim De La Pena.