Hahn takes it easy

Bryce Alderton

Newport Beach Country Club head professional Paul Hahn is taking it

easy this week.

No, he isn’t taking time off, but rather preparing for his second

chance at the Toshiba Senior Classic, which begins Friday on his home

course.

Hahn, who received a sponsor’s exemption into the 78-player field

of the PGA Champions Tour event, is trying to keep preparations on

the mellow side this time around.

“Last year I thought about my swing too much,” said Hahn, 51, who

spent part of Tuesday afternoon hitting balls on the driving range,

steps away from two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange.

Hahn equated last year’s tournament preparations to “cramming for

a test,” and plans to shy away from similar intentions this year.

But last year he also knew months in advance he would be playing

Toshiba. It was just last Friday that Hahn found out he was entered

into this year’s field.

His week thus far has included teaming with Chris Barnes, Mark

Tomaszewski, Bill Gaudreau and Dan Maida to win Monday’s pro-am

followed by practice time Tuesday.

Last year Hahn, 51, played both Monday -- in the Toshiba pro-am --

and Tuesday during an outing at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine,

before competing in one of the two Classic pro-ams back at NBCC.

Hahn has said he’s played eight holes the past two months and

hasn’t felt “physically ready.”

And even though he loses a playing day during tournament week this

year, Hahn believes the laid-back approach could be beneficial.

“I’m going to hit a few balls, chip, putt and relax,” Hahn said.

“Last year I was caught up in the moment. I’d be out there watching

other players and not concentrating on what I was doing. It might be

better that I don’t prepare as much.”

Hahn tees off on the par-3 17th in the 7:15 shotgun start in this

morning’s Classic pro-am.

Then comes the real thing Friday.

Hahn debuted to galleries that equaled and occasionally exceeded

those following Jack Nicklaus at last year’s tournament, Cynthia

Stedelman, a Newport Beach Country Club member for 10 years,

recalled.

Member Bruce Brandenburg followed Hahn 50% of the time last year.

“To see a club pro under tournament conditions next to other

professionals who do this week in and week out, you really see how

good a club pro is,” said Brandenburg, chairman of the tournament’s

handicap committee. “Watching Paul last year, there wasn’t a trouble

shot that he didn’t hit magnificently. But the grinding out, normal

shots can be difficult.

“Playing three or four days, you don’t realize the drain and all

the adrenaline rush.”

Members, friends, family and other supporters should be out in

full force again this year, backing their pro.

“He’s helped so many people lower their handicaps,” Stadelman

said. “It’s the only PGA event in Orange County, so it’s really an

incredible honor to have our pro playing in it on his home course.”

*

Mike Smith of Titusville, Fla., and James Mason of Dillard, Ga.,

captured the last two berths for the Toshiba Senior Classic Monday in

qualifying at the Eisenhower Course at Industry Hills Golf Club in

the City of Industry.

Smith shot 4-under-par 68 to lead the qualifying field. Mason had

a 70 to place second, one stroke ahead of six golfers who shot 71.

*

Today’s Classic pro-am, open to the public, features shotgun

starts at 7:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

Strange (No. 1), Des Smyth (No. 15), coming off his first

Champions Tour victory at last week’s SBC Classic at Valencia Country

Club, Jim Dent (No. 1) and Gary McCord (No. 18) are among those

scheduled for 7:15 a.m.

The 12:45 group includes former Toshiba champions Rodger Davis

(2003) and Jim Colbert (1996), at holes 5 and 1 respectively, along

with former Masters champions Ray Floyd (No. 10) and Ben Crenshaw

(No. 2).