The Orange County Chapter of the ALS...

The Orange County Chapter of the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)

Association will honor famed Newport Harbor High alum George Yardley

when its second annual golf tournament convenes May 24 at Arroyo

Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo.

Yardley, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame who died

of ALS in August 2004 at age 75 after diagnosis in early 2003, is

regarded as arguably the greatest athlete to emerge from Newport

Harbor, where he graduated from in 1946.

Carol Burby, executive director of the county’s ALS chapter, said

the Yardley family has been involved with the chapter’s efforts,

making this year’s choice for an honoree an easy one.

“We wanted to honor him for all he has done for the Orange County

community,” Burby said.

Family photos, along with video clips from his illustrious career

and a taped tribute from sportscaster Bob Costas will be shown to

attendees on tournament day.

Last year, the Yardley family donated a check worth $100,000 to

the ALS Association Ludwig Institute at UC San Diego and Orange

County Chapter of the ALS Association.

Yardley broke Hank Luisetti’s single-season conference scoring

record with 423 points in 1950 while at Stanford. “The Bird,” as

Yardley was nicknamed, then became the first NBA player to score

2,000 points in a season (1957-58) and played in six all-star games

in his seven-year professional career.

He retired at the height of his career to start a business and

spend more time with his family.

All proceeds from the tournament will fund vital patient and

caregiver programs for Orange County ALS patients, as well as

supporting research to find a cure.

As of late last week, Burby said the field was almost full.

Those interested can call (714) 938-1080 for more information.

The tournament was started in 2004 by a group of community

volunteers brought together to help their friend, former Mission

Viejo resident Doug Ousterman, and others like him, fight the

disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Ousterman was diagnosed

with ALS in 2003 at age 40.

ALS is a progressive neuromuscular disease that attacks nerve

cells, slowly paralyzing the patient while the mind usually remains

unaffected. It is a fatal disease and life expectancy is two to five

years after diagnosis. Every 90 minutes another person is diagnosed,

and every 90 minutes someone in the United States dies from the

disease.

The ALS Association is the only national nonprofit health

organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS.

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Nine-time defending champion Debbie Albright leads by four strokes

after the first round of the Newport Beach Country Club ladies club

championship.

Albright, vying for a club record 10th straight ladies club title,

shot a 6-over-par 77 in Tuesday’s opening round and leads by four

strokes over Janice Sauter (81).

Sandi Coffer (82) sits in third followed by Fletcher Olson (83),

Newport Harbor High’s girls tennis coach, Joan Furry (83) and Cathy

Vrdolyak (84).

Vrdolyak aced the par-3 eighth hole.

The second round is today followed by the third and final rounds

Tuesday and May 19, respectively.