Jones Cup is Gunson’s major
This is only the fourth year Shady Canyon Country Club is in the Jones Cup, but already Brian Gunson is a big fan of the 16th annual event.
Gunson, Shady Canyon’s director of golf and the team captain, is so excited about the Jones Cup, he calls it his major.
Well, last year, the third time turned out to be the charm, as Shady Canyon captured Gunson’s major, also known as the Jones Cup.
This year’s Jones Cup, which features five local country clubs Big Canyon, Shady Canyon, Mesa Verde, Newport Beach and Santa Ana, will take place Tuesday, starting at 11:30 a.m. at Big Canyon.
“It’s created a nice buzz,” Gunson said of the Jones Cup. “It gives us something to play for. We didn’t play in the tournament for many years. It adds a bonus to our other events. They know if they win the club championship, they get to play in the Jones Cup. It feels like a major for me. It’s pretty much the event I Iook forward to every year and get ready for. We have been trying to get in shape. “
Shady Canyon’s big three return from last year’s team that won on its home course in a dramatic comeback. Kirk Manley, Shady’s Canyon’s pro, and Robyn Puckett, a former Australian pro, join Gunson as Shady’s returnees.
Kevin Baker (men’s club champion) and Bill Moore (senior men’s club champ) are new to the team but are well aware of the difficulty to repeat, as nine-time champion Big Canyon is playing on its home course and has won each time it has hosted.
Last year, Shady Canyon used its home-course advantage to rally for five birdies over the final three holes to set up a playoff that Shady won against Big Canyon, which was seeking its fourth straight Jones Cup victory.
“One thing that did help us was knowing the score and knowing what we needed,” Gunson said. “If we didn’t know the score we might not have played so aggressively. If we didn’t know Big Canyon’s score we might not have won.”
The Jones Cup seemed to be the perfect trophy/championship for the posh country club in Irvine. This is what Shady Canyon wanted, Gunson said.
Right around when the Jones Cup began, that’s when Shady Canyon opened and Gunson was hired on after leaving his native Scotland, where he worked at Turnberry for 23 years, he said. Gunson helped Shady Canyon grow and maintain its exclusive feel, even know as its maxed out to 430 members, several of whom are from Newport Beach.
“We started with three employees and no members to where we are now,” Gunson said. “It’s been a fun ride. It’s good. I don’t get to travel as much. These events create a nice break for me, to show how good we are.”
Gunson said he’s also excited about this year’s Jones Cup because Shady enters as the defending champion.
“Big Canyon would have to be the favorite for purely home-course advantage,” Gunson said. “But you can’t really count out the other teams.”
Gunson said the Jones Cup is very competitive because there doesn’t seem to be as much pressure because of the two best-ball format.
“We can all make three or four birdies each,” Gunson said. “If they fall at the right time, we should get close to 15 under again.”
Puckett is playing in her third straight Jones Cup for Shady.
“She’s a very steady player,” Gunson said. “She’s won a few top senior women’s amateur events. She brings a stability to the team that we need.
“Every team has a good player. It’s like what you just see on TV and the U.S. Open, and those guys shoot in the mid-to-high 70s and then go in the 60s the next day. You just never know what you’re going to get.”
Gunson hopes Shady gets another Jones Cup, his major event.