Always popular event presented by The Allergan Foundation set for March 2; two Orange County high school seniors to receive $10,000 scholarships
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 14, 2010 – Corey Pavin, who carved out a lofty place as one of the most dynamic and popular players in the history of Southern California golf, will give golf fans a preview to one of his biggest years in professional golf as the guest speaker for the annual Toshiba Classic Breakfast with a Champion presented by The Allergan Foundation on Tuesday, March 2 at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa.
“The Allergan Foundation is extremely proud to continue our support of the Hoag Hospital Foundation through our sponsorship of the Champions Breakfast at the Toshiba Classic. This important community event has become a source of pride within our organization, and we’re pleased to be able to present an event that has become a wonderful tradition in Orange County, as well as a significant fund raiser for charity,” said Jim Hindman, president of The Allergan Foundation.
Seats for the 7 a.m. Breakfast with a Champion, which sells out quickly each year and has previously featured guests such as Lee Trevino, Jay Haas, Craig Stadler and Dave Stockton, are $120 per person. Individual seats and entire tables can be obtained by calling the Toshiba Classic tournament office at 949-660-1001.
A Southern California native and the 1982 NCAA Player of the Year while at UCLA, Pavin is a 15-time PGA TOUR winner. His marquee victory came at the 1995 U.S. Open, when Pavin hit one of the most memorable shots in golf history – a 4 wood to six feet on Shinnecock Hills Country Club’s demanding 18th hole. That gave the “Gritty Little Bruin” – one of Pavin’s several nicknames lending testament to his bulldog personality – the major championship that had eluded him throughout his storied career.
Known for his sublime accuracy and that tenacious personality on the golf course, Pavin was the PGA TOUR’s Arnold Palmer Award winner (leading money-winner) in 1991. He is making his Champions Tour debut in 2010, but will play select PGA TOUR events this season.
Aside from making his Champions Tour debut, Pavin is looking forward to a big year. He is set to succeed fellow Champions Tour rookie Paul Azinger as the captain of the 2010 United States Ryder Cup team, having played for the U.S. in 1991, 1993 and 1995 (compiling an 8-5 record) and on the 1994 and 1996 U.S. Presidents Cup teams. He won the Junior World Amateur title at age 17.
The Breakfast with a Champion also serves as the stage to another proud, deeply-rooted Toshiba Classic tradition. The Toshiba Classic Scholarship Fund will use the breakfast to present two $10,000 scholarships to two of Orange County’s best and brightest students. Funded by proceeds from the Toshiba Classic, the scholarship fund is a joint effort of the tournament sponsor, Toshiba America Inc., and Hoag Hospital Foundation.
The Toshiba Classic scholarship panel initially interviewed 24 Orange County high school seniors and will select 12 finalists. Two scholarship recipients are chosen by the scholarship panel, based on multiple considerations such as academic achievement, financial need and extracurricular activities. All 12 finalists receive Toshiba laptops. In the 11th year of the program, the Toshiba Classic Scholarship Fund will have donated a total of $169,000 in scholarships and 98 laptops to outstanding Orange County students.
Daily tickets to the $1.7 million Toshiba Classic, March 1-7 at Newport Beach Country Club, are $20 if purchased in advance and are $25 at the gate. Season clubhouse badges providing admission to the grounds and clubhouse for practice rounds and the tournament are $100. All tickets, including corporate ticket packages, can be obtained by calling 949-660-1001 or visiting www.ToshibaClassic.com.
The Toshiba Classic
Hoag Hospital Foundation produces the annual Toshiba Classic. During the last 12 years, the Toshiba Classic has generated more than $12 million for charity, the most on the Champions Tour. Televised domestically to over 81 million households on The Golf Channel, and an additional 86 million households internationally, the Toshiba Classic provides invaluable exposure for the communities of Orange County. In addition, the tournament generates an estimated $25 million in annual economic impact, benefiting the businesses of Newport Beach and Orange County. For more information, please call 949/660-1001 or log onto ToshibaClassic.com.
Contact:
Toby Zwikel/Brian Robin/Damian Secore
818-462-5599/5610/5614
Jessica Roswell
949/660-1001
