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Allen gives back [corrected]

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A key aspect to the Toshiba Classic is money raised for charity. That is certainly the case during the 18th annual Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club this week.

The charity hits home for Michael Allen, who has had a nice start this year on the Champions Tour. Allen’s 14-year-old daughter, Michelle, has Type 1 diabetes.

For the second straight year the Toshiba’s main beneficiary for charity is the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center of Hoag Hospital.

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Michael Allen, who has no relation to Mary & Dick Allen, was given a tour of the diabetes center in Newport Beach Thursday morning. He also offered any help he could provide in the future or at next year’s Toshiba.

Allen knows and has dealt first-hand with the lifelong disease that has high levels of sugar in the blood.

He has contributed largely to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has held golf events to raise money for JDRF.

Michael Allen said he enjoyed his tour of the diabetes center and was impressed with its focus on education to its patients.

“It’s learning how to deal with [Type 1 diabetes] and how the family copes with it,” he told the Champions Tour staff. “There are so many things that go with it. It’s a lifetime commitment. They focus on education.

Michael Allen also enjoys this week, helping raise money for the diabetes center.

“It’s a nice thing,” he said. “It’s our passion.”

Michael Allen has had two top-three finishes out of three starts this year on the Champions Tour.

He finished tied for third at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Jan. 22 and at the Allianz Championship Feb. 12. He finished tied for 16th at the ACE Group Classic Feb. 19.

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The winners of the Toshiba Classic Pro-Am had some local flavor, as members from Cleveland Golf, including Greg Hopkins of Newport Beach, won the two-day Low Gross. Peter Jacobsen, who aced No. 8, was the pro on Wednesday and Hopkins played Thursday.

Chris Beck, Rick Lehman, Don Reino and Tony Cannon were the amateurs. Beck is an Estancia High alumnus.

steve.virgen@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveVirgen

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