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Golf: DuBois eager to compete in U.S. Senior Am at ‘home’

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Like most golfers, Don DuBois would love to play more but can’t because he has a job and other commitments. So the acclaimed Newport Beach amateur has decided for quality over quantity, playing in select tournaments this summer.

The event he has circled on his calendar is one he would like to win the most. DuBois will be one of 13 California amateurs to compete in the United States Golf Assn. Senior Amateur Championship at Big Canyon Country Club, Saturday through Thursday.

The format of the tournament is two rounds of stroke play Saturday and Sunday, where the top 64 golfers advance and then compete in single-elimination match play beginning Monday and concluding Thursday. DuBois will tee off Saturday at 8:35 a.m. on the 10th hole and follow that Sunday at 12:35 p.m. on the first hole.

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A member at the Newport Beach private facility, DuBois was excited when he found out two years ago that club membership had approved hosting the USGA event.

“The course is great and it’s a big honor,” DuBois said. “I was pleased when the club decided to approve hosting it.”

It’s not the first USGA event the club has hosted. Big Canyon was the site of the 2000 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. The club has also hosted qualifying for several USGA championships, including eight U.S. Amateurs and three U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs.

“Big Canyon Country Club is proud to continue its support of amateur golf as host of the 60th USGA Senior Amateur Championship,” Bill Stampley, the club’s president said in a press release. “The members and staff look forward to working closely with the USGA to ensure a memorable event for both players and guests.”

“The club has had a lot of improvements the past few years,” DuBois said. “It is definitely ready to host an event as prestigious as the U.S. Senior Am.”

The Robert Muir Graves designed Big Canyon Country Club opened in 1971 and was renovated in 1998 by John Harbottle III. A recent crowning achievement for the club was completion of a 65,000 square-foot, two-story clubhouse in 2009.

The course is known for its pristine greens and Tiger Woods played there frequently early in his career because he said the putting surfaces were like those he experienced on the PGA Tour.

DuBois was one of seven members of Big Canyon to try and qualify for the Senior Am. DuBois, who shot a one-over par 73 at La Jolla Country Club, was the only club member to qualify. He will join noted amateurs such as two-time Senior Amateur winner Kemp Richardson of Laguna Niguel.

The amateur career of DuBois has been equally as impressive. This will be his 12th USGA event, playing twice in the U.S. Open in 1986 and 1988. DuBois won the California State Amateur in 2005 and, while a senior at Arizona State, won the 1980 Arizona State Amateur.

There is an advantage for DuBois to play at Big Canyon, but DuBois also pointed out there are also disadvantages.

“It’s always nice to know a course well,” DuBois said. “I probably know every blade of grass here, but the bottom line is you still have to play well. This is still a high level of golf and you have to be prepared.

“You have the added distraction of having friends, family and club members following you around,” he said. “You want to do well for them, but you can’t put too much pressure on yourself. You have to put that out of your mind.”

DuBois has not had a chance to practice as much as he would like, but he did play in the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship last week where he qualified and then lost in the first round of match play.

“I am playing well, just was a little sloppy in match play,” DuBois said. “I didn’t look at this as a tune up, but it was nice to play this before the Senior Am. It was a good experience and I feel like I am ready for this week.”

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