Lucas' handicap is 15, and making the cut at the AT&T is the ultimate feather in an amateur's visor, the most-longed-for accomplishment.

Meanwhile, over in the sponsor's tent, other Saratogans were meeting and greeting folks; still others were helping with transportation around the three courses. A contingent of Saratogans worked as volunteers at the famed tournament and were royally feted—dined, wined and entertained.

This happens at the Tee Off Party, as the tournament gets under way. There are 1,800 volunteers, so the Doubletree is packed with people and food tables—sushi to racks of lamb, acres of crab and the invariable finish of cherries jubilee, which seems to be the obligatory dessert.

Saratogans sampling the colossal spread were Ed Porter, Ron Whitcanack, Grant Adorador, Chuck Page, Lane Tronson and Larry Schuck. Porter reports that George Lopez eclipsed Ray Romano in the comedy department at the 2004 action on the Monterey Peninsula.

"The guy's hilarious. I'm going to watch for him from now on."

Another Saratoga connection: Lopez recently bought a house at Pebble Beach from former Saratogan Bob Snyder. And Lopez used that house in his comedy routine, saying it immediately needed a new roof. (Quite true, admitted Snyder.) Lopez claimed that one afternoon when he came home, instead of being on the roof, the Latino roofers were in his pool. "Come on in," they purportedly yelled to him, "the owner's not home!"

HAKONE ADDS TWO: The Hakone Foundation added two media honchos to its board of directors last week: David Cohen, who owns this paper, and Vince DeCarolis, founder of a design and marketing company that bears his name.

Cohen is owner and CEO of Silicon Valley Community Newspapers, eight community weeklies with a combined circulation of 154,000. He co-founded Metro Publishing in '85 and then SVCN branched off in '01. Cohen is a Founding 100 Member of the Hakone Society. And he's on the boards of the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Community Hospital of Los Gatos, plus past chairman of the SJ Cinequest Film Festival. Cohen is also a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose.

Other former leadership positions were with San Jose's Symphony Orchestra; Jazz Society; and the Downtown Association (founding board member). He was also president of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, western division.

The longtime publisher has served on the President's Council for SJSU, and the steering committee of the Arts Council of Santa Clara County. Earlier, Cohen was associate publisher of Los Angeles Weekly. His B.A. in history is from Windham College, Putney, Vt.

About Hakone, Cohen says, "It's such a peaceful place, a national treasure." Indeed, Hakone was recently awarded a grant and named one of only 12 sites in the U.S. in the Save America's Treasures campaign by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, reports Lon Saavedra, executive director of Hakone.

DeCarolis founded DeCarolis Design & Marketing company in 1991, and clients include such biggies as Cisco, Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Lucent, and Christopher Ranch. Earlier he was a partner in the Performance Marketing Group and was co-founder and president of Cubegraphics Inc. DeCarolis holds a B.A. from USF.

ANOTHER OUTING: Some 67 former Pennsylvanians gathered at Hardy's Bavaria Restaurant for their annual Groundhog Party and raised $1,000 for the USO by so doing. Celebrated was the legend of Punxsutawney Phil, their native state's German heritage, and fundraising to support the country's troops.

The club has now raised more than $26,500 over its 15-year history for these charities: Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank, Red Cross, USO and flood relief. Jack Mallory is president of the Groundhog Club of Silicon Valley. To get on the groundhog bandwagon, call 408.252.7447.

BARBEQUE: Thanks to winning third prize in a contest at Armadillo Willy's, Saratogans Olive Stocking and Ruth Bauer are dining at the DeAnza Boulevard establishment free once a week for a year. The two are fitting recipients because they were wont to dine at Willy's at least weekly, anyhow.

Stocking had to skip a few weeks of 'que recently, because she broke a femur, but recovered in record time. No small feat at any age, but she's 88. As you read this, she's probably back in full mobility, scarfing down ribs.

SIERRA CLUB TALK: "Hiking in the Land of the Sleeping Rainbow" is the slideshow that Dave Barry will present of his backpacking trips in the Southwest on Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., in the Saratoga Library. Included will be slides of national monuments, parks and the Four Corners. For more details, call Marj Ottenberg at 408.867.4576.

Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.