Players to wear orange ribbons in memory of murdered teens

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Charley Hoffman didn't know Chelsea King or anyone in her family.

He grew up in Poway, Calif., though. He even went to the same high school as the 17-year-old who was found raped and murdered last week.

John Mallinger's hometown of Escondido, Calif., was ripped apart by a starkly similar tragedy when the remains of 14-year-old Amber Dubois were found on a hillside four days after King's body was discovered. The same convicted sex offender is suspected in both deaths.

The horrific events have captured the attention of a nation and traumatized the communities where Hoffman and Mallinger were raised. Both are far away this week, competing in the Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular, but they wanted to do something to honor the victims and their families.

So both Hoffman and Mallinger will be wearing orange ribbons this week as they compete. They have recruited other players from California to do the same in Puerto Rico and at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship, as well.

"I was down in San Diego doing some golf stuff (last) Tuesday when she was found. It sort of hit home," Hoffman said. "I didn't realize how close it was. I mean, I grew up fishing there at Lake Hodges where her body was found. I've walked those paths.

"You never really think of something like that happening in your hometown. ... We're just trying to show support of her and try to keep her spirit going with the orange ribbon this week. I didn't know her -- didn't know anything about her. ... But you grew up there.You grew up doing the exact same things she did.

"You don't want to see kids stop running and going around fishing and going around the lake. You just want these guys who have done this stuff to obviously be caught. Hopefully somehow this will stop the predators by people being more aware of the situation."

Escondido, where Mallinger grew up, is about 15 miles north of Poway. Like Hoffman, he spent time at Lake Hodges with his family when he was younger. He knows how the community is grieving.

"Coming from that area, it kind of hits everyone hard,'" Mallinger said. "I've been on that lake, fishing a lot with my family, and to hear that happen is just tragic. ... Hopefully the community can come together and show their support. That's something we're doing this week with the orange ribbons show support for her and our community and her family."