Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Peter Benten: Farkas’ 68 tops Sun City event

MEMBERS OF the Las Vegas Chapter, Southwest Section of the PGA, recently competed in the 36-hole Cannon/Saturn Pro-Pro played over the Palm Valley and Highland Falls courses at Sun City.

Bill Farkas (LVCC) shot a sparkling 4-under-par 68 on the first day to take low individual honors.

Rob Huff (Angel Park) followed with 69. Sharing third with 71s were John Spatz (Desert Willow), Dave Barnhart (Legacy), Mike Starks (Painted Desert), Carey Soares (Canyon Gate) and Rusty Postlewait (Desert Rose).

In the best-ball team segment, Joe Roth and Ken Wright (Canyon Gate) shot 7-under 65 to edge the Las Vegas Country Club pairing of Farkas and Phil Krick, who had 66.

On the second day at the par-72 Highland Falls layout, Jim Neighbors won the individual title with a 72. Brian Anderson (Paiute) and Rob Huff (Angel Park) shared second at 1-over 73, with fourth (74) going to Starks (Painted Desert).

Anderson and Starks won the best-ball team event with a 5-under 67. Joe Roth and Ken Wright (Canyon Gate) placed second with 68, while Shane Sanchez (Palm Valley) and Sean Connett (Eagle Crest) were third with 70.

With eight chapter events remaining, the top-10 for Player of the Year honors are as follows:

Mike Starks (Painted Desert), 289 points; Eric Eubanks (Legacy), 202; Bill Farkas (LVCC), 194; Shane Sanchez (Palm Valley), 188; Chris Aune (Legacy), 179; Wes Weston (Shadow Creek), 144; Rob Huff (Angel Park) and Rusty Postlewait (Desert Rose), 136; Joe Lescenski (Legacy), 130; and Jerry Roberts (Spanish Trail), 83.

In the Senior bracket, Farkas leads with 93 points, followed by Roberts with 52, Mike Harper (Sunrise Vista) with 35, Tom Storey (Calvada) with 33 and Monte Kaser (Las Vegas Hilton) with 16.

The Las Vegas Invitational, set for Oct. 2-6 at the Las Vegas Hilton Country Club, Desert Inn Country Club and the TPC in Summerlin, has a rather novel contest going this year.

It's called "Guess the Birdies," in which the contestant who predicts the exact number of birdies during the LVI will receive an all-expense paid trip for four to Walt Disney World.

There is also a birdie pledge program, in which all money raised will go to the Las Vegas Founders' Golf Foundation to be split among local charities.

Each course will have a pledge booth prior to the commencement of play, or forms may be obtained by calling 799-1042.

Local top-notch amateur Stephanie Keever holed her 181-yard, 7-wood shot on the par-3, 11th hole at the recent LPGA State Farm Fail Classic for her first-ever hole in one.

Alas, she failed to make the 36-hole cut on her foray with the lady pros.

archive