Peter Benton: Anderson chosen LV’s pro of year

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

THE ANGEL PARK Golf Club was the site of last week's Las Vegas Chapter, Southwest Section of the PGA annual awards banquet.

This chapter, which has a staggering 140 members, selected Sun City's Doug Anderson Professional of the Year.

Anderson's untiring and unheralded efforts for the benefit of the game in our valley have known no bounds. Be it junior, amateur or professional golf, his willingness to assist makes him a worthy recipient of this prized award.

Others honored for excellence throughout the year were: Chris Aune (Legacy), winner of low stoke average for the year (73.33) and the prized Chapter Champion title.

The Distinguished Person of the Year Award, given annually to an individual who not only cares greatly about the game, but goes out of his way for the betterment of the sport within our community, was awarded to amiable Charlie Baron.

Baron is the guiding force behind our Las Vegas Invitational and is another deserving honoree.

Las Vegas Country Club head pro Bill Farkas was feted as Senior Player of the Year and chapter senior champion for 1996.

Mike Starks (Painted Desert), who amassed 344 points throughout the tournament season, garnered Player of the Year honors after an intense and seesaw battle.

Other top-10 players were Aune, 337; Farkas, 306; Shane Sanchez (Sun City), 279; Eric Eubanks (Legacy), 245; Rusty Postlewait (Desert Rose), 176; Rob Huff (Angel Park), 172; Wes Weston (Shadow Creek), 150; Joe Lescenski (Legacy), 146; and Dave Barnhart (Legacy), 136.

At the conclusion of the awards ceremony, retiring president Barnhart introduced his replacement, Lescenski, to the large crowd, along with Tom Vold (Angel Park), who will replace Rich Fite (LV Hilton) as secretary. Doug Anderson's position as treasurer will be taken over by John Spatz (Desert Willow) and the new vice president is young Sanchez.

John Cook, who won last week's official PGA Tour opener, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, also garnered the 1992 title via a playoff.

That year, Cook defeated Gene Sauers on their fourth playoff hole after previously having eliminated Tom Kite, Rick Fehr and Mark O'Meara. Sauers, by the way, went birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie in the playoff but lost to Cook's eagle on the final hole.

Cook's score of 327 last week was two shy of the tournament record 325 set by Kite, the 1993 champion.