Wednesday, April 22, 1998 | 8:51 a.m.
PETER BENTON is a local golfer. His column appears Wednesdays.
THE LAS VEGAS Senior Classic by TruGreen-ChemLawn, gets under way Thursday, over the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin and the TPC at The Canyons.
Seventy-eight of the world's top PGA Seniors will compete with 234 amateurs in the 72-hole stroke play event.
Here are my selections:
Larry Nelson, 8-1: This relative newcomer to the Senior Tour had but six starts in 1997, but already has recorded a victory this year. A very steady player.
Hale Irwin, 10-1: Can't say too much about our defending champion. Runaway victor in last week's Senior Championship, but may not be as focused this week.
Gil Morgan, 12-1: So far this year he has been the player to beat, with four victories in eight starts.
Tom Wargo, 14-1: Has not tasted victory since 1995 in Dallas but could surprise here -- he is playing very well.
Dave Stockton, 15-1: His game appears to be coming around and if he gets his putting stroke going, look out.
David Graham, 18-1: This laconic Australian has all the shots. If he can keep it on the fairway, he'll be tough.
Isao Aoki, 20-1: A magician on and around the greens, this crowd-pleaser placed second here last year. Fired a Senior PGA Tour record 10-under 60 in winning last year's Emerald Coast Classic.
Vicente Fernandez, 20-1: Has recorded a win in each of his two years on tour. Layouts here should suit his game.
Lee Trevino, 22-1: Back in the winner's circle after a year's absence, so obviously his game is once again on track.
Graham Marsh, 24-1: Has five senior victories since joining the tour in 1994. Does not have a weakness in his game and a victory would be no surprise.
Bob Charles, 25-1: An amazing record in Las Vegas, despite never winning. In 33 rounds here, his scoring average is 69.72.
Simon Hobday, 28-1: "Scruffy" is without doubt one of the tour's true characters and his success has been earned the hard way -- he worked for it.
Jim Colbert, 28-1: Our 1995 and '96 champion seems to be back to good health after surgery curtailed much of his play last year.
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