Las Vegan Robert Gamez is still trying to battle back from hand injury

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998 | 10:12 a.m.

All the worrying in the world won't help Robert Gamez now, so the Las Vegas native has a simple approach to this week's Las Vegas Invitational.

"I'm just going to go out and free-wheel it and see what happens from there," Gamez said before his first round this morning at the Desert Inn Golf Club.

Gamez, still plagued by an injury to his right hand that he suffered in a June automobile accident, stands 199th on the PGA Tour money list with two events remaining.

To retain his tour card for next season, Gamez needs to earn approximately $160,000 in his final two tournaments to reach the magical 125 spot in earnings.

If he doesn't keep his playing privileges by finishing in the top 125, Gamez isn't committed to attempting to earn back his card by going through the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament this winter.

A veteran of nine full seasons on the PGA Tour, Gamez said the possibility exists that he still can get into 20 to 25 tournaments next season via sponsor exemptions, if he loses his card.

"I was worrying about it there for a little bit but I've got two weeks left and whatever happens is going to happen," Gamez said of his standing on the money list. "Either I keep (my card) and go play next year or I don't keep it and write for exemptions and still play 20 to 25 events, hopefully.

"I'm not sure about Q-School yet. I've sent my entry in but it depends on whether or not I have to go to the second stage or not. If I finish out of the top 150, I'm not going to go."

Those who finish 126 to 150 in earnings are exempted into the final stage of Q-School. Gamez said his decision to pass on Q-School if he isn't exempt to the final stage is not a matter of ego.

"I've just got some other commitments I have to honor and it's just too much for me with the hand (injury)," Gamez said. "But I'm not really thinking that far ahead; I still plan on keeping it this year. Two good weeks is all it takes."

Gamez has never finished lower than 89th on the money list since he earned Rookie of the Year honors on the PGA Tour in 1990. His worst earnings season came in 1995 when he made $206,588 and finished 89th. Through 23 tournaments this year, Gamez has made only $64,873.

The sore hand and ranking on the money list notwithstanding, Gamez has been pleased with his game of late.

After missing nine of 10 cuts since returning to the tour following his accident, Gamez put together four solid rounds (72-69-71-70) at the Buick Challenge at Callaway Gardens, Ga., earlier this month and finished tied for 48th.

"I'm playing pretty well, actually," Gamez said.

"I played real well at Callaway Gardens, I just struggled a little bit on the greens. I came home, started working every day on it for a couple of hours a day. I have putted real well the last couple of days, now it's just a matter of having it happen in the tournament."

After finishing second in his hometown tournament in 1994, Gamez battled a variety of ailments the past two years and missed the cut in Las Vegas both in 1996 and last year.

Gamez said he has been working hard the past two months in hopes of changing his luck.

"I struggled here the last two years but I had some personal problems and injuries ... but this year I'm actually playing better," Gamez said. "I'm striking it better, I'm putting better, I'm doing everything better this year than I have in a couple of years. I'm really looking forward to it."

* LVI NOTES: Steve Flesch withdrew from the Las Vegas Invitational Tuesday morning and was replaced in the field by Kent Jones. Jones has played in 27 PGA Tour events this season and stands 169th on the money list with $129,459. His best finish this season was a tie for 12th place at the Buick Open in August and he is coming off a 22nd-place tie in last week's Michelob Championship at Kingsmill.