Columnist Peter Benton: Player of the year still up in air

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998 | 11:03 a.m.

PETER BENTON is a local golfer. His column appears Wednesdays.

WITH SCOTT PIERCY'S victory in the recent Nevada State Amateur Championship conducted by the Southern Nevada Golf Association, the race is on for Player of the Year honors.

Three events remain, and the top five placings on the designated tournament leader board shows Brady Exber on top with 175 total points. Billy Harvey follows with 143, then come Frank Acker, 141; Piercy, 120; and Dallas Massey with 117.7.

The race is just as close in the Senior Division, where Mike Diehl leads with 147.5 points. Larry Keever is next with 130.7, followed by Morris Ferstman, 128; Charlie Pape, 122; and Kyle Davis with 118.

Mark Kokowsky remains atop the net division standings with 140.2 points. Rounding out the top five are Blaine Midkiff, 116; Gary Hosey, 103; Mike Bridges, 93.5; and Jim Licausi, 87.

LVI reminder

Don't forget the Las Vegas Invitational, scheduled Oct. 14-18 at the TPC Summerlin, Desert Inn and Las Vegas Country Clubs, is in need of scorekeepers, gallery control personnel and greens reporters.

A uniform, daily food and training will be provided, and a volunteers party will be held at the conclusion of play.

Call 242-3008 for information.

Ace in the hole

Fred Victorson, playing the Desert Inn Country Club with Dan Albregts and Loring Jacobs, had the thrill of acing the 183-yard, par-3 fourth hole via a 5-iron.

Pro-Assistant winners

In a Pro-Assistant best ball tournament played by members of the Las Vegas Chapter, Southwest Section of the PGA at the TPC Canyons, Jon Spatz and Chad Myers of Desert Willow, along with the Shane Sanchez-Mike Messner pairing from Sun City's Palm Valley course, tied for first place with 4-under-par 68s.

Sharing second at 69 was the Brian Hawthorne/Jason Edniston duo from TPC Summerlin and Highland Fall's Scotty Greer and Mike Gelaner.

Individual honors went to Wes Weston, Shadow Creek, and Brian Anderson, Spanish Trail, who came in with even par 72s. Sanchez placed third, one stroke back.