Columnist Peter Benton: Larsen, Davis win tourney

Peter Benton

Wednesday, June 9, 1999 | 9:47 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Under almost ideal weather conditions on a course in pristine shape, the Las Vegas Country Club last week hosted its annual Member-Member Memorial Weekend Tournament. As is the norm, it was a very competitive event.

Format for the first day of play was Chapman Scotch Foursome, where both partners hit a tee shot on each hole, hit each other's second shot and then choose the second shot they prefer. They hit alternate shots thereafter until the ball is holed.

The second day was best-ball of partners while the final day format was combined low net of partners.

In the keenly contested Champions Flight, which saw various teams exchanging the lead during the three days, Frank Larsen and Gary Davis finally prevailed with a score of 279.65. This duo won the event a couple of years ago and they combine well together.

Finishing second were Coe Power and Tom Page, who had their chances but couldn't make the important putt when it was needed. Their score was 281.05. Third at 281.45 was the Jim Hagen/Joe Brandise team while fourth spot at 281.55 went to Bruce Ashworth and Bob Bartoll.

Warren Peterson and Bill McKown won the President's Flight rather handily, coming in with a 271.9. Pre-tourney favorites Frank Reed and Jim Wade placed second at 275.95 while third spot went to the George Jablon/Leo Durant twosome.

Dayton Blaine and Jerry Bartman captured the Director's Flight with a score of 274.7. It was a popular win for a popular pairing.

Taking second spot with 276.15 were Sam Lionel and Bernie Sindler with third place going to Mike Montalvo and Jim Pettis at 276.65.

In the Ladies Flight the ever-smiling duo of Halina Vergiels and Linda Jablon won rather handsomely with their 276.7. Niki Devine and Lolita Kelley were second at 281.4 with third place going to the Sandy Singer/Pat Corona pairing. Their score was 285.2.

* PETER'S THE LEADER: Australia's Peter Thomson, captain of the victorious International Team in the 1998 Presidents Cup, has agreed to serve as captain for the third time when his team defends its title next year.

Ken Venturi, a 14-time winner in 12 seasons on the PGA Tour, has been named captain of the U.S. team.

Venturi's victory in the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club, where he overcame heat exhaustion, was the crowning achievement of his career. In 1968, he joined the CBS golf broadcast team where he has been a mainstay.

The next President's Cup will be played Oct. 16-22, 2000 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Lake Manassas, Va., site of the first two biennial events in 1994 and 1996. Last year, the International Team defeated the U.S. Team at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia.