Fun facts about the LVI field
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999 | 8:35 a.m.
Compiled By Ron Kantowski
Fun facts -- some moreso than others -- about the 144 players entered in the Las Vegas Invitational:
* Robert Allenby: Australian who lists fast boats as a hobby.
* Stephen Ames: The first touring pro to come out of Trinidad & Tobago.
* Billy Andrade: Wake Forest grad who runs the Billy Andrade/Brad Faxon Charities for Children, which has donated $1.65 million to youngsters in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
* Tommy Armour III: Former Las Vegan whose grandfather won the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship.
* Ty Armstrong: Was an all-state second baseman at Waxahachie, Texas.
* Woody Austin: Career has been hampered by a knee injury suffered as an 11-year-old Little Leaguer.
* Paul Azinger: Started playing golf at age 5 but didn't break 40 for nine holes until his senior year in high school.
* Briny Baird: Son of PGA Senior Tour veteran Butch Baird.
* Craig Barlow: Henderson native enjoys a good game of ping-pong -- er, table tennis.
* Doug Barron: Father introduced him to golf at age 3.
* Ben Bates: Helped lead Troy State (Ala.) to NCAA Division II golf title.
* Chip Beck: Continues to distribute monies he received for shooting a round of 59 -- just the second one in PGA Tour history -- at the 1991 LVI through the Chip Beck Scholarship Foundation.
* Cameron Beckman: Had played in only three PGA events prior to 1999.
* Rich Beem: New Mexico State grad who should have had a bet on the Aggies' football game vs. Arizona State last month.
* Chris Berry: Helped UNLV win 1998 NCAA golf title.
* Ronnie Black: Father was a high school basketball coach in New Mexico.
* Jay Don Blake: Drag racing fanatic who races in National Hot Road Association (NHRA) sportsman class races.
* Eric Booker: As a club pro, traded golf lessons for karate lessons.
* Alan Bratton: Member of Oklahoma State's 1995 National Championship team.
* Jeff Brehaut: University of Pacific grad who dabbles in landscaping and home renovations.
* Danny Briggs: Media savvy pro who stood in for injured Golf Channel commentator Mark Lye during the 1995 Nike Dakota Dunes Open.
* Mark Brooks: Collects vintage fountain pens, toy trains and architectural models and blueprints.
* Bob Burns: Laid-back California pro who is into dog breeding and relaxing.
* Mark Calcavecchia: Had a 185 bowling average as a 13-year-old.
* Jim Carter: Enjoys a good sunset.
* Brandel Chamblee: Used to rope calves on a ranch where TPC at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas now sits.
* Stewart Cink: Took up golf when his parents left him at a driving range before he was old enough to play on the course.
* Russ Cochran: Big University of Kentucky basketball fan.
* John Cook: Son of former LVI chief Jim Cook.
* Chris Couch: In 1991 was top-ranked junior in the United States.
* Fred Couples: Collects vintage automobiles.
* John Daly: Owns recreational vehicle and drives to many events.
* Robert Damron: Son of a retired Kentucky coal miner.
* Glen Day: Wears pictures of his kids on his cap while playing.
* Jay Delsing: Father Jim was a major league outfielder for 10 seasons.
* Clark Dennis: Missed 18-foot birdie putt that would have given him a 59 at 1997 Nike event in St. Louis.
* Chris DiMarco: Traveled the Nike Tour in custom van painted in Florida Gators colors.
* Trevor Dodds: Has triumphed over 1997 battle with testicular cancer.
* Doug Dunakey: Shot a 59 in the second round of the 1998 Nike Miami Valley Open.
* Joe Durant: Stacked boxes in a golf equipment house during a six-month respite from the game in 1991.
* John Elliott: Goes by the nickname "Jumbo" -- just like the Jets' offensive tackle.
* Bob Estes: Once worked for Charles Coody in bag room of Fairway Oaks Golf & Racquet Club.
* Brad Fabel: Formerly worked as a coal mine supplier.
* Brad Faxon: Enjoys all sports -- except hunting and fishing.
* Rick Fehr: Former two-time All-American at Brigham Young.
* Steve Flesch: One of only two lefties (Vic Wilk) to win on Nike Tour.
* Dan Forsman: Once took six weeks off to coach his son's Little League team.
* Harrison Frazer: Justin Leonard's roommate at the University of Texas.
* Robin Freeman: Son-in-law of baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner.
* Bob Friend: Son of former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bob Friend.
* David Frost: Co-owns a vineyard in his native South Africa with his brother.
* Edward Fryatt: Local product whose father, James, played pro soccer in England and set a world record for fastest goal from kickoff.
* Jim Furyk: Has one of pro golf's most unorthodox swings.
* Jim Gallagher Jr: Father (Jim), wife (Cissye), sister (Jackie Gallagher-Smith) and brother (Jeff) are all current or former touring pros.
* Jeff Gallagher: See above.
* Robert Gamez: Las Vegan who won the first PGA Tour tourney he entered, the 1990 Tucson Open.
* Brian Gay: Lists the stock market as one of his hobbies.
* Brent Geiberger: Son of Al, the first man to shoot 59 in a PGA Tour event.
* Bill Glasson: One of the first PGA touring pros to sport a goatee.
* Paul Goydos: Former substitute teacher in Long Beach, Calif.
* Jimmy Green: Left wife Kelley holding the bag (as his caddie) during 1996 Nike win in Buffalo.
* Dudley Hart: Nicknamed "Mini-Volcano" for his once volatile temper.
* J.P. Hayes: No relation to J.P. Richardson, a.k.a. The Big Bopper.
* Brian Henninger: Twice reached semifinals of California state high school tennis tournament.
* Tim Herron: Used to pass Minnesota winters by ice fishing.
* Gabriel Hjertstedt: Swede dropped a suitcase on his foot, breaking it following his B.C. Open victory.
* Charley Hoffman: Former UNLV Rebel enjoys jet and snow skiing.
* P.H. Horgan III: Attended University of Rhode Island on a football scholarship.
* Bradley Hughes: Once signed a contract with the Melbourne Football Club, an Australian Rules team.
* Mike Hulbert: An avid fisherman who when son Justin was born weighing 8 lbs., 1/2 oz declared him: "Just perfect for mounting."
* Peter Jacobsen: Founded Jake Trout and the Flounders music group featuring himself, Payne Stewart, Mark Lye and Larry Rinker.
* Lee Janzen: Major Baltimore Orioles fan.
* Kent Jones: College teammate of PGA touring pro Sean Murphy at the University of New Mexico.
* Steve Jones: Was an all-state (Colorado) basketball player in high school.
* Pete Jordan: Former All-American at Texas Christian University (1986).
* Jonathan Kaye: Self-taught player who never had a teacher.
* Jerry Kelly: Was an all-city hockey player during high school in Madison, Wis.
* Skip Kendall: Former UNLV Rebel waited on tables in Orlando. Fla., while playing on mini-tours.
* Neal Lancaster: Hometown of Smithfield, N.C., was also the birthplace of actress Ava Gardner.
* Franklin Langham: Wife Ashely used to caddie for him prior to birth of couple's son Parker.
* Justin Leonard: Made a long putt at a pretty big golf tournament last month.
* Wayne Levi: Another stock market guy when he's not playing golf.
* J.L. Lewis: All-state basketball player in Kansas.
* Bruce Lietzke: Auto racing enthusiast.
* Tim Loustalot: Not a good last name for a pro golfer.
* Steve Lowery: Was honored as the top pro athlete in Alabama in 1985.
* Andrew Magee: Lists whistling among his hobbies.
* John Maginness: Named his son Jack Bristol, saying he didn't want him to be named after some character that might appear on "Melrose Place."
* Doug Martin: Big Notre Dame football fan.
* Bob May: Las Vegas resident who carries several lucky coins when he's playing.
* Billy Mayfair: Married Tammy McIntire on the 18th green at the TPC at Las Colinas prior to the 1994 Byron Nelson Classic.
* Blaine McAllister: Roomed with Fred Couples and CBS golf host Jim Nantz at the University of Houston.
* Scott McCarron: Once quit golf for four years to work in the family clothing business.
* Rocco Mediate: Lost 60 pounds of fat and added 15 pounds of muscle following 1994 back surgery.
* Katsumasa Miyamoto: Played on Japanese PGA Tour from 1996-98.
* Phil Mickelson: Can literally fly the green -- as a professional pilot.
* Perry Moss: One of only 10 players to win a Nike event after gaining entry through Monday's open qualifying.
* Sean Murphy: Was a punter, quarterback and free safety for high school state championship football team in New Mexico.
* Joe Ogilvie: Lists Bill Gates as one of his heroes.
* Deane Pappas: Teammate of John Daly at the University of Arkansas.
* Steve Pate: Earned the nickname "Volcano" for his fiery temper.
* Dennis Paulson: Sports a spiffy goatee.
* Tom Pernice Jr.: All-conference wrestler in high school who has a green thumb -- he's into gardening.
* Chris Perry: Son of major league pitcher Jim Perry, nephew of baseball Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry.
* Lee Porter: Started playing golf at age 13 to keep busy while his mother was playing tennis.
* Dicky Pride: Big University of Alabama football fan.
* Tom Purtzer: Hangs out with former Milwaukee Brewers great Robin Yount, a fellow auto racing enthusiast.
* Charles Raulerson: Wife and sometimes caddie Liza also is an excellent golfer.
* Mike Reid: Nicknamed "Radar" for accuracy off the tee.
* Chris Riley: Ex-UNLV Rebel played the Nike Tour with his brother, Kevin, in 1998.
* Larry Rinker: Accomplished guitar player who often jams after hours on tour.
* Lee Rinker: Parents raised flowers and pro golfers. Brother of Larry Rinker, sister of Laurie, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour.
* Rory Sabbatini: South African who started playing as a youngster with chopped down clubs.
* Tom Scherrer: Avid hockey fan.
* Joey Sindelar: Grew up with fellow touring pro Mike Hulbert.
* Vijay Singh: Fiji's only world-class golfers is a big fan of snooker, cricket, rugby and soccer.
* Geoffrey Sisk: Both first and last names would be fitting for a butler.
* Jeff Sluman: Good friend of the 1986 Indy 500 champion and recently retired auto racing great Bobby Rahal.
* Chris Smith: Likes to restore old cars in his spare time.
* Mike Sposa: Like TV's Andy Griffith, lists fly fishing and guitar as his hobbies.
* Mike Springer: Stocky player (5-11, 210) who was an All-American at the University of Arizona.
* Craig Stadler: He is The Walrus. Koo-koo-kachoo.
* Paul Stankowski: Was so delighted to be playing in The Masters, bought a souvenir glass, filled it with sand from an Augusta bunker and placed tee and ball inside, just to say he was there, in 1996.
* Dave Stockton Jr.: Son of the veteran Senior pro.
* Kevin Sutherland: Brother David is also a PGA pro.
* David Sutherland: Brother Kevin is also a PGA pro.
* Phil Tautarangi: Father played Rugby for the New Zealand national team.
* Esteban Toledo: Appendicitis ended his four-year pro boxing career.
* Tommy Tolles: Hometown of Flat Rock, N.C., was also home of poet Carl Sandburg.
* Kirk Triplett: Played golf at Nevada-Reno.
* Ted Tryba: On his birthday, used to hit plastic golf balls out of his grandfather's mouth with a plastic club. On the day after his birthday, his parents paid for grandpa's loose fillings. (Only the first half is true.)
* Bob Tway: Three-time All-American at Oklahoma State.
* Omar Uresti: Named for actor Omar Sharif.
* Bo Van Pelt: Son of former New York Giants linebacker Brad Van Pelt.
* Scott Verplank: Has two cousins pitching in baseball's minor leagues.
* Lanny Wadkins: Enjoys his reputation as a fierce competitor.
* Grant Waite: New Zealander was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma.
* Duffy Waldorf: Enjoys wearing colorful caps and shirts.
* Charles Warren: Biggest thrill in golf was watching the 1986 Masters from the gallery.
* Mike Weir: Hockey buff who played golf at BYU.
* Kevin Wentworth: One of the few left-handers on tour.
* Mark Wiebe: A huge Denver sports fan, he's probably miserable these days.
* Jay Williamson: Another of the tour's many hockey enthusiasts.
* Willie Wood: Sister Deanie played on the LPGA Tour.
* Fuzzy Zoeller: Has his own website: www.fuz.com.
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