Columnist Peter Benton: LV Country Club marks summer’s end

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999 | 9:54 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

The Las Vegas Country Club's End of Summer 36-hole Member-Member Golf Tournament was a better ball of partners plus alternate nines the first day of play, and combined net along with better ball of partners the second day. The alternate nines segment saw teams choose one player's net score from the front nine and the other player's from the back nine using full handicaps.

In the first flight, the pairing of Frank Larsen and Gary Davis teamed perfectly and came in with a sizzling score of 326.5. The Ron Hansen-Pete Segal duo placed second with 331 and in third spot at 338.5 were George Jablon and Ken Land.

Allen Vogel and Don Pitchford garnered top honors in the second flight, coming in with a 332.5. Warren Peterson-Ken Hirate were second with 339 while third went to Leo Durant and Bill McKown with 314.5.

Third flight victors at 325.5 were Sam Pick and Dwight Meierhenry, followed by Charlie Cavagnaro and Joe Johnson at 340.5 and the Bill Lattin-Jack Vergiels duo at 344.5.

In the ladies flight, Rene Raynes and Cheryl Blackard ham-and-egged it to perfection and won with a 344. The Kaz Pratt-Nancy Yarborough team placed second with 347 while in third spot at 347.5 were Laurie Durant and Helena Vergiels.

Dean Milne registered his maiden hole-in-one when he used a 7-iron to ace the water-guarded 158-yard seventh hole.

* BRUCE ON THE LOOSE: With five wins this season, Bruce Fleisher has a chance to establish a Senior PGA Tour record for victories by a rookie.

The Senior Tour record for wins by a first-year player is seven, set by Bruce Crampton in 1986 and matched by Lee Trevino in 1990.

* LOCAL FARE: Local players fared well in the recent 30th annual Nevada State Women's Amateur Championship played over the Golf Course at Lightning Ranch outside of Carson City.

Mary Jan Fernandez, a member of the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association, was crowned champion after coming in with a three-round gross score of 218, 10 strokes ahead of runner-up Christy Atencio of Reno.

Other Las Vegans in the top 20 were Kimberly Kindig, SNJGA player, fifth at 236; Laurie Durant, Las Vegas Country Club, ninth at 243; Autumn Monteiro, SNJGA, 10th at 244; Brenda Knott, Badlands, 11th at 246; and Spanish Trail's Doe Emes, 13th at 250.

In the net division, Sherry Corsello of Lake Las Vegas Southshore was the best of our local representatives, placing eighth at 222. Rita Byorick of (Badlands) was 13th at 224.

* TIGER'S TALE: Just how good is Tiger Woods? In his three years on the PGA Tour, he has amassed earnings of $8,965,128 which places him 12th on the tour's all-time money list.