Columnist Peter Benton: Golf guide lends hand finding scholarship aid

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999 | 10:25 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

In last week's column, select members of the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association were listed along with the scholarships they had received and the college they will be attending.

This week, I am supplying information for other young people (and/or their parents) who may have an interest in pursuing golf at college but who may not know where to begin obtaining a prized scholarship.

To start, the 11th annual edition of the Ping American College Golf Guide is mandatory.

This book is an invaluable source of information on the ABC's of obtaining a college golf scholarship, as it provides complete data on every two-year and four-year men's and women's golf program.

Information is broken down by states, the respective coach's name and address and the scholarships that are available. It also contains NCAA rules on eligibility, testing and recruiting.

Possibly the book's most valuable asset is a step-by-step procedure of what to do from your freshman year through your senior year at high school. Sample letters and resumes will assist getting you started in the process of getting recognized by college coaches.

This book, which is updated annually, should be a part of every junior golfer's family reading.

One of the interesting facets concerning golf scholarships is that you don't have to be a scratch golfer to obtain one.

The Ping American Junior Golf Guide (which sells for $15.95) can be obtained by calling (503) 648-1333 and could conceivably be one of the best investments you will ever make.

* STATE SENIORS: The format for the Nevada State Seniors Golf Club's recent two-day tournament at the Casa Blanca Golf Club in Mesquite was a two-man best-ball the first day of play and a two-man scramble the second.

In the first flight, the Ron Whitecliff/Don Tillett and Kent McBeath/Tim Peterson teams tied for first with scores of 124. In third at 127 was the Joe Giarraputo/Ken Orf duo.

Pat McGhee and Jack Redmond's score of 120 won the second flight, followed by the teams of Bill Youngs/Don Furlong and Bill Smith/Phil Mlynek who shared second place with 121s.

Third flight victors with a 115 were Larry Langley and Howard Peiffer. The Andy Wheeler/Gary Chapin pairing was second at 116, followed by Charles Wolff/Gerrard Kosciuk at 118.

Three teams -- Jim Scholl/Bob Sweeney, Chuck Hopson/Bobby Knight and John Reible/Bill Eubanks -- tied for first place in the fourth flight with 112s.

* IN PAR-SING: With the conclusion of yet another existing Ryder Cup, I am reminded of a Nick Price quote in trying to describe the tension of competing for The Cup: "If you like root canals and hemorrhoids, you'd love it there."