Columnist Victoria Sun: May calls British Masters win ‘a dream come true’

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999 | 9:54 a.m.

Victoria Sun's golf notes column appears on Wednesday. Reach her at 259-4078 or victoria@lasvegassun.com

May Day no more.

After many runner-up finishes (a whopping 22 according to the official website) since European PGA Tour golfer Bob May turned professional in 1992, he finally walked down the aisle and consummated his seven years as a pro with his first victory recently at the British Masters.

It wasn't just a routine win.

Think dunking over Michael Jordan in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to lead your team to victory. Think rallying from two sets down to Pete Sampras in the finals of Wimbledon to win your first Grand Slam.

The Las Vegas resident shot a 5-under 67 for a 19-under 269 total that was good enough to edge Colin Montgomerie, who shot a 71 for a 270 during the tournament that concluded Sept. 13.

Heading into the final round, May was three shots back of Montgomerie.

While May has struggled in the final round, Montgomerie has 27 career victories and was trying for a record-tying sixth European tour victory of the season at the British Masters.

"It was kind of like, to me, a dream come true to win a tournament like that being that Colin Montgomerie is the third-ranked player in the world," said May, ranked 56th in the world. "He had a three-shot lead and it's something you dream about, to come from behind and beat one of the world's best players.

"It'd be like coming here to the States and beating Tiger Woods or Davis Love III."

Soon, May might get that opportunity as well.

May, who is based at Red Rock Country Club, played on the PGA Tour in 1994 and spent the past four years on the European PGA Tour.

In addition to validating his career, by winning the British Masters he earned the right to skip the early rounds of qualifying school and will play in the final qualifying tournament to regain his PGA Tour card.

"Definitely a weight was lifted off my shoulders," May said. "It's important to me.

"I've always wanted to win a tournament. I had chances and played good and had it taken away from me. Now I've already won, I don't have to listen about being a bridesmaid again."

His success was helped by new caddie Max Cunningham and perhaps a few trinkets from a couple of good friends.

May said that Keith Flatt, head pro at Los Prados Golf & Country Club, gave him a buffalo-head nickel and Ray Norvell gave him a gold-plated Susan B. Anthony coin that he has carried with him for the last three years.

"Those two I keep in my pocket," May said. "Another friend gave me a solid gold coin I keep in my bag.

"They finally all worked."

* GOOD FOR THE GAME: The Southern Nevada Inner City Youth Golf Association recently received a $28,340 donation from the Las Vegas Founders Golf Foundation which will be used to fund the Fall and Spring Golf Clinic Programs as well as the Year Round Play Program for the SNICYGA. The SNICYGA was founded in 1995 with the goal of helping to improve the quality of life for inner-city kids by introducing them to golf.

The eight-week fall and spring programs will give about 25 kids from four inner-city schools golf instruction twice a week. The program is run in conjunction with the Clark County School District. Kids ages 6-12 are eligible, provided they maintain a 'C' average and attend one of 12 designated inner-city schools.

"We're trying to get them off the street and get them into a positive environment," Teri Halliday, executive director of SNICYGA, said.

The Las Vegas Founders Club is a nonprofit corporation of citizens that acts as the governing body of the Las Vegas Invitational and the Las Vegas Senior Classic by TruGreen-ChemLawn.

* WASHED ASHORE: The LPGA announced last week that the Titleholders Championship will not be held in Daytona Beach, Fla., next year. The tournament, which had been held in May, had been played in Daytona Beach since 1995. The LPGA's Final Qualifying Tournament, played Oct. 19-22, will still be played in Daytona Beach at the LPGA International.

* CELEBRITY GOLF INVITATIONAL: Tickets are now available for the St. Jude Las Vegas Gala and Celebrity Golf Tournament that will be held Oct. 29-31 at the Resort at Summerlin. Proceeds will benefit the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. For a day of golf with celebrities, including actor Hal Linden, and admittance to Friday night's pairing party the fee is $250. The round will be played Saturday morning and the gala is on Saturday night. For a ticket to only the gala, which will feature comedians Rita Rudner and Ray Romano, the cost is $200.