Columnist Peter Benton: Child Seekers event again a success

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000 | 10:04 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Jason Gard, Paul Carroll, Lee Turner and Lali Publow were the victorious team in the recent 10th annual Nevada Child Seekers-Bob Dickinson Memorial Golf Tournament.

This event, played over The Revere at Anthem Golf Course, was once again very well supported and the sponsors pass along thanks to all who participated and made the day successful.

Ken Land, George Jablon, Jerry Bartman and Dayton Blaine placed second. Coming in last in the scramble event, thus claiming the honors that went with that placing, were Laura Denue, Vicki Nelms, Gary Prager and Sonya Merriman.

Gard won longest drive for the men, Publow for the ladies. Closest-to-the-pin honors went to Bartman.

* TOP ROOKIES: Rookie-of-the-year races on the PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour are intensifying as both approach the start of the stretch drive.

With his top-20 finish in last week's PGA Championship, Michael Clark II has amassed earnings of $696,331 to lead the PGA rookies. Local Eddie Fryatt ($590,585) follows, then comes Matt Gogel ($550,698), Brad Elder ($428,496), Jerry Smith ($357,902) and Craig Spence ($328,271).

Doug Tewell, who posted his third victory of the year in last week's Novell Utah Showdown, has earned $1,234,503 to top the rookie race on the Senior PGA Tour.

He is followed by Tom Kite ($970,415), Tom Watson ($705,761), Stewart Ginn ($386,918) and Lanny Wadkins ($347,721).

In the ensuing sudden-death playoff, the Anderson-Kirk duo prevailed with a birdie on the third hole to clinch victory.

Mike Rankin and Brian McLaughlin placed third at 129. In fourth spot with 132 were Chris Cookson and Mike Megna.

Originally from Perry, Okla., Friedmann has had 25 years' experience in the golf industry and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a bachelor of science degree in agronomy.

The 7,050-yard, par-72 tropical themed Bali Hai is scheduled to open in November. This layout will have numerous large water features, an island green, thick stands of palms and, of course, a large array of tropical plants and flowers.

Transition and out-of-play areas will be accented with beach sand and volcanic rock outcroppings to further add to the authentic island atmosphere.

Billy Walters, chairman of Walters Golf, which operates Desert Pines, Stallion Mountain and the Royal Links courses, vows that this new Bali-Hai layout will be everybody's favorite.