Columnist Victoria Sun: Webb up for top honors at MGM

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000 | 9:27 a.m.

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

Notes from around the world of golf:

* ESPY NOMINEES: LPGA Tour star Karrie Webb is nominated for the Female Athlete of the Year in ESPN's annual ESPY awards, which will be given out on Feb. 14 at the MGM Grand and shown live on the cable sports network starting at 5 p.m. Webb will be going up against soccer player Mia Hamm and sprinter Marion Jones for the honor. LPGA Tour professional Annika Sorenstam is nominated for the Golfer of the Decade along with PGA Tour players Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo. Webb, Sorenstam and LPGA Tour Hall of Famer Juli Inkster are up for Women's Golfer of the Year.

* SHE'S TOPS: LPGA Tour veteran Nancy Scranton reached the top of the tour's money list last Sunday for the first time in her 16-year career when she pocketed $127,500 for winning the Subaru Memorial of Naples. It was Scranton's third tour title with her last coming at the 1992 Los Coyotes LPGA Classic. The 38-year-old had reconstructive shoulder surgery in 1996 and earned the Heather Farr Award last year for her dedication and perseverance.

* AN ACE: Las Vegas resident Randy Flenker holed his shot from 103 yards out on the 11th hole of the Angel Park Mountain course last Wednesday. Flenker was using a Callaway sand wedge.

* HISTORY REPEATED: If you can't hop on a plane to Hawaii, check out this year's Seniors Skins Game on ABC Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 9 to 11 a.m. Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson are scheduled to compete as a foursome in the 18-hole event that has a purse of $600,000. Those four were the original competitors in the inaugural Skins Game that debuted on the PGA Tour in 1983.

* OUCH: Here's a tip for every professional athlete: When you get paid lots of money to play a sport, don't screw it up by hurting yourself in another sport. Seven-time PGA Tour winner Scott Simpson broke his leg recently when he went skiing with his family over the holidays. Simpson, 44, withdrew from three tournaments and hopes to return to the links to play at the Buick Invitational in his hometown of San Diego on Feb. 10-13. Maybe next time he'll try shooting some pool or playing air hockey.

* FREE GOLF LESSONS: The PGA of America and Golf Digest have deemed the month of May PGA Free Lesson Month. PGA professionals will be offering free 10-minute lessons to help golfers with their game. To find out which local professionals are participating, call your neighborhood club. PGA pros who volunteer for the program by Feb. 16 will be listed with their telephone number in the May issue of Golf Digest.

* FAMILY TIES: LPGA Tour rookie Kelle Booth's mother, Jane Bastanchury Booth, has been named captain of the U.S. team for the 2000 Curtis Cup Matches. The matches will be played June 24-25 at Ganton Golf Club in Yorkshire, England. Jane Booth was a member of three consecutive U.S. Curtis Cup team champions from 1970-74. She will squire a team of eight amateurs against a squad from Great Britain and Ireland.

* FANTASY GOLF: A unique feature at the Nevada Bob's golf store that opens Friday on the Strip is a full-swing golf simulator that enables visitors to play any of the world's top 30 courses, including Pebble Beach. The store is at 3999 S. Las Vegas Blvd., across from Mandalay Bay hotel-casino. Friday's opening is set for 10 a.m.