Columnist Peter Benton: Charity tournament helps Child Seekers

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000 | 9:59 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

The fourth annual "Fairway to the Future" KVVU Fox-5 Television Golf Tournament benefiting the Nevada Child Seekers was contested by 120 players over the demanding Royal Links golf course last week.

Each person in each foursome played his own ball until it was holed, recording his net score. The lowest net score of the foursome served as the team score for that hole.

Winning overall low net honors with a score of 59 was the team of Bill Utton, Jim Palmer, Tom Marciano and T.J. Connolly.

Bob Henderson and his 78 won individual low gross while David Loper garnered low net with 66.

The people and organizations who put so much time and effort into this event and make it so special each year include Rusty Durante of TV Fox-5, Cox Communications, Wells Fargo, Meredith Broadcasting Group, Ruths Chris and Billy Walters, who generously donated his Royal Links layout for the day.

Nevada Child Seekers each year fingerprints thousands of area youngsters and provides their parents with free child identification kits; conducts safety programs and prevention education campaigns in area schools; provides assistance to parents of "at risk" youngsters; conducts community anti-gang/drug seminars in co-operation with local schools, law enforcement, and parent/child care groups; works with legislative leaders to enact more effective child protection laws; and networks with other missing children's organizations, both state and national.

The tournament raised $88,000 for a deserving organization.

The award was created by the PGA Tour Policy Board to perpetuate the memory of Stewart, an 11-time Tour winner whose victories included three major championships.

It will be presented annually to a player sharing Stewart's respect for the traditions of the game, his commitment to uphold the game's heritage of charitable support, plus his professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through dress and conduct.

All three inaugural honorees have played an everlasting role in spreading the appeal of golf and upholding its traditions. Each is host for a long-standing PGA Tour event that is part of the more than $525 million that has been donated to charity by the tour since 1938. Their professional accomplishments are well documented.