Columnist Peter Benton: Charity Cup raises funds

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2000 | 11:30 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

At the beginning of this PGA season, Bank of America began sponsoring the Bank of America Charity Cup, a yearlong competition for PGA tournaments.

Each week participating events select a different player for the 49 PGA Tour official money tournaments via pgatour.com. A player may only be selected once during the course of the year by any one given tournament.

Total official money won by an event's selected players determines the tournament's standings in the competition.

Participating tournaments will receive over $1 million from Bank of America for distribution to their local community charities, with $100,000 going to the winner at the season's conclusion.

Prior to last week's Westin Texas Open, the Invensys Las Vegas Classic was in fourth place having accumulated $4,590,014, just $164,067 behind the tournament presently in first place, the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

A committee headed by Kenny Sullivan, tournament chairman of the Invensys Classic, confer each week to make their selection.

Ross Deacon won the second flight with a scintillating 60, followed by Bill Bayer, 68. Danny Antonellis and Chuck Edwards tied with 69's for third.

Third flight victor with 65 was Ron Schmitz, while Bob Bales and Al Gonzales placed second with 70's.

Dick Ertz won the fourth flight via a fine 61. Tony Fernandez placed second with 65, and third at 68 was John Frazzetta.

Second day, first flight winner with a 71 was Sammy Lee. Dave Putney, Bob Mason and Jeff Wilson tied for second with 72's.

Gene Watkins, Larry Rudd and Ross Deacon shared second flight honors with 65's, while in the third flight, Gerrard Kosciuk prevailed with a 65. Jimmy Bell was second at 67, and third with 69 was Howard Peiffer.