Columnist Peter Benton: Southshore pro wins award, election

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001 | 11:07 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

At last week's annual dinner and awards banquet of the Las Vegas Chapter, Southwest Section PGA, held at the Rio Secco Golf Club, Southshore's head professional, Dale Akridge, was not only the recipient of the coveted Junior Golf Leader Award, but was also unanimously elected by his peers as the chapter's new president.

Other officers elected were Jeff Jones (Paiute), vice president; Matt Grobe (Rhodes Ranch), secretary/treasurer; and board members Wes Weston, (Shadow Creek); Cliff Vanetti, (Shadow Creek); Chuck Bombard, (TPC Canyons), and Shane Sanchez (Desert Willow).

The TPC Canyon's Dan Hammell, who exemplifies what being a professional golfer is all about, received the prestigious Professional of the Year Award and was also the recipient of the Merchandiser of the Year Award for the chapter's public courses. Spanish Trail's Director of Golf, Jerry Roberts, was the honoree of a similar award for private clubs.

John Arnos, a huge fan and supporter of the chapter, was selected as "The Person of the Year" for his many acts of kindness and charitable contributions. Kim Dolan (Craig Ranch) was the recipient of the chapter's Teacher of the Year Award.

Weston, with 494 points, won Player of the Year honors, while Mike Starks, (Eagle Crest), with 450, placed second (he also won the low stroke average for the year at 71.44). Akridge and his 326 points placed third. Life Member Bill Farkas, captured both the Senior Player of the Year Award and low stroke average.

Don Cramer (Angel Park), the outgoing president, paid special thanks to the sponsors of various chapter tournaments.

Among those cited were Scott Randall of Callaway, Fred and Jeff Smith, Ray Norvell, John Arnos and John Surveges.

* SENIOR ACTION: The 22nd Senior PGA Tour season gets under way this week with the MasterCard Championship, which features champions from 1999 and 2000 along with winners of Senior Tour majors since 1996.

George Archer, 61, the oldest player to win a Senior Tour season-opening event, defends his title against 32 other players at Hualalai, Hawaii.

With this 2001 MasterCard Championship comes two debuts on the Senior Tour -- the Charles Schwab Cup and the "Senior PGA Tour on CNBC."

The Charles Schwab Cup is a season-long points-based program, at the conclusion of which the top player will be awarded a $1 million tax-deferred annuity. Players who finish second through fifth will receive payouts of $500,000, $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Charles Schwab Cup points will be awarded to players finishing in the top ten, including ties, in the 38 official Senior Tour events.