Columnist Peter Benton: Popular golfer regains top award

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001 | 11:08 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

At last week's annual Southern Nevada Amateur Golf Association awards banquet, the popular and personable Brady Exber walked away with the year 2000's top honor: championship division player of the year.

Exber, who also garnered this award in 1996, '98 and '99, won the Southern Nevada Amateur last year along with the Nevada State Mid-Amateur and the Las Vegas City Amateur and accumulated 265 points. Billy Harvey was second with 125 followed by Russell Nygard, 120; Greg Horodesky, 112; and Kelly Knievel with 100.

Jim Saub Jr. was the Senior Division Player of the Year with 256 points. This gent had a year that one dreams of as he won the following titles: Black Mountain Amateur, Casa Blanca Amateur, SNGA Championship, Las Vegas City Amateur and Clark County Amateur. Following Saub on the points leader board were Morris Ferstman, 212; Mark Morrow, 166; Sev Leoffler, 144, and Bill Swaggerty, 75.

Player of the Year in the Net Championship Division went to Butch Avent, who, although only winning the Las Vegas City Amateur, placed consistently well in other events to accumulate 145 points. He was followed by Mark Kokowsky, 130; John Wright, 98; Paudie O'Connor, 96; and Jim Licausi with 94.

Distinguished Service Awards were presented to Frank Acker, Mike Bridges, Ernie Haupt, Sue May (director for 2001), Jack Rosebush, Jane Schlosser, Jim Alexander, Jerry Clark, Carl Henry, Larry McGovern, Stan Sabin, Rod Stebbins, Chris Anderson, Charlie Floyd, Mark Kokowski, Lou Oliver and Bob Schindler.

Those honored above do so much work on behalf of all amateur golfers in our area. As SNGA president Stu Reid put it, "These folks give so freely of their time and of themselves because, to put it simply, they love the game."

Officers elected for the ensuing year are: President, Stu Reid; Executive Director, Eric Dutt; Assistant Executive Director, Larry McGovern; Vice President, Jerry Clark; Treasurer, Bob Schindler, and Secretary, Mike Kokowsky.

Every golfer should join the SNGA through their local golf club to ensure the maintenance of an impartial, non-commercial, governing body for amateur golf in Southern Nevada.

The association wants to improve its services to its members and appreciates any comments.

For further information regarding the SNGA, please call 566-9297.