9 locals take aim at Invensys title

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2001 | 9:36 a.m.

The last time a local golfer came close to winning the Invensys Classic was in 1994, when Las Vegas native Robert Gamez finished one stroke behind winner Bruce Lietzke for sole possession of second place.

"I think Robert set a good precedent when he had a great finish here one year," said former UNLV All-American and longtime Las Vegan Ed Fryatt. "It would be great for one of us, hopefully me, to get into the winner's circle here in town and get some more support out for the event.

"I think that would be the dividend for playing well, getting more of the local people out to watch."

The tournament, featuring an increased purse of $4.5 million, began today at the TPC at Summerlin, the TPC at the Canyons and Southern Highlands Golf Club.

Of the 144 professionals in the field, nine have Las Vegas ties.

Fryatt, Jeremy Anderson, Chris Riley and Scott Lander are former Rebels who live in Las Vegas. Skip Kendall is also a UNLV graduate. Gamez grew up here, and Bob May and John Riegger relocated here. Tommy Armour III graduated from Bishop Gorman High School and now makes his home in Texas.

For those who call Las Vegas home, this may be the year they have the best chance of winning.

The addition of the TPC at the Canyons into the rotation of the golf courses should prove to be a slight advantage, because very few of the other professionals have played it until this week.

"I enjoy it," Gamez said. "I think it's a good addition to the tournament. I think TPC at the Canyons is a good golf course.

"It's a lot tougher than here (TPC at Summerlin), especially when the winds blow."

Fryatt said that he and some of the other locals play at the Canyons often.

"I think it helps," Fryatt said. "It's a nice advantage to have, knowing what to hit off the tees, but you've still got to hit the shots and come through."

Admittedly, Fryatt has struggled for much of the first half of the season.

Playing with a sore shoulder, he said he had a hard time figuring out which way to hit the ball and an even tougher time discovering what he was doing wrong.

That led him to seek the help of Angel Park teaching professional Jimmy Bullard, who Fryatt credits with helping turn his game around starting with the Byron Nelson Classic in May.

Fryatt also received help and inspiration from a much less-experienced source.

His first daughter, Faith, was born July 10.

"The biggest thing that's happened for me is having my daughter," he said. "It's been really good, a great experience.

"And really since she's been born, my game has kind of really taken off."

Since Faith was born, Fryatt finished in the top 10 at the International Presented by Qwest and the Air Canada Championship and made five of the last seven cuts entering the Invensys Classic. Before Faith's arrival, Fryatt had missed 10 of 20 cuts and his highest finish was a tie for 13th in January.

But of the local players, Riley is having the best year by far.

He has had two top 10 finishes and has finished in the top 25 nine times, including last week's tie for 12th at the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill. Riley is currently a career-high 51st on the money list with $964,902.

Gamez received a sponsor's exemption into the Invensys Classic and realizes this may be his last tournament of the year. He's anticipating returning to PGA Qualifying School this winter in an attempt to retain his playing privileges.

"I think I need to make about $250,000 to finish in the top 125 of the money list," he said. "Earlier in the year I did put a lot of pressure on myself when I missed like 11 cuts in a row.

"I sent my Q-School application in and just kind of figured I'm going to be there. So if I just happen to play well and get to skip it, that's a plus."