Columnist Victoria Sun: Riley pleased with his season opener

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002 | 10:36 a.m.

Victoria Sun covers golf for the Sun. Reach her at 259-4078 or victoria@lasvegassun.com

The Waialae Country Club in Hawaii has been the site of many good memories for Las Vegan Chris Riley.

This year proved no different.

In 1999, his first full year on the PGA Tour, Riley played his first tournament of the year there and left $75,660 richer after tying for seventh place.

The following year, he finished in a tie for 26th -- a performance that jump-started his season.

Although he missed the cut last year, Riley had high hopes of regaining his magic touch off the mainland.

And after the first three rounds of the Sony Open this time around, he was on track to eclipse his best performance there.

Then, what he jokingly calls "the jinx" hit him.

"I didn't make a bogey the first 54 holes, and then they sort of jinxed me," Riley said, laughing. "Right before the last round, they asked me if I knew I hadn't made a bogey yet.

"Of course I did, but I was trying not to think about it."

A combination of things did him in during the final round, in which he shot a 2-over-par 72.

Still, Riley managed to finish the tournament tied for 13th.

"I am real happy with the way the year started," Riley said. "I worked hard in the off-season. "I just didn't play well the final round. If I had shot 4-under, I would have forced a playoff, but I had two bogeys and no birdies."

Riley entered the final round four strokes behind eventual winner Jim Kelly and finished the tournament at 8-under for a total of 272, six strokes behind Kelly.

"I usually play well on that course," Riley said.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced recently there will be stiffer fines for slow play, a move that may benefit Riley.

"I'm a pretty fast player as it is, so it really doesn't affect me at all," Riley said. "The guys that are slower, that's going to make them think more."

Employees of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, other members of the travel industry and Las Vegas 51s president and general manager Don Logan will represent the American squad.

Apparently, this is a big deal to our friends overseas as 5,000 amateurs competed in various tournaments to earn one of the 24 spots.

"It's a really great opportunity to showcase to our UK audience that Las Vegas is a great golf destination," said LVCVA spokesperson Erika Brandvik. "Golf is huge over there. They make a big deal out of this tournament.

"It's a good networking opportunity. We want to promote our golf courses here domestically and abroad."

Although there are no concrete plans, Brandvik said the LVCVA is considering holding future tournaments like this one against other nations.

This is the fourth competition between the U.S. and the UK. The British team holds a 2-1 lead over the Americans.

The competitors will be playing at Royal Links Golf Club, Stallion Mountain Golf Club and the Bali Hai Golf Club.