Columnist Victoria Sun: Exemptions offered to four for Invensys

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002 | 8:47 a.m.

Victoria Sun is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. She can be reached at victoria@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4078.

The Las Vegas Founders has given Las Vegan John Riegger, Henderson resident Jeff Gallagher, former Florida star Bubba Dickerson and ex-Georgia Tech standout Bryce Molder sponsor exemptions to play in the PGA Invensys Classic here Oct. 9-13.

Gallagher, who won the 2000 Buy.com South Carolina Classic, is the brother of PGA Tour professional Jim Gallagher. Riegger ranks 144th on the PGA Tour money list with $310,866.

Dickerson, the 2001 U.S. Amateur champion, was a member of Florida's 2001 NCAA championship team. In his professional debut, Molder finished third at the Reno-Tahoe open. Both Dickerson and Molder have played at the Callaway Golf Las Vegas Collegiate.

The Founders will hand out the final two exemptions in coming weeks. Former UNLV All-American Jeremy Anderson and ex-BYU standout Billy Harvey earned exemptions at the Las Vegas Founders Shoot-Out last month.

Former British Open champion Tom Lehman, Honda Classic champion Matt Kuchar and Air Canada Championship winner Gene Sauers are the latest PGA Tour pros to enter the Invensys Classic.

The Invensys Classic will be held at Southern Highlands, TPC at Summerlin and TPC at the Canyons.

Golfers will receive a hat, T-shirt and goodie bag. Golf equipment will be provided if needed. Registration will start at 1 p.m. Call 450-8080 for information.

Greenville Tech (S.C.) sophomore Letisha Stanton, High-Tech Institute (Ariz.) sophomore Eric Gustke, Oklahoma freshman Becky Cramer and UNLV junior Lisa Phillips received Greenspun Family Foundation "Driving The Dream" scholarships ranging from $1,000-$3,000.

Colorado State's Kim Braaten, Dwaine Coleman (currently on a chuch mission), Southern Utah University's Jordan Grinols, UNLV's Teri Henderson, Mesa State (Colo.) College's Katie Ann McCandless, Community College of Southern Nevada's Brian Newman and Oregon State's Casey Nielsen received Jim Colbert Las Vegas Founders Junior Golf Scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000.

The Ryder Cup Matches were postponed last year following the events of Sept. 11. In 1999, the U.S. orchestrated a stunning comeback victory at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass. This year's matches will be held at the Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England.