Ex-UNLV star Riley honored by Founders

Victoria Sun

Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002 | 9:34 a.m.

During a cocktail party thrown by the Las Vegas Founders to honor PGA Tour professional Chris Riley at the TPC at Summerlin Wednesday night, older brother Kevin Riley was eager to discuss his sibling.

"I got plenty of stories," he happily reported. "He has always been a great athlete."

Kevin recalled when Chris was a 9-year-old budding soccer player. The team had a list of players with the most goals scored. Some had two, a few had five.

"And Chris had 45," Kevin Riley said proudly while shaking his head in amazement.

Chris Riley's most recent athletic achievement was the reason for the informal celebration.

Following a third-place showing at the PGA Championship, the four-time UNLV All-American won his first PGA Tour event at the Reno-Tahoe Open last month.

Riley's family, friends and fiancee, LPGA Tour pro Michelle Louviere, cheered as various speakers praised him.

"It was really something," Riley said of his first win. "I really didn't know what to expect at Reno, but I kept it going.

"I played great and won the tournament. It was something I worked hard for. I was surprised a little bit, but I knew that was where my game was headed."

Riley first arrived in Las Vegas as a junior golfer from San Diego and went on to win the Las Vegas Founders AJGA event.

He joked that it was a good thing he won because he had already signed to play for UNLV coach Dwaine Knight, who he credits with shaping his career.

Riley is 21st on the PGA money list with $1,819,689.

"We're happy to see a young man pursue a career he wanted," Invensys Classic tournament manager Charlie Baron said. "He represents the city in a very classy manner."