Columnist Peter Benton: Bolton, Wallin team for LVCC victory

Peter Benton

Wednesday, June 4, 2003 | 10:01 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Bill Bolton and Lance Wallin ham-and-egged it to perfection in winning the Las Vegas Country Club's annual Memorial Weekend Member-Member Golf Tournament. Their score of 275.5 over the three-day event won the Championship Flight.

Format for this keenly contested tournament was Chapman Scotch the first day, better ball of partners the second, with the final day being combined low net.

The pairing of Russ Olsen and Bob "Count" Frusco placed second at 277, and herein lies the drama of the tournament. Both players teamed particularly well during the first two days of play, but on the most important final day, poor old Olsen was, it appears, virtually partner-less. It could not be ascertained exactly what Frusco's problems were and nobody will say he choked -- although he apparently had extreme difficulty getting the putter back and evidently also experienced problems swallowing -- with the bottom line being the pairing let victory slip away.

In third place was Frank Reed/Jim Wade pairing at 283.6 with fourth spot going to the duo of Bruce Ashworth and Woody Hensley. Their score was 284.9.

In the President's Flight the Chad Plaire/Mike Pizzolla team played brilliantly to capture victory with a fine 266.6. E.J. Wolff and Ron Steffey followed at 279.7, while in third place with 280 was the Ken Land/Mike Montalvo twosome.

Sam Lionel and Bill Champion prevailed in the Silver Flight with 191. (This, as was the Ladies Flight, consisted of 18 holes best-ball and an 18-hole combined low net.) Larry Fernandez and Emelio Muscelli along with the Johnny Joseph/Gene Branscome pairing tied for second with 219s.

Ladies Flight victors with 191 were Tammy Gephardt and Kaz Pratt. The Dianne Jett/Ginda Jones duo followed at 202, while the Larren Buckley/Pat Carona twosome place third with 203.

For instance, the Las Vegas National National Golf Club has the following rates for Las Vegas residents:

With a membership card (available for $225), green fees Monday through Thursday are $25, and $40 Friday through Sunday ($25 after 10 a.m. Sunday).

For locals without a membership the cost is $45 Monday-Thursday, $40 after 11 a.m., and $25 after 3 p.m. Friday-Sunday rates are $55, after 11 a.m. $40 and after 3 p.m. $25.

Fittingly, this year's recipient is Tom Watson, who over the years has embodied all that is good about the game of golf, who has been a champion both on and off the course, and whose association with junior golf is legendary.