Columnist Peter Benton: Coughlin-Bartoli team for win in LVCC event

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003 | 9:23 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

The Las Vegas Country Club's End of Summer Member-Member Golf Tournament was a better-ball of partners plus a net Alternate Nines on the first day of play, and a better-ball along with Combined Net the second and final day.

With a score of 332, the pairing of Fred "Cowboy" Coughlin and Bob Bartoli eked out a narrow victory in the Masters Flight against Todd Terry and Jason Earnest and their 333. Tom Sears and Mike Small placed third with 342.5.

In the U.S. Open Flight, Leo Durant and Mike Singer's 350 took the honors. The Don Dombrowski/Ken Hirate duo was second at 351.5, and the team of Don Pitchford and Jim Pettis third with 352.

Jim Abraham and Hugo Paulson waltzed away in the British Open Flight, coming in with a 345.5. The Paul Schofield/Dom Cambeiro pairing was second at 353, and in third spot with 357.5 was the Ron Steffey/Ron Pease team.

The Ladies PGA Flight was handily won by Dianne Jett and Helena Vergiels with a score of 342.5. Betsy Bell and Gloria Carson followed at 359.5. Larren Buckley and Ginda Jones placed third, also with 359.5.

The Fall Finish is made of the last 12 official tournaments of the PGA Tour season. This 12-event "tour" concludes at The Tour Championship Nov. 3-9. Players earn points for the top-10 finishes in each of the 12 events, ranging from 100 points to the winner, down to 10 points for a 10th-place finish.

Last year, Vijay Singh played five events and earned 235 points to win the $500,000 top prize. David Toms and his 197.5 points was second and picked up $300,000, while in third spot was Charles Howell III, and he pocketed $200,000 for his 195 points. Bob Estes was the 2001 winner and Tiger Woods won in 2000.

Boys 15-17, A flight, Matt Edwards: B flight, Keoki Wright.

Boys 13-14, A flight, Max Marsico; B flight Kristopher Sorensen.

Boys 11-12, A flight, Raymond Gillip; B flight, Chris Pack.

Boys 9-10, Tanner Alder; Boys 6-8, Frank Frisbee.

Girls 15-17, Stephanie Bird; Girls 11-14, Susan Park; Girls 9-10, Alyssa Ballew; Girls 6-8, Kiley Ballew.

In the Tournament of Champions event played at the Anthem golf course, Matt Edwards again prevailed in the Boys 15-17; Matthew Nolacso in the Boys 13-14, and in the Boys 11-12 bracket, Raymond Gillip was the winner.

Alexandra Gibson took the Girls 15-17 title, with Markie Paine being victorious in the Girls 11-14.

However, on the Nationwide Tour, the unheralded and virtually unknown, Victor Schwamkrug, who has played in 10 events and earned $43,916, leads the driving distance stat. On his Tour with an average yardage of 337.7.

On the Champions Tour, the driving distance category is led by Tom Purtzer who averages 299.7 yards.