Columnist Peter Benton: SouthShore pro wins chapter title

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004 | 8:57 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

On Dec. 20 at the Las Vegas Country Club, area professionals teed it up in the Las Vegas Chapter Southwest Section of the PGA's Grand Final Golf Tournament.

SouthShore's Travis Long, with a 4-under 68 over the par-72 layout, won low individual honors for the day. Warren Webster (Spanish Trail), Tony Silva (LVCC) and Wes Weston (SouthShore) shared second place with 71s.

Red Rock's Pat Duty along with Gary Knapp (Reflection Bay) tied for fifth at even par, while Mike Buss (LV National) and Jason Haack (Red Rock,) followed with 74s.

In the Senior Division, Walter's Golf representatives came away with the top two placings. Mike Harper (69) garnered top honors with Mike Davis taking second at 73. Tying for third with 74s were Buss and another Walter's rep, Jerry Roberts.

With the conclusion of this tournament, Long emerged atop the season-long stroke average leader board, finishing with a 72. Duty was second with 74.29, followed by Dana Love (LV Golf) at 75.7, Knapp with 76.2 and Silva and Weston at 76.5 each.

The ageless Kim Dolan (Sienna) won the Senior Division's stroke average title with 72.79.

Angel Park's Dave Barnhart, with an accumulated total of 183.75, was atop the 2004 points standings, and will be honored at next month's annual awards banquet as the chapter's player of the year.

Barnhart barely edged Long for the honor.

Jimmy Walker, a two-time winner this season, has been named the Nationwide tour player of the year in a vote by his peers. In honor of that recognition, he will receive the prestigious Jack Nicklaus trophy.

The San Antonio resident won the season-opening BellSouth Panama Championship and then came back and won the first domestic event of the year, the Chitimacha Louisiana Open.