Columnist Peter Benton: Entries being accepted for Child Seekers event

Peter Benton

Wednesday, June 2, 2004 | 9:25 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Possibly the most popular and certainly one of the most worthwhile and eagerly awaited charitable events in Las Vegas is accepting entry applications.

It's the 14th annual Nevada Child Seekers, Bob Dickinson Memorial Golf Tournament, which is scheduled for Monday, June 14, at the Red Rock Country Club's private course.

The entry fee for this four-man scramble is $150 per player, which includes cart, green fees, tee prizes and lunch.

As usual, the hole in one prizes are fabulous and include cars and a $10,000 cash award. Additionally, special prizes such as airline tickets, slot machines, watches, various golf packages and show tickets will be up for grabs.

Nevada Child Seekers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to locating missing, abducted and runaway children. Each year, Nevada Child Seekers fingerprints thousands of youngsters and provides their parents with free Child Identification Kits; conducts safety programs and prevention education in area schools; provides assistance to parents of at-risk youngsters; trains and coordinates the Volunteer Search Force to aid and assist in the search for missing children; provides production and airing of missing children's photos and public service announcements; and works with legislative leaders to enact more effective child protection laws.

For entry information into this limited-field event, call 876-0100.

Jean Tenhulzen was low gross victor in the Gold Flight (ages 50-59) with Marcia Gallagher taking home low net honors.

In the Diamond flight (60-69,) Nancy VaNoy captured low gross, while low net went to Sarki Nafie.

Platinum Flight victors (over 70) gross and net winners respectively were Barb Christensen and Jeneva Cullen.

The change from 90 holes to 72 holes means the traditional Wednesday start will be pushed to Thursday to accommodate the travel schedules of players who will be competing at the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship in Ireland the week before.

Pro-am contestants will continue to play three competitive rounds, with a different professional and on a different course each day.

Both TPC layouts have been part of the event for the past few years, but this is the first time for Bear's Best -- a Jack Nicklaus designed course that replaces Southern Highlands in the rotation.

The Las Vegas Invitational has been played on numerous different courses during its 22 years in town:

Las Vegas Country Club, 1983-1995; Showboat Country Club, 1983-1984; Desert Inn Country Club, 1983-1993; Dunes Country Club, 1983; Tropicana Country Club, 1984-1985; Spanish Trail Country Club, 1986-1990; Sunrise Country Club, 1991; TPC Summerlin, 1992-present; Sahara Country Club, 1994-1997; Southern Highlands, 2000-2003, and TPC Canyons, 2001-present.

The Showboat C.C. is now the Wild Horse (which is undergoing a facelift); the Desert Inn, Dunes and Tropicana, all formerly on the Strip, are now but pleasant memories; Sunrise is now called Stallion Mountain, and the Sahara is the Las Vegas National.