Columnist Peter Benton: Spanish Trail team wins SouthShore

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2004 | 9:57 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

The Spanish Trail Country Club's ladies' interclub team, by virtue of the 115 points garnered in last week's SouthShore tournament, also captured overall honors in the eight-match, season-long Interclub event, accumulating a total of 1061 points.

Format for these team events was four ladies and their club professional playing a Stableford competition in which the top four scores recorded on each hole were used.

Teams changed in each tourney played, with the nucleus of the Spanish Trail squad consisting of Barb Roberts, Patty Wright, Kari Higa, Doe Emes, Lali Publow, Linda Martin, Marlys Kellogg, Alison McCrary, Cheryl Lastra and Donna Chartran. These ladies were capable led by their pro, Claude Marsolle.

Following the Spanish Trail team along with their final point standings were: Las Vegas Country Club, 1009; TPC at Summerlin, 1008; Red Rock, 986; Canyon Gate, 977; Anthem Country Club, (last year's winners,) 964; Dragon Ridge, 902, and SouthShore with 853.

For the first time, the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament will consist of six rounds and 108 holes, with the 90-player starting field reduced to the top 70 finishers and ties, plus those within 10 shots of the 15th position after 72 holes. Fifteen playing cards will be available for the 2005 season.

Played in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, the U.S. squad bested 65 other nations with a three-day total of 132-136-139--407. (The two best scores of the three representatives were used.) Spain placed second with 416, one stroke ahead of the third place finisher, Sweden.

Moore won low individual honors with 204, Levin followed at 206 while young Williams tied for 25th with 214.

Points ranging from 100 for first place down to 10 points for 10th place were awarded to all top-10 finishers in the Fall Finish which commenced Aug. 30 with the Deutsche Bank Championship. The overall winner received $500,000.

It will come as no surprise that Vijay Singh, because of his truly phenomenal season, waltzed away with the top prize, accumulating 485 total points. With his second place finish last week, Tiger Woods moved up to tie young Ryan Palmer for second place, both players finishing with 170 points.

Rounding out the top 10 were: Tom Lehman, 163.75; Mike Weir, 140; Goosen, 125; Jerry Kelly, 111.625; Ernie Els, 110, and with 100 points apiece Bart Bryant, Fred Funk, Brent Geiberger and Andre Stolz.

Singh had been crowned Fall Finish Champion last year and in 2002; Bob Estes won in 2001, with the initial event's champ in 2000 being Woods.