Columnist Peter Benton: Southwest Section played here, won by Arizona man

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005 | 9:17 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

For the first time in memory, the Ping-sponsored Southwest Section of the PGA Golf Championship (which is comprised of Arizona and Southern Nevada club and teaching professionals) was contested last week in Las Vegas.

This event, which saw 120 pros tee it up in the 54-hole individual gross tournament, is normally played in Arizona, but this year it went to the Las Vegas Country Club.

After two days of play the field was cut to the low 60 and ties, with the cut coming at 7-over 149.

The most consistent player -- Tony Rohlik of the Ace of Clubs layout in Arizona -- narrowly won with rounds of 64, 71 and 69 for a 204 final. This despite the fact he had a harrowing double bogey on the final hole on the final day of play -- the relatively easy par-5.

Rohlik's 204 edged Jeff Yurkiewisz (Grey Hawk Golf Club) and Jay Synkelma (Arizona's Hilton Tuscon El Conquistador G.C.) by one stroke.

Boulder Creek Golf Club's Troy Helseth was the top finisher among area professionals, sharing seventh place with a 210.

Travis Long, an assistant at SouthShore Golf Club, tied for 10th at 211.

(Long qualified for the recent PGA Championship at the Baltusrol G.C. in New Jersey, and although he failed by three strokes to make the cut for the final two rounds of play, Long, 33, did himself proud.

Long's 7-over score was better than that of seasoned tour professionals such as Colin Montgomerie, Nick O'Hern, Mark Brooks, Shigeki Maruyama, Darren Clarke, Robert Allenby, Craig Parry, Tom Lehman, Padraig Harrington and the 2002 winner of this event, Rich Beem.)

Other area pros, along with their scores, who successfully made the cut in the Southwest Section Championship were: