Columnist Peter Benton: Jackson, Bratten win Southern Nevada Women’s Amateur Championships

Peter Benton

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 | 9:18 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Played last week at the Paiute Golf Club, the Women's Southern Nevada Golf Association's Amateur Championship saw Sherry Jackson (Dragon Ridge) narrowly win overall low gross honors with 152. Paiute's Laura Anderson placed second at 153, while garnering third with 156 was Kim Bratten (Canyon Gate).

Ginda Jones (Las Vegas Country Club) and her 140 won overall low net. In a playoff for second place, Larren Buckley (LVCC) prevailed over Paiute's Sue DeFrancesco and Margie Bowgren after these three ladies completed play with 143s.

At the conclusion of this event, the women's Southern Nevada Silver Cup team, who will play against their Northern counterparts over the Arrow Creek Golf Course in Reno the first week of October, was announced as follows:

Laura Anderson, Margie Bowgren, Kim Braaten, Masako Brown, Larren Buckley, Rita Byorick, Eileen DeDoelder, Kari Higa, Sherry Jackson, Dianne Jett, Laurie Johnson, Ginda Jones, Brenda Knott, Kay Medrano, Robbin Sanchez, Camille Smith, and Nina Steirer. Co-captains and fellow players are Doe Emes, Tammy Gephardt and Jeanne Hudgins.

Arnold Palmer made a statement during his commencement address at graduation ceremonies at his alma mater, Wake Forest, which I thought was so to the point and true that I am repeating it here:

"You must know that many adults of my generation despair of your generation. All too often in my field of endeavor -- sports -- the headliners go to the players who defy authority and misbehave on and off the field, players who showboat and show up others. Instead, those who should be recognized more often are the fine athletes who are also fine citizens and role models for the youngsters following in their footsteps."

Tiger Woods led the field in both greens in regulation (54 of 72) and in driving distance, averaging 325.9 yards, at the U.S. Open. However, he tied for 80th in putting, taking 128 compared to the 108 recorded by Rory Sabbatini, who led that stat. Tiger was T48 in fairways hit with just 28 compared to the 44 by Mick O'Hern who topped that category.

The most birdies recorded in this year's U.S. Open were the 16 registered by eventual winner Michael Campbell. He was T8 in fairways hit, T4 in putting, T16 in greens in reg and 36th in driving distance with an average of 294.3 yards. Sharing second in the birdies stat were Bob Estes, Tim Herron and Stewart Cink with 13 apiece.