Turnesa adds own name to family’s legacy

Leila Navidi

Marc Turnesa holds up the trophy celebrity host Justin Timberlake handed to him moments after winning the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin on Sunday, October 19, 2008.

By Andy Samuelson (contact)

Monday, Oct. 20, 2008 | 2:30 a.m.

Marc Turnesa had booked his flight back home to Florida for Sunday night, but a slight change of plans kept the 30-year-old PGA Tour rookie partying in Las Vegas.

“I’m supposed to play next week in Phoenix, but I think I will spend the night here — maybe play a little bit with my buddies,” said a smiling Turnesa, shortly after winning his first pro tournament at TPC Summerlin.

The former North Carolina State star could afford to drop extra cash at his favorite casino after earning $738,000 on Sunday when he held off Matt Kuchar by a single stroke with a final round score of 4-under 68. Turnesa set a tournament record, 24-under 263 to claim the inaugural Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open championship.

“It was a great week, but I don’t think I need to tell you that,” said Turnesa, who hoisted the trophy Timberlake handed him high into the air while still trying to keep an arm around the showgirls who flanked him on the same 18th green on which he had just completed a two-putt bogey for the win.

“I only won by a shot, so obviously every birdie I made was important," continued Turnesa, who birdied holes 9, 11, 12, 14 and 17.

“To win this golf tournament means a lot, especially after coming up short a few weeks ago.”

Turnesa led all three rounds of the Viking Classic last month in Madison, Miss., before losing to friend Will MacKenzie in a playoff.

"It was disappointing. But you know what, I did the best I could and it didn't work out. The same thing could have easily happened here today," said Turnesa, who jumped from 138th to 75th on the money list while also earning a two-year Tour exemption with the victory.

"You just got to get over it and move on. There's tournaments every week out here and you just got to take the positive out of it and move on."

That’s the task for Kuchar, who shot a stroke better than Turnesa at 67, but finished one back on the overall scorecard.

“It’s great to see a guy bounce back and get that victory a month later. That was awesome,” Kuchar said of Turnesa. “I certainly thought it was going to take probably about what “Tuna” (Turnesa) ended up with today.”

Former UNLV star Chad Campbell shot a 67 to tie for third at 22 under with John Mallinger (68) and former UNR standout Michael Allen (70). He had a chance to tie for the lead on 18 but bogeyed.

“It is the best tournament I’ve had here, but I wish I could have that shot on 18,” Campbell said. “Hopefully next year we can do a little better.”

Tim Herron (62) and Davis Love III (67) tied for sixth at 21 under in the Fall Series event that featured a celebrity Pro-Am, health and golf clinics and a special benefit concert by Timberlake and friends Friday night at Planet Hollywood that raised $1 million for Shriners hospitals.

“Just want to thank the Shriners,” Timberlake said. “I’ve gotten to know what the organization does over the last year and I’m absolutely blown away and in awe of you guys.”

Timberlake, an avid golfer with a handicap of 6, was a big fan of Turnesa’s — or “Tuna” as one of his pal’s constantly yelled out — play this week.

“Big hand for Marc Turnesa, he played some golf this week.”

But that’s nothing new for the Turnesa namesake.

Marc comes from a long lineage of successful golfers that dates back to his late grandfather, Mike, the fourth of seven legendary golfing brothers from Elmsford, N.Y.

Mike was a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, who was runner-up to Ben Hogan in the 1948 PGA Championship. His brother, Joe, won 15 Tour events, while another brother, Jim, won the 1952 PGA Championship. The only brother who didn't turn professional was Willie, the 1938 and 1948 U.S. Amateur champion and 1947 British Amateur winner.

"I don't really feel like I'm carrying on a name," Turnesa said. "I guess I am without even thinking about it. I'm just trying to play golf as best I can and that's all I can really do."

Andy Samuelson is a sports writer/editor for the Las Vegas Sun. He can be reached at andy.samuelson@lasvegassun.com or 702-948-7837.