Las Vegas pros and tour golfers

Las Vegas, Nevada (September 10, 2010 UPDATE 9/13)--Another week, and another Las Vegas golfer sits near the top of a PGA Tour leaderboard. This week, Ryan Moore, a 4-time All-American at UNLV, was off to a fast start with a 6-under par round at the BMW Championship. Last week, fellow Rebel Charley Hoffman won the Deutshce Bank Championship. Moore is turning heads with his fashion style in addition to his play on the course, and mentioned after the round that playing in Las Vegas' PGA Tour tournament, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, is probably in his plans this October. Moore went backwards in round two and started round three in a tie for 9th. But in the third round, he shot a 66 and will be the leader at -8 heading into the final round. Moore finished in a tie for 3rd. LIVE SCORING. --By Brian Hurlburt.

Las Vegas, Nevada (September 7, 2010)--There were said to be at least three Las Vegas residents under consideration for the one of the four Captain's picks for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. The good news: one Las Vegas golfer was picked. The bad news: two Las Vegas golfers weren't. Rickie Fowler, who purchased a home in Las Vegas about this time a year ago, was picked by Captain Corey Pavin, while fellow Las Vegas Golf Region residents Charley Hoffman and Nick Watney were left off the team. Each of the three play and practice at Las Vegas golf courses, but Fowler isn't the only tie to Las Vegas for the team.--By Brian Hurlburt.

Las Vegas, Nevada (September 6, 2010 UPDATE 9/7 )--Good things happen to good people is an old adage, and Las Vegas Golf Region resident Charley Hoffman winning the PGA Tour's Deutsche Bank Championship proves the point again. Hoffman is a friendly guy who has started a foundation to give back to those less fortunate, and this win is a reward for a lot of hard work and good deeds. Hoffman, who was a member of the 1998 UNLV NCAA Title team, fired a 9-under par 62 to blitz the top-level field and win his second career PGA Tour event. Hoffman plays and practices at Las Vegas golf courses TPC Summerlin and TPC Las Vegas, among others. And he is now the second guy from his Las Vegas neighborhood to win a PGA Tour event in 2010. Some of the glow of the win was taken away when Hoffman wasn't picked by US Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin. --By Brian Hurlburt.

Las Vegas, Nevada (September 5, 2010)--Las Vegas Golf Region resident and PGA Tour star Charley Hoffman and his wife, Stacy, created the Charley Hoffman Foundation in 2009 to raise awareness and financial support for a variety of children’s charities in their native San Diego as well as their adopted hometown of Las Vegas. On October 18, Hoffman is the host of the inaugural Charley Hoffman Foundation Pro-Am, in conjunction with Las Vegas' PGA Tour event, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. But this weekend, Hoffman, who opened with rounds of 64-67, is busy trying to win the second event in the FedEx Cup playoffs, the Deutsche Bank Championship, and the good karma is with him. LIVE SCORING.--By Brian Hurlburt.

Las Vegas, Nevada (August 30, 2010)--As they say, any publicity is good publicity, and the 2010 Barclays, the first tournament in the four-event FedEx Cup Playoffs, was terrific publicity for Las Vegas' PGA Tour event, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Martin Laird, the 2009 Las Vegas champ, played in the final group, and was one seven-foot putt away from vaulting into the top spot in the point standings. Unfortunately, his 24th putt of the day slid right, dropping him into a playoff with Matt Kuchar, who made a birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Laird.--By Brian Hurlburt.

Las Vegas, Nevada (August 28, 2010 UPDATE AUG 30 )--While Adam Scott's time at UNLV was brief, we in the Las Vegas Golf Region still consider him a Las Vegas golfer, and most of the time when he is near the lead, a reference to UNLV Golf is often discussed. Scott played at UNLV under head coach Dwaine Knight in 1998-99, but his amazing potential led him to turn pro early. But while at UNLV, Scott struck up a relationship with Las Vegas-based instructor Butch Harmon, which lasted until last year. Now Scott, who won the Valero Texas Open earlier this season, works with a swing coach who hails from his native Australia, and is back on his way up the World Golf Rankings. Scott finished in a tie for 9th and moved into 19th in the FedEx Cup points list. --By Brian Hurlburt.

Las Vegas, Nevada (August 21, 2010 UPDATE 8/24)—No less than 11 PGA Tour pros with deep Las Vegas ties will be in the field when the Top 125 start the chase for the FedEx Cup. The first event is the Barclays which gets under way this Thursday at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey. How far can these 11 Las Vegas guys go in the chase? Only time…and their golf games…will tell. All mentioned in this article plus Adam Scott made the FedEx Cup Playoffs.  For the field of the Barclays, click now.--by Bill Bowman.

Las Vegas, Nevada (August 22, 2010)--It wasn’t the score Las Vegas golf teaching professional Kim Dolan wanted at all. At 81-79—160, Dolan failed to make the cut at the recent U.S. Senior Open. But, that wasn’t the point. Sure all the players dream about making the cut and hoisting the championship trophy, but for Dolan, it was all about the experience. And the chance to prove to himself he’s still got game.--by Bill Bowman

Las Vegas, Nevada (August 19, 2010)--Even on the golf course, there’s no place like home. Just ask Boulder Creek’s Troy Helseth. An assistant pro at the Las Vegas golf course since it opened in 2003, Helseth won the recent PGA Southwest Section’s Southern Nevada Chapter Championship by three strokes. It was the third time Helseth won the crown, adding to his 2005 and 2009 titles. Last year’s event was also at Boulder Creek Golf Club.—by Bill Bowman