No fewer than 11 golfers who either live in Las Vegas or have serious ties to Las Vegas golf courses and the city will have some status, and be eligible to play in at least a few events on the PGA Tour in 2007.
By Brian Hurlburt, Golf Las Vegas Now editor
The list is headed by Adam Scott, the PGA Tours number three money leader, who played college golf for powerhouse UNLV before leaving early to pursue pro stardom. He ended 2006 by winning the season ending TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. He also has his sights set on taking the World's number one player status away from Tiger Woods.
Another former UNLV Rebel, Chad Campbel, finished 2006 at number 14 on the money list, and is a sure threat to win his first Major title in 2007.
Dean Wilson, who recently received the VegasGolfer Magazine Fairway Award as favorite PGA Tour pro at an event at the luxurious Cascata Golf Club, finished 2006 at number 22 on the money list. He recently moved to the city, and spent some of the off season teeing it up at various Vegas courses including TPC Canyons.
One of the best amateur golfers in history, Ryan Moore, who won the NCAA individual national title and the US Amateur while at UNLV, finished 2006 at number 81 on the money list. He guns for his first PGA Tour win in 2007, and resides in a home at Southern Highlands Golf Club.
Charley Hoffman nearly won the PGA Tours Las Vegas event, The FRYS.com Open, but dumped a ball in the water on TPC Summerlins par 5, 16th hole during the final round. But the top five finish still allowed him to win more than one million dollars for the year for the first time in his career. He finished 2006 one place behind Moore on the money list. Hoffman played college golf at UNLV and still lives here in town.
Craig Barlow, who grew up playing golf at Black Mountain Golf and Country Club in Las Vegas, had his best year ever in 2006. He finished at number 93 on the money list, earning just more than one million dollars. These days, Barlow plays out of Reflection Bay Golf Club.
Bob May successfully made it through PGA Tour Q-school, but also had a respectable finish to 2006, landing at 141 on the money list. He has battled back trouble, and didnt play golf for a couple years. May has lived in Las Vegas for many years.
Chris Riley is another former UNLV Rebel, and finished number 150 on the money list. He still lives in Las Vegas, and has conditional exempt status for 2007.
Robert Gamez finished number 151 on the money list, but still has exempt status due to his win at the 2005 Valero Texas Open. Gamez grew up in Las Vegas and played high school golf at Clark High School and was the player of the year in the Southern Nevada Golf Association as an amateur. He now lives in Florida.
Skip Kendall played golf at UNLV before the era of head coach Dwaine Knight when it was more a club sport than anything else at the school. He worked hard, and has had a long career on tour, winning more than $7.5 million. He was out of the top 125 in 2006 for the first time since 1994, but should have several opportunities to play in PGA Tour events this year.
Tommy Armour III finished at number 170 on the money list. He has conditional status and will also rely on sponsor exemptions to play this year. He graduated from Bishop Gorman High School here in Las Vegas, and is known as one of the best dressers and biggest partiers on the PGA Tour. Hey, he grew up in Vegas. His grandfather is THE Tommy Armour.
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