September 17, 2008–Musings from the world of Las Vegas golf this week include former UNLV All-American Chad Campbell playing for the U.S. in the Ryder Cup this weekend and reliving his first-tee jitters; Las Vegas pros making a mark on the Nationwide Tour and soon-to-be PGA Tour; a few Las Vegas golfers attemtping to qualify for the LPGA Tour; celebrities committing to play in events on Las Vegas golf courses; and we remind golfers of the world that the end of September through the rest of the year is when Las Vegas golf courses are in the best shape due to the overseeds that are now being completed. Plus, some Las Vegas WSNGA ladies are champs. "I remember my first Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills, and I've never been so nervous on that first tee box," says Campbell from Valhalla, site of the Ryder Cup. "But it gets a little bit better. But it always gets your juices flowing whenever you get up there on that first tee box, they announce your name from USA, and it's a great feeling, and that's what we all play for."
Campbell, who is celebrating the birth of his first child, is making his third-straight Ryder Cup appearance. He made the team as a Captain's pick by Paul Azinger.
"It was quite a hectic last — I guess last two weeks or so," says Campbell. "At the time I was in Boston coming home, not planning on playing in St. Louis, the BMW, thinking that we were going to have the baby that week. You know, Thursday was the day that she was due, and we went to the doctor Tuesday morning, and that was also when Paul had called me the night before, on Monday. So I woke up, called him back and got the good news there, which I was ecstatic about, and then went to the doctor's office, and all y'all know, during the press conference, I was sitting in the parking lot of the doctor's office, which was true. I mean, it was all very exciting. It was an unbelievable week and a half, two weeks for me, a lot of good things happened, and definitely happy that everything went well with the birth and delivery."
The late summer is when many Las Vegas golf courses shut down for the annual overseeding program, but now is about the time when many are re-opening and starting to round into the best shape of the year. News from Rio Secco Golf Club regarding their overseed is exciting as officials say that they have invested more in seed this year and also renovated some tee boxes and are excited saying the course, that is usually in very good condition, will be in even better condition this fall. The course is the host site for this year's Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge that will be played November 11. Several pro-am events take place during the week and are open to the public. Click now for detailed Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge amateur information. You can visit the official websites of Las Vegas golf courses easily via our official Las Vegas golf course website guide located in the middle of the home page. The websites detail the overseeding dates in addition to the rates and easily offer online Las Vegas golf tee times.
Recently, Laurie Johnson shot rounds of 76-76 at Silverstone Golf Club to win the 2008 Women’s Southern Nevada Golf Association Amateur Championship. Johnson, a member of the Women’s Golf Assoc. at Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort, won by one stroke over Janet Weber, of DragonRidge Country Club, who shot 73-80. Sherry Jackson, also of DragonRidge, was third shooting 79-75. Jane Johnston, of DragonRidge, was the overall net champion with rounds of 70-66. Second place went to Legacy Golf Club member Oksoon Jeong, who shot net 73-67. Jina Doh, of Red Rock Country Club, was third shooting net 71-72. In the Senior Amateur Championship, Janet Weber was the overall gross winner, with Jane Johnston taking top net honors. In the Gold flight (ages 50-59), Sherry Jackson won first place gross, and Penny Schilling won net. Low gross in the Diamond flight (60-69) went to Doe Emes and low net to Judy Critcher. In the Platinum flight (ages 70 and over), Susie Bullard was first gross, with Nedra Blumenthal low net.
Two Las Vegas pro golfers have officially, unofficially qualified for the 2009 PGA Tour with their performances thus far on the Nationwide Tour. Scott Piercy, now a two-time champion on the tour this year, continues his scorching play. At last week's Albertson's Boise Open he fired a course record 61 in the final round to finish as the runner up to Chris Tidland. What made the round even more impressive was that the average score for the day was just over 70. Piercy, known for his confident/cocky manner, will be fully exempt on the PGA Tour for the first time in 2009 and currently is third on the Nationwide Tour money list. The top 25 move up to the PGA Tour and only four full-field events remain. Earlier in the year Piercy had fired a record round of 62 in Wichita.
Former UNLV All-American Bill Lunde, who gave up the game a couple years ago, is also unofficially qualified for the 2009 PGA Tour. He is a winner on the Nationwide this year and is in the fourth spot on the Nationwide Tour money list. Lunde had the third-round lead at Boise but a final-round 72 dropped him into a tie for sixth. Las Vegas' Bob May, a PGA Tour veteran, is on the bubble at number 30 as is former UNLV player Skip Kendall. Several other Las Vegas golfers including Alex Prugh, Michael Putnam, Rich Barcelo, Jeff Gallagher and Jeremy Anderson need some stellar play in the final weeks to crack the top 25.
Several celebrities and athletes have confirmed for Danny Gans' Partee Fore Kids event that benefits The First Tee of Southern Nevada and the Danny Gans Junior Golf Academy. The event is presented by the Southern Nevada Toyota Dealers. Scheduled to to join Gans are Olympic hero Dan Jansen, former NFL greats Napoleon McCallum, Willie Gault, Sterling Sharpe, and Venice Glenn; actors Kevin Sorbo, Richard Karn, Sam MacMurray, Bill Smitrovich, and Kate Linder; baseball hall-of-famer Rollie Fingers, LPGA Tour player Stephanie Louden, Champions Tour player Barry Jaeckel, and entertainers Kenny Rankin and Pete O'Donnell. Other hall-of-famers and other big names are also close to confirming for the November 1-3 event.