October 17, 2009 (UPDATED Oct 18) –Could this be it? Is a golfer with strong Las Vegas golf ties about to win Las Vegas' PGA Tour event, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open? The answer was no as Scotland's Martin Laird won in a playoff. Then will they collect the trophy from international superstar and tournament host Justin Timberlake plus join Jim Colbert as true Vegas golfers who have earned PGA Tour wins in Las Vegas? Colbert won the Las Vegas Senior Classic on the then Senior PGA Tour. Entering the final round, Las Vegas native Scott Piercy and former UNLV All-American Chad Campbell shared the lead at 17-under par. LIVE SCORING.
"It will be great and hopefully this is the last year that record stands," said Campbell after his third round about the story of no golfer with strong ties to Las Vegas winning the event. "I don't know if it's a record or whatever it is. It's interesting that nobody has won here, all of the great players that play college out here. Nobody has won. Hopefully I can come out tomorrow and have a good round and just kind of see what happens." Las Vegas resident and former UNLV All-American Charley Hoffman was in 8th place, but just three shots back.
Piercy, a new father after his wife Sara gave birth to their third child, a boy, is also looking forward to the final round in Las Vegas. Piercy grew up in Las Vegas and was a junior golf and high school golf champion. He said it's nice to have longtime friend Darren Woolard on the bag as his caddie, especially during a week like it has been with the baby and some up-and-down play. "He is one of my best friends which it's nice to have a friend out there," said Piercy. "He calls iy a hostile environment out here on the PGA Tour because everybody is so good. Everybody is trying to beat your brains in. We are trying to do the same. esterday, when I was emotionally down and trying to kick it into overdrive and stay kind of level headed, he knows when to say something like, 'come on, come on'. Just being best friends. He knows me and my golf game. I trust a lot of what he says."
The Las Vegas Golf Region is known for having no less than 30 golfers with strong ties to the area's golf courses who play the major tours. Several played at UNLV, several still live here, and others lived here for a substantial amount of time before moving away. Campbell and Piercy will be paired together, but don't know each other real well. Campbell lived in the area while attending UNLV while Piercy grew up here attending Bonanza High School and competing in the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association and other local amateur events.
Piercy is coached by longtime Las Vegas golf instructor Tom Carlson, who still operates a junior golf academy at Angel Park Golf Club in Las Vegas. Piercy also won the Ultimate Game at the Wynn Las Vegas a couple years ago, pocketing 50% of the $2 million first-prize (his sponsors earned the other 50%).
Angel Park Golf Club is the home of two Las Vegas golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer, plus a lighted par 3 course and an all-grass putting course. There is also a beautiful patio and restaurant plus a new event lawn. The readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal have named Angel Park Golf Club their favorite for about the last dozen years or more. Click now to view the official website and find you Las Vegas golf deals on Las Vegas tee times.