Las Vegas, Nevada (June 3, 2010)–There is always a ton of stuff going on in the Las Vegas golf world, so much so that sometimes we need to combine it into one news and notes column. Today is such a case. Leading the list is the 41st-ranked junior golfer in the Golfweek rankings, AJ McInerney, winning the Nevada State golf title, and then leading the all star teams for the city and his region. Plus, the UNLV women's golf coach has resigned, a new group of Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame members goes in with a golf bash, and more.–By Brian Hurlburt.
McInerney plays out of Las Vegas' Anthem Country Club, and is one of the highest-ranked Class of 2012 golfers in the country. The sophomore was joined in the season-ending accolades by fellow Coronado teammates Tad Darland, and Christian Pate as All-Las Vegas honorees. Others on the All-Las Vegas team were Foothill's Taylor Montgomery, Green Valley's Ryan Green, Faith Lutheran's Yuki Kato, Pahrump Valley's Shane Lindemann and Arbor View's Zane Thomas. Coronado also won the team title led by McInerney's two-day total of 134 at TPC Las Vegas, the home of pro golf in Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Golf Region is the home to more than 50 Las Vegas golf courses, and is one of the best golf destinations in the world. There are more than 30 tour pros who have strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses, and the world's celebrities flock to the area to play golf. Also, we have a long history of developing talent with several tour pros with strong ties playing on the major tours, including Craig Barlow, Scott Piercy, Stephanie Louden and Robert Gamez. Many others went on to play college golf.
Missy Ringler, who coached the UNLV Women's golf team, recently resigned from the program, citing personal reasons. “I have thoroughly enjoyed guiding the women’s golf program at UNLV for the past eight years,” Ringler, whose team finished 16th two weeks ago at the NCAA West Regional, said in a statement. “I appreciate the support the program has been given by the athletics department since its inception in 2001. Being a mentor to the student-athletes and helping them through their college experience has been very rewarding.” Ringler's husband, Lance, is an editor for Golfweek.
In her eight seasons, Ringler guided UNLV to three appearances in the NCAA Championship, and three consecutive Mountain West Conference tournament titles (2004-06). She was named MWC Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2006. The Rebels’ best finish in team history came at the 2008 NCAAs, where they placed 16th. Ringler was hired by UNLV in June 2002 after a three-year coaching stint at Minnesota. The school's athletic director, Jim Livengood, said a national search is underway.
The Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame welcomes six new inductees June 4, with both a golf tournament and induction dinner to honor them. The golf event takes place at Highland Falls Golf Club, one of three Las Vegas golf courses at Golf Summerlin. The course was designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash. The Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame is planning to introduce its 2010 class this week with a ceremony at the Orleans Arena. The UFC-owning Fertitta family and longtime UNLV announcer Dick Calvert are among those being enshrined in the hall on Friday.
Calvert is known as the "voice of the Rebels" and is in his fifth decade as a UNLV game announcer. He works about 150 events per year, including football, basketball and soccer. Also being honored are former Rebels standout Freddie Banks, Las Vegas teacher, coach and game official Bruce Bayne, youth baseball official Fred Darling and youth baseball mentor Ralph Meder. Banks led UNLV to the Final Four in 1987, when the Rebels lost to eventual national champions Indiana.