Mesquite, Nev. (Nov. 13, 2015)–Tom Whitney came thisclose last year to winning the Nevada Open that is played annually in Mesquite, Nev. He birdied the 18th hole to force a playoff in 2014, but would eventually lose to Seann Harlingten. This year Whitney made sure that no playoff would be necessary by again birdieing the final hole of regulation at CasaBlanca, but instead of that score getting him into another playoff, it sealed his two-shot victory over former UNLV Golfer Kurt Kitayama. Whitney, who graduated from the Air Force Academy and was on active duty through May 2014, finished the three rounds that were played at CasaBlanca and The Palms at 14-under par and earned $25,000 for the victory. –By Brian Hurlburt

“Coming back here for the second year-in-a-row and after what happened last year makes winning a little more special,” said Whitney, who won four collegiate tournaments while playing for the Air Force Academy. “I birdied four of the first five holes of the final round and that really put me in a great position to win. Obviously the birdie on the last hole was important as well, but the fast start was the key. This is a great tournament that always has the cream of the crop playing in it so I knew I would have to play very well to win, and fortunately I did.”

Whitney began the final round two strokes behind the leaders Miller and Jeffrey Kang, from Buena Park, Calif. Kang struggled to a final round of even par and was the only player among the top 15 finishers who didn’t finish with an under par score in the final round. Miller shot one-under par 71 in the final round. The total purse for the Nevada Open totaled $125,000.

Jose Pelayo, a senior on the University of Utah golf team, was the low amateur with rounds of 72-77—149. He didn’t make the cut to the final round.

The Nevada Open is one of the most historic golf tournaments to be held annually in Nevada. The total purse for 2015 was $125,000, the largest amount in history. The event has been played for more than 40 years and includes such former champions as PGA TOUR winners Robert Gamez and Tom Lehman, and former Nike Tour tournament winner and current Butch Harmon School of Golf teaching professional Vic Wilk. Another former champion is Kevin Penner–now a PGA TOUR player–who won the Nevada Open in 2012 while still an amateur and playing at national college powerhouse UNLV.

“Mesquite has been a wonderful golf destination for many years and hosting the Nevada Open each year is one of our favorite things to do,” said Christian Adderson, Tournament Director. “Because of our great destination, big purse and quality golf courses, we can attract a sold-out field of players and some of the top young players who are on their way to the PGA TOUR in the future.”

For the first time, Nevada Open week included a pro-am prior to the professional competition. The event raised $1,000 for Mesquite Junior Golf, which will go towards growing the sport among youngsters in the Mesquite area.

The Nevada Open is sponsored by Mesquite Gaming and The Mesquite Resort Association. Mesquite Gaming owns and operates the CasaBlanca Resort and Casino, Virgin River Hotel and Casino, CasaBlanca Golf Club and Palms Golf Club. The Mesquite Resort Association is comprised of the CasaBlanca Resort and Casino, Eureka Casino and Resort and the Virgin River hotel and Casino.

First Name   Last Name City State R1 R2 R3 Total
Tom Whitney Fort Collins CO 69 67 66 202
Kurt Kitayama Henderson NV 69 67 68 204
Seann Harlingten West Vancouver BC 73 65 67 205
Matt Miller Bloomington IL 66 68 71 205
Jeffrey Kang Buena Park CA 66 68 72 206
Kevin Spooner North Vancouver BC 71 70 66 207
Matthew Liringis Chandler AZ 69 69 69 207
Jeff Burton Scottsdale AZ 73 67 68 208
Taylor Artman Norman OK 72 66 71 209
Daniel Miernicki Santee CA 74 68 67 209
Joe Parkinson Alpine UT 71 67 71 209
Nick Killpack St. George UT 70 69 71 210
Ryan Williams British Columbia 71 66 73 210
Gregor Main Danville CA 70 67 73 210
Troy Kelly Lakewood WA 73 66 71 210
Jeremy Sanders Chatsworth CA 67 73 70 210
Alex Bungert Rancho Santa CA 73 71 66 210
Johnny Ruiz Simi Valley CA 70 71 70 211
Jered Stone Tarzana CA 74 67 70 211
JJ Holen Castaic CA 72 66 73 211
Austin Quick Phoenix AZ 71 70 70 211
Ian Maxwell Danville CA 68 72 72 212
Austyn Karle Scottsdale AZ 70 74 68 212
Trent Virden Reno NV 72 71 69 212
Joshua Creel Cheyenne WY 68 72 72 212
Jim Knous Basalt CO 72 71 69 212
Kyle Souza Encinitas CA 71 68 73 212
Eddie Kirby Wakefield RI 76 66 70 212
Matt Pridey Corral De Tierra CA 70 71 72 213
Kevin Penner Sammamish WA 72 68 73 213
Scott Petersen Parker CO 72 71 70 213
Cory Oride Honolulu HI 72 71 70 213
Raj Samra Downey CA 75 68 70 213
Brent Baylon Phoenix AZ 72 72 70 214
Derek Fribbs Castle Rock CO 72 70 72 214
Cameron White Plymouth MN 69 68 77 214
Andy Connell Denver CO 70 72 72 214
Samuel Ayotte Corvallis OR 70 73 71 214
Dylan Jackson Austin TX 74 70 70 214
Jay Lim Los Angeles CA 71 69 74 214
David Rose West Vancouver BC 73 72 70 215
Ryan Carter Hacienda Heights CA 77 66 72 215
Dusty Fielding St George UT 73 69 73 215
Harold Calubid Long Beach CA 73 70 72 215
Maxwell Cohen Los Angeles CA 72 70 73 215
John Jackson Austin TX 75 67 73 215
Nicholas Paez San Bernadino CA 72 73 71 216
Jeff Hamm Danville CA 75 70 72 217
Sean Kenny Dallas TX 72 73 72 217
Mikey McGinn Springville CA 72 73 72 217
Paul Misko Thousand Oaks CA 70 75 72 217
Justin Bardgett St. Louis MO 75 68 74 217
David Poggi Layton UT 76 69 72 217
David Mills Evansville IN 71 73 74 218
Darren Hupfer British Columbia 74 71 73 218
Trevor Simsby Carlsbad CA 73 71 74 218
Ben Geyer Arbuckle CA 72 72 74 218
Thane Ringler Santa Clarita CA 74 69 76 219
Kevin Kim La Mirada CA 73 69 78 220
Kevin Hayashi Hilo HI 71 72 77 220
Mitchell Fedorka Upland CA 73 71 76 220
Joseph Affrunti Phoenix AZ 75 69 76 220
Paul Gomez Whittier CA 74 71 76 221
Edward Stewart Jackson WY 72 73 76 221
Paul Imondi Tustin CA 73 72 76 221
Ben Fox Studio City CA 71 74 76 221
Matthew Whittaker Mesa AZ 74 69 79 222
Matt Snyder Las Vegas NV 74 71 78 223
Jimmy Keener San Antonio TX 78 66 79 223
Matthew Van Dyke Albuquerque NM 72 73 79 224