Wednesday, January 29, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Local pro finds first PGA Tour event `unnerving'

Tuscany Golf Club's Duty misses cut after two rounds in Phoenix Open

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

During a practice round for the Phoenix Open last week, Patrick Duty shot a 6-under-par 66. Duty, the head professional at soon-to-open Tuscany Golf Club in Henderson, couldn't wait until Thursday to get to the first tee of his first PGA Tour event.

But when he got there, he was filled with the same fears that recreational players face every day.

"It was so neat to have my named called and have all the people clap for me," said Duty, who got a spot in the field via a qualifier. "But it was kind of unnerving playing in front of that many people. That's something I hadn't done before. After they called my name, I looked down at my club and it was shaking. I didn't know if I'd swing over the top or hit it behind me or what."

Driving the ball proved to be Duty's undoing in the two rounds he played on the Tournament Players Club at Scottsdale. He shot rounds of 75 and 82 on the par-71 track and missed the cut, hitting just 28.6 percent of his fairways.

Still, he was thrilled by the experience. He said he'll never forget the par-3 16th, which is notorious for its huge and boisterous galleries. He hit the green on both days, but said he was so pumped up in the second round that he nearly flew a 9-iron over the green from 168 yards.

"That 16th hole was my neatest experience in golf," Duty said. "I got up there and they were chanting my name and going nuts, and it was so cool. ... What a great, great experience."

• DAVIS STILL HOT -- UNLV golfer Brien Davis, the 2002 Southern Nevada Golf Association Player of the Year, got off to another good start on the circuit by winning the Hall of Fame Classic at Legacy Golf Club.

Davis shot rounds of 65 and 70 for a 9-under 135, two strokes better than Eddie Heinen, who shot rounds of 69 and 68. Joe Sawaia took third after shooting 71-70.

Jeff Critcher won the net division title in a playoff, defeating Eric Iveson. Both finished at 4-under 140. James Massey defeated Rich Gripp in a playoff to win the senior title after both finished at 4-over 148.

• LOCAL PROS -- The Las Vegas PGA Chapter Pro-Pro was Monday at the new Boulder Creek Golf Club, with two teams tying for first. Travis Long and David Dyehare combined to shoot 8-under 64, as did Jim Hadley and Bill Holland.

Hadley, of The Badlands, had the low individual round, firing a 6-under 66. Long, of Dragonridge, and Troy Helseth of Boulder Creek each shot 68.

• CARLSON PARTNERS WITH BALLARD -- Tom Carlson, a local teaching pro known for his work with junior golfers, has paired with Jimmy Ballard, who is on Golf Magazine's list of the Top 100 teachers in the country, to build a national program to teach juniors.

The school will be known as Jimmy Ballard's Golf Academy and will have sites in Palm Beach, Fla., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Las Vegas, Texas, California, Georgia, Oregon and Washington, D.C. Carlson will continue to run the program at Craig Ranch Golf Club, and Ballard will come in twice a year to assist.

For information, phone Carlson at 300-4674 or 300-4673, or visit jimmyballards juniorgolfacademy.com.

Kevin Iole can be reached by phone at 396-4428, fax at 396-4408 or e-mail at iole@reviewjournal.com.