Armour heads entries for local golf hall

No matter how Tommy Armour III fares at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, his week is already off to a good start.

The former Bishop Gorman High School star, who has had a successful career on the PGA Tour with more than $9 million in career earnings, is being inducted into the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame tonight at the clubhouse at TPC Summerlin.

Joining Armour as inductees are longtime Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club head professional Jerry Roberts, golf executive Eric Dutt and local amateur star Louis Redden.

"I'm obviously pleased and excited about it," Armour said Monday. "I was fortunate enough to live off the Desert Inn (Country Club) and I got to play every day. I feel very blessed with everything I've gotten from golf."

The grandson of World Golf Hall of Famer Tommy Armour said golf and Las Vegas are a natural fit.

"You have so many great courses these days," he said. "Back when I was growing up, there were still a lot of courses. Mix in the gambling and the entertainment, and it's no surprise that Las Vegas has a rich history when it comes to golf."

The induction of the foursome tonight will increase the Hall's ranks to 22. Formerly known as the Southern Nevada Golf Hall of Fame, the committee's members voted to change the name to better identify their organization with the city.

Dutt, who won multiple local amateur tournaments as a player, carved out his Las Vegas golf niche as an administrator. He is former executive director of the Southern Nevada Golf Association and is currently in charge of several Harrah's International golf properties, including Cascata, Rio Secco and Las Vegas National.

"I've lived here since 1962 and golf has been such a big part of my life," said Dutt, 49. "I'm proud of what I was able to accomplish as a player and as an administrator and if the powers that be think I was able to make a contribution to the growth of the sport here, I'm flattered."

Roberts, a longtime teaching pro, helped found the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association. He also was instrumental in bring the PGA Tour to Spanish Trail in the early days of the Las Vegas Invitational.

Redden was one of the top local amateur golfers in the 1970s and '80s, having won multiple Las Vegas City and Southern Nevada tournaments.

"I did work very hard at the game," Redden said. "It didn't come easy to me. But I really loved the game and didn't give up. I never thought I would come this far, but it's amazing how far you can go with a lot of practice and hard work."

• NOTES -- Monday's regular pro-am was won by the team of professional Bob Sowards and amateurs Corey Heard, Karl Post and Jim Cooksui with a net 55. Timberlake, who played with John Daly in the 10-team field, finished fourth. ... Wednesday's celebrity pro-am begins at 8 a.m.