Local trio reunited for senior moment

Three local golfers have reunited nearly 30 years after playing junior golf in the Las Vegas Valley. But this isn't some skins game.

Stacey Hart (Western High School), Kim Dolan (Clark) and Tommy Amour III (Bishop Gorman) will tee off today at the U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash.

"It's basically a (reunion) for three guys who grew up playing together in Las Vegas," said Kim's brother, Kevin Dolan.

It's the first time all three have competed in the same field.

"It's awesome and really exciting," said the 51-year-old Hart, who tees off from the 10th hole at 9:05 a.m. "I've never been in a U.S. Open.''

Rubbing elbows with the likes of Fred Couples and Tom Watson should provide an unforgettable experience.

"Stacey and I are just club pros; we had to qualify to get in," said Dolan, who tees off from the first hole at 7:15 a.m.

Hart recently returned to competition after focusing on golf course management in Colorado and Texas. He made this week's field through a qualifier at the Great Southwest Golf Club in Arlington, Texas.

"I'd like to say it's like riding a bike, but it's not -- it's a little nerve-racking," Hart said. "The senior tour's like a second chance for a lot of guys. It makes you feel a lot younger."

Hart played his practice round Wednesday with Senior British Open champion Bernhard Langer, and Dolan was paired with Champions Tour fixtures Hal Sutton and John Cook.

Dolan said teeing off with seasoned competitors is different from his day job as a teaching pro at Siena Golf Club.

"When I tee off here, there are people watching," he said. "Like anything, it makes you nervous. I don't make any over-expectations. I just try to hit it, like they say, one shot at a time."

Dolan, who made the Open field in a San Diego qualifier, is a regular in local pro events and caddied for Armour in 1981, his first year on the PGA Tour.

While expectations are relatively low for Hart and Dolan, Armour could contend for the title this weekend.

The 50-year-old Armour, who tees off at 8:25 a.m. from the 10th hole, shot a 1-over-par 285 to tie for eighth at last week's Senior British Open Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland.

An ideal weekend for the trio would include playing together and battling for the $470,000 winner's share. But being in the same field and remembering some of their junior golf rounds at the former Las Vegas Municipal course has been rewarding.

"There were a lot of great players back then," Hart said. "There wasn't really much that kids could do back then but play golf."

It's also an experience to treasure for friends and family.

"It was a nice accomplishment to finally get in it," Dolan said. "I've got a lot of friends from Las Vegas coming up to watch me play. It's not every day a local pro gets to play in something like this."

Contact reporter Sean Walker at
swalker@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430.