Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LVI sponsor exemptions go only to a chosen few

BRIAN HILDERBRAND is a Las Vegas SUN sportswriter. His golf column appears Tuesdays. He can be reached on the Internet at [email protected]

Las Vegas Invitational tournament manager Charlie Baron and the executive committee of the Las Vegas Founders' Club will have their work cut out for them when it comes time to hand out sponsor's exemptions for this fall's LVI.

While the list of candidates for such exemptions never is a short one, this year's prospects should cause Baron and the committee more than the usual amount of haggling and hand-wringing.

The LVI can exempt four non-PGA Tour members into the 144-player field each year, but only two of those exemptions may go to players of the tournament committee's choosing. The LVI's contract with the PGA Tour stipulates that two exemptions be reserved for PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament graduates who otherwise would not be exempt.

Among the players expected to apply for a sponsor's exemption into this year's LVI include three former UNLV players, one player who grew up playing in Southern Nevada Golf Association events and a potential huge drawing card.

Here is a brief look at a few of the players who could be eyeing a sponsor's exemption into the 1998 Las Vegas Invitational, to be played Oct. 14-18, and the Sun's odds on their chances of making the field:

* Craig Barlow (even money): The Basic High grad who earned his PGA Tour card last winter is not fully exempt to play in every tour event, but it appears likely he is a safe bet to play in his first LVI. Barlow has played in 14 tour events this year, and earned $56,814. His best finish is a 14th-place tie in the Kemper Open last month.

* Edward Fryatt (10-1): The former UNLV All-American out of Chaparral High already has been given two sponsor's exemptions into the LVI. Last year, Fryatt made the most of his opportunity, finishing in a tie for 11th place. Although he has played well this year in Europe, it is unlikely Fryatt would be granted a third exemption.

* Bill Lunde (2-1): Expected to turn pro by the end of summer, the recent UNLV graduate is the best bet to receive one of the two at-large exemptions into the LVI. The tournament has made a habit of granting exemptions to graduates of the UNLV golf team, such as Warren Schutte, Fryatt and Chris Riley.

* Casey Martin (50-1): A long shot only because of Martin's stated objection to accepting sponsor's exemptions into PGA Tour events (although he broke that self-imposed rule last week to play in Hartford -- the home of one of his insurance-company sponsors). On the off chance that Martin would apply for an exemption in Las Vegas, the Founders' Club would give the matter serious consideration because of his ability to draw fans.

* Ted Oh (8-1): Another product of the UNLV golf program, Oh turned professional last summer following his sophomore year and has been playing overseas. If it came down to Oh and Lunde for one spot, give the nod to Lunde because he put in four years with the Rebels and helped lead them to their first national championship.

* CORRECTION: It was erroneously reported last week in this space that three-time U.S. Women's Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning was a former instructor at Angel Park Golf Club. Actually, Berning still serves as a golf instructor at Angel Park in addition to her duties with the Nicklaus/Flick Golf for Women Magazine Golf School.

* CHEAP GOLF: Painted Desert Golf Club is offering $29 rounds of golf Sundays through Thursdays after 11 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays after 1 p.m. through Sept. 3. The catch is the rate is available only to holders of American Golf's Player Access card, which is available for $29.95 (associate membership) and $49.95 (full membership). Call 645-2570 for details on the AGPA program.

* ODDS AND ENDS: Former Chaparral High and UNLV standout Edward Fryatt is leaving for Europe this week and will attempt to qualify for next week's British Open. ... Former Las Vegas Invitational champion Jim Furyk has a PGA Tour-best 21 top-10 finishes in the past 18 months but has not won during that period. ... Casey Martin failed to make the cut last weekend in his first PGA Tour start, at the Canon Greater Hartford Open. Martin accepted a sponsor's exemption to play in the tournament.

* UPCOMING EVENTS: The PGA Tour is in Coal Valley, Ill., for the Quad City Classic at Oakwood Country Club. David Toms is the defending champion; The Golf Channel will televise. ... The Senior PGA Tour visits the TPC of Michigan in Dearborn for the 16th Ford Senior Players Championship. Larry Gilbert won last year's event; ESPN will televise Thursday and Friday; ABC will handle the coverage Saturday and Sunday. ... The LPGA Tour is in Sylvania, Ohio, for the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic at Highland Meadows Country Club. Kelly Robbins is the defending champion; The Golf Channel will televise.

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