Columnist Peter Benton: Colbert establishes scholarship fund

PETER BENTON is a local golfer. His column appears Wednesdays.

JIM COLBERT has endorsed an endowment fund that will be set up by the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association.

The Jim Colbert Las Vegas Founders Junior Scholarship Fund will provide scholarships for young people who otherwise cannot afford to pursue an education beyond the high school level.

Colbert has given $50,000 to this fund, and his donation has been matched by the Las Vegas Founders' Club, the charitable arm of the Las Vegas Invitational and the Las Vegas Senior Classic.

For more information on this fund (annual contributions run from $10 up to $2,500), call the SNJGA at 433-0626

The Las Vegas Frank Sinatra Celebrity Classic which officially got under way Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting and public opening of the Frank Sinatra Memorabilia Exhibit at the MGM Grand.

A reminder that on Friday and Saturday the Sinatra Celebrity Golf Classic will be played at the Stallion Mountain Country Club starting at 10 a.m. daily.

Spectators, who will be admitted free, are encouraged to bring along their cameras and autograph books, join the gallery and cheer on their favorites from the sports, music and entertainment fields.

Saturday is the Black Tie Gala in the MGM's Grand Ballroom where celebrities will start arriving at 6:15 p.m.

A celebrity Skins Shootout at Stallion Mountain at 10:30 a.m. Sunday (also with free admission) concludes this memorable week.

Aaron Stevens placed first in the boys 11-12 bracket of the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association tournament held at Los Prados Golf Club. Aaron's 75 outdistanced Joseph Weiser's 82.

In the Pee Wee division, Alex Scott's 38 nipped Chris Plappert, who came in with a 39. In the Super Pee Wee, Mark Bachmier prevailed with a 33 while Jimmy Burris took runner-up honors.

The girls' 11-14 victor with a fine 63 was Terri Henderson, followed by Mackenzie Mack at 70. Chloe Nelson and her 45 captured the girls 9-10 over Desiree Del Rosario. In the girls 6-8 bracket, Elizabeth Burris and her 28 won over Kyrce Higa and Sydnee Mack, who shot 30 and 31, respectively.

Former UNLV standout Eddie Fryatt has an exemption to play in this week's PGA Memorial Tournament in Ohio and will follow that June 8 with an attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open.

Fryatt's plans after that: July 16, British Open; July 23, Dutch Open; July 30, Scandinavian Open; Aug. 6, Sabah Masters, Malaysia; Aug. 13, Volvo Masters, Malaysia; and Aug. 20, Singapore Open.

This smooth swinger has already won the Indian and Chinese Opens this year.

archive