3 Locals given spots in LVI

Next month's Las Vegas Invitational will take on a decidedly local flavor with the golf tournament's announcement that three Southern Nevada residents have been granted sponsor's exemptions to play in the $2 million PGA Tour event.

Recent UNLV graduate Bill Lunde, former Basic High standout Craig Barlow and Las Vegas resident Bob May were added to the 144-player field Monday along with PGA Tour veteran Dicky Pride.

"The Las Vegas Founders' Club is very pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to a fine group of players," Bob Cole, Founders' Club president, said. "It is unusual that three of them are local players, but it is a reflection of the highest level of talent that we have in Southern Nevada."

In extending an exemption to Lunde, the LVI continues its tradition of offering a spot in the field to a recently graduated member of the UNLV golf team who has turned professional. The Founders' Club did the same for former Rebels Warren Schutte, Edward Fryatt and Chris Riley.

Lunde, 22, had a spectacular summer as he helped lead the Rebels to their first national championship in golf in June and later advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur Championship. Lunde, who resides in Henderson, was defeated in the semis by eventual amateur champion Hank Kuehne.

Barlow, another Henderson resident, turned professional in 1995 after a successful amateur career. Barlow won the 1994 Nevada State Amateur Championship and, the same year, qualified for the U.S. Open as an amateur. He capped the 1994 season by being named the Southern Nevada Golf Association's Player of the Year.

Barlow, 26, qualified for the PGA Tour this year by virtue of his 28th-place finish in last fall's PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. Barlow has played in 22 events this season and has a pair of top-20 finishes, including a season-best 14th-place showing at the Kemper Open in June.

May, a five-year resident of Las Vegas, turned professional in 1991 and has spent the past three seasons on the European PGA Tour after losing his PGA Tour card. May has two top-10 and five top-15 finishes this season in Europe.

Pride regained his PGA Tour playing privileges for the 1998 season by finishing 30th at the Qualifying Tournament last fall. Pride was forced to go to Q-School after finishing 207th on the PGA Tour money list in 1997.

Pride won the Federal Express St. Jude Classic, his only PGA Tour title, in his rookie season in 1994.

Las Vegas native Robert Gamez also has committed to play in this year's LVI, bringing to four the number of players in the field who call Southern Nevada home.

The other PGA Tour regulars who already have committed to play in this year's LVI include 1997 British Open winner Justin Leonard, defending LVI champion Bill Glasson, 1995 U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin and 1997 PGA Championship winner Davis Love III.

The 16th annual Las Vegas Invitational will be played Oct. 14-18 at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin, the Las Vegas Country Club and the Desert Inn Golf Club.

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