Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

GOLF:

Turnesa trying to make name for himself

Co-leader recounts stories from his legendary golfing family

Turnesa Chips In

Associated Press

Marc Turnesa chips on to the ninth green during the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open golf tournament at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. Turnesa tied for the lead shooting a 10-under-par 62.

First Round

John Daly hits a tee shot on the ninth hole during the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. Launch slideshow »

Special section

Today's Tee Times

If you don’t know PGA rookie Marc Turnesa’s name, you’re not the only one. But you should.

The 30-year-old’s pedigree is to golf what the Kennedys are to politics.

He’s the grandson of Mike Turnesa, the fourth of the seven legendary Turnesa golfing brothers from Elmsford, New York.

“It’s hard to play on the PGA Tour you know, I don’t care what your last name is,” said Turnesa, who was tied atop the leaderboard Thursday with former Masters champ Zach Johnson after shooting a 10-under 62 at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin.

“It’s not any added pressure having Turnesa as a last name.”

The North Carolina State grad respects his family’s well-chronicled history — which includes a PGA championship victory, participation on Ryder Cup teams, and golfing with the great names of the sport in Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead — but he knows that’s not going to make it any easier on him this week to pick up his first tour win.

“This week is going to be all about putting, and obviously I putted great today,” said Turnesa, who after making the jump up from the Nationwide Tour earlier this year nearly picked up a victory at the Viking Classic a month ago.

But after leading all four days Turnesa fell in a playoff to Will MacKenzie.

“At the end of the week here, you’re going to see the guy that’s holding the trophy is going to be probably putting the best,” Turnesa continued.

Turnesa, whose father, Mike Jr., is the club pro at Rockville Links in Long Island, said he wishes he could go back in time and pick his grandfather’s brain about his family’s incredible past.

“He would tell a few stories here and there about Byron Nelson,” said Turnesa of his grandfather, who past away in 2000. “I remember one, his streak of, what did he win 12 in a row? Anyway I think that right there in that stretch my grandfather was beating him pretty bad in the PGA Championship.

“Back then it was matchplay. I think he was four out with three, or three out with four to play, and Byron Nelson went birdie, birdie, par, eagle or something. You know it was pretty amazing stuff to hear him tell the story.”

Trying his luck: Kevin Na, who is just two shots back of the co-leaders, moved to Las Vegas last month to live with his brother while he went to grad school at UNLV. Na already found a little luck in Sin City, hitting a hole in one last week during a practice round at TPC Summerlin.

“It landed and I said 'Don’t go in!' But it went in. I wanted to save it for the tournament," Na said. "My last hole in one was 13 years ago when I was 12.”

This and That: Co-leader Zach Johnson is seeking to become just the second player this season to win in back-to-back weeks. Vijay Singh accomplished the feat winning The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship. ... Defending champ George McNeil opened with a 5-under 67 in his attempt to join Jim Furyk (1998-99) as the only players to defend a title at a Las Vegas PGA Tour event. ... Five past champions are playing this week. The others include 1987 winner Paul Azinger, who shot a 69, 1993's champ Davis Love III (68), 2001 winner Bob Estes (66) and 2006 champ Troy Matteson (70). ... A total of 116 players from the 132-man field posted par-or-better scores during the first round.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy