Putting performance sets Henderson golfer up for pro debut

By Sean Ammerman

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008 | midnight

Henderson golfer Matt Edwards went into the Southern Nevada Golf Association's Las Vegas City Amateur on Oct. 19 looking to prepare for his professional debut in December.

Relying on his short game and hitting some clutch putts, Edwards won the tournament to gain the confidence needed for his fledgling career.

He'll compete in the Nevada Open Dec. 5 to 7 in Mesquite and will play in the Gateway Tour — a developmental tour in the Southwest — starting this March.

Edwards shot a 7-under-par 137 in the two-day tournament at the short, 6,319-yard Las Vegas Golf Club for a one stroke victory over Doug Pool and Craig Erickson. It was his fifth association victory since graduating from New Mexico State in May.

"I have been a lot more consistent," said Edwards, a 2003 Coronado graduate. "I think it's not being a student-athlete anymore. I don't have any distractions."

The tournament came down to putting and chipping, and Edwards hit 32 out of 36 greens.

"It is a short course so it brings everyone in play," he said. "My short game is usually were I'm at my best, and that definitely helped me today. I didn't really make that many puts this week but I kept myself in contention."

Edwards shot a 69 on the par-72 course on the first day and followed with a 68 on the second.

Pool, of Summerlin, shot a 67 — the low round of the tournament — on the second day. Pool ran into trouble on the par-5 No. 13.

Several birdied the hole, but Pool hit into a sand trap and bogeyed the hole.

Nevertheless, the 67-year-old Pool was happy to outscore the most of the field of 62 golfers.

"You have to be able to manage the course better than the younger golfers do, because they're going to hit it 40 yards past you," Pool said. "You have to make up for it in all the other ways you can."

The tournament was one of the association's five majors, which count for more in the points standings than other tournaments.

Matthew Nolasco, the 2006 state high school champion for Foothill, said the tournament is unique because of its venue.

"It's really a fun course to play because it's been around for so long," said Nolasco, who finished five strokes back of Edwards in ninth place. "If you're a Las Vegas golfer you have to play here. All the greats have played here."

Sean Ammerman can be reached at 990-2661 or [email protected].