Former Champs to Gather at Historic LV Golf Club to Benefit Future

As Las Vegas golf historian and author Jack Sheehan has noted, a City Amateur championship is the ultimate trophy to win for local players, and usually the course where the event is played is part of the fabric of an area’s golf community. For Las Vegas, he is definitely correct both counts, and on May 22, many of the former gross division champions of the Las Vegas City Amateur are scheduled to gather at Las Vegas Golf Club for the Las Vegas Champions Classic, which is open to any amateur players and will benefit the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association. –By Brian Hurlburt, Las Vegas Golf Insider.

REGISTER NOW TO PLAY

The new event was the idea of Las Vegas Golf Club general manager Ryan Humphries. The course is managed by Arcis Golf. While the tournament will raise funds and awareness for junior golf, it is open to all ages of amateurs. Non-champion amateurs in teams of four will be paired with a former Las Vegas City Amateur champion for the round.

“There is a lot of excitement to not only honor the great past champions of the Las Vegas City Amateur, but also to do it in a way that benefits junior golf,” says Humphreys. “All golfers have a starting point, past champions included, and the sooner we get our local juniors on course, the better. If we want to continue to grow the game, we have to support and encourage junior golf and that is what this event is all about. There were so many reasons for us to want to create this event, but among them, we can honor our past champions, support junior golf and showcase Las Vegas Golf Club, the most historic golf club in Las Vegas. Knowing what an incredible job SNGA executive director Ann Sunstrum has done by researching the history of the City Championship in order to introduce a new perpetual trophy for the 2020 Championship, it just made sense to add to the tradition of the event by doing something to help grow the game and continue the legacy.”

Some of the former champions who have agreed to play include Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame inductees Eric Dutt and Brady Exber, and AJ McInerney, the assistant UNLV men’s golf coach who won state titles at Coronado High.

“It’s the oldest amateur tournament in the city and it’s a major, so it is a very special part of Las Vegas golf history,” says Dutt, the 1994 City Am champ. “Any good player from Las Vegas has won the tournament and there are some who haven’t. Who has won it, who plays in it and where it is played are what makes it so special. It has always been at ‘Muni’, so when you think about the Las Vegas City Amateur, you think of the course, just like when you think about The Masters, you think about Augusta National.”

Among the other champions of the event include future PGA Tour players Edward Fryatt and Robert Gamez, and Taylor Montgomery, a former UNLV player who is currently in the top 25 on  the Korn Ferry Tour and in line to qualify for the 2021-22 PGA Tour.

Several champions are also former members of the SNJGA, showing how tournaments like this can motivate future players. Among them are Fryatt, Dutt, Gamez, Montgomery, McInerney, Skyler Ngo, Brett Sodetz, Aarjav Patel and others.

“This event will be special not only because it’s the first of its kind in Las Vegas, but because it gives us an opportunity to recognize all the past champions, have a fun day of golf and most importantly raise money for junior golf in southern Nevada/ SNJGA.,” Humphrey says. “Furthermore, events like these are in line with Arcis Golf’s purpose to make extraordinary experiences and forge emotional connections to our members and guests, one round at a time. To me this event fully encompasses that core value and our entire staff is really excited to roll out the red carpet to make this a memorable and successful event. Ann, Renee and Tim at the SNGA run a tremendous operation. They work so hard to create great golf experiences for everyone in Southern Nevada.  We couldn’t ask for better partners and truly enjoy any time we have the opportunity to collaborate with the SNGA.”

To play as an amateur in the tournament and support the SNJGA, click now to contact the SNGA.

Champions Classic Format

5-Person Shamble (1 past city amateur champion, 4 golfers)

Entry Fee

$150/per person or $600/foursome. Sign up with a past champion or we will pair you with one.

Entry Fee Includes:

• Golf
• Tee Gift
• Dinner
• One Drink Ticket
• Prize Fund
• Alcohol Tasting
• Cigar Rolling
• Live Entertainment

Dinner Ticket Only: $65/person which includes one drink ticket, dinner, alcohol tastings, cigar rolling, and live entertainment.