Tucson golfer Prouty wins Nevada Open
Brian Prouty of Tucson parlayed an eagle on the par-5 15th hole of the CasaBlanca Golf Course en route to a 9-under 63 and a three-round 197 in the $72,000 Nevada Open golf tournament, held Dec. 8-10 in Mesquite.
Prouty, 25, captured the $10,500 payday in the event that was delayed for two hours because of frost conditions on the course. He had seven birdies along with the eagle en route to a 4-stroke victory after scoring a 66 and 68 in the opening rounds.
Prouty overtook second-round leader Dusty Fielding of St. George, Utah, for the victory. The two played in the same foursome. Fielding came into the final round with a 2-stroke lead before falling back to seventh place.
Finishing tied for second with 201 were Tony Finau of Lehi, Utah, and Creighton Honeck and Matt Rosen, both of Tucson, Ariz. First-round leader Drew Scott of Henderson finished tied for fifth with Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Las Vegan Brady Exber was the low amateur with a 209 after firing back-to-back 69s.
Earlier in the week, Gerry James of Ponte Vedra, Fla., combined his first-round score of 65 with a final-day score of 68 to record a 133 and capture the $37,000 Nevada Senior Open Golf Championship, played on two Mesquite courses. James, 49, wrapped up the victory Dec. 7 on the Palms Golf Course after recording his first-round score Dec. 6 at the CasaBlanca Golf Course. He collected $2,250 for his efforts.
Steve Thomas of Tupelo, Miss., (65-73–138) tied with Jack Slayton of Albuquerque, N.M., (69-69–138) for the runner up spot.
Tim Webster, the tour director for the Nevada Open, lauded the event and the competitors who braved the conditions.
"The golf courses were in great shape," said Webster. "It was cold the first day and cold and windy the second day at the Palms. The score that Gerry James shot in conditions like this is remarkable."