Posted on: Saturday, October 9, 2004
Hawai'i's Wilson 2 back in Vegas
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — J.L. Lewis is having somewhat of a down year after the best season of his career on the PGA Tour. He's not happy about it, but a few of the guys just behind him in the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas wouldn't mind being in his position at all.
On another windless day in the desert, Lewis took a one-shot lead in relation to par over Chez Reavie, Olin Browne and Alex Cejka with a round that included an eagle, six birdies and no bogeys on a friendly Bear's Best course.
"I didn't do anything stupid so that's really good for me this year," Lewis said.
Kane'ohe's Dean Wilson shot an 8-under 64 yesterday and is 12-under after two rounds. The Castle High graduate, who now resides in Las Vegas, currently ranks 127th on the tour money list with $514,311 and must finish in the top 125 to retain his PGA playing card.
Last year, when the tournament was named the Las Vegas Invitational, Wilson finished tied for 14th and won $70,000.
The 44-year-old Lewis, who won a tournament last year and finished in the top 30 to make the Tour Championship, is 97th on the money list despite having better stats than he did the year before. Mistakes have cost him dearly, and he's still trying to figure out why.
"It's just kind of a hard game to explain," Lewis said. "I don't know what's going on."
Reavie, a 22-year-old who has yet to make an official dollar as a pro, and Browne, who lost his exempt status this year for the first time since 1996, are happy to be a shot behind.
Reavie shot a 64 at the home TPC at Summerlin course to reach 13 under. Browne, who got into the tournament when another player withdrew, shot a 64 at Bear's Best.
Lewis shot a 9-under 63 yesterday to take the lead at 14 under midway through the Las Vegas tournament, where a player making his pro debut and a veteran struggling to become exempt once again are only a shot behind.
Dean Wilson
