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It was a nostalgic day at Cascata on Friday, July 8, 2016, for the inaugural Nevada State Amateur Reunion Invitational. The fundraising event prior to the Nevada State Amateur featured amateur teams playing with former champions of the Nevada State Amateur. Among those playing included Brady Exber, Edward Fryatt, Craig Barlow, David Nelson and several others.

Pratt

But the star of the day was 1954 champion Bob Pratt, a member of three NCAA champion teams at the University of Houston. Pratt was unable to play but was interviewed by veteran Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Ron Kantowski. Pratt regaled him with tales from his amateur and brief run at playing professionally, including when he tied for last with Jack Nicklaus.

From Kantowski:

My favorite Bob Pratt story was about the 1962 Los Angeles Open.

 He was trying to make a go of it on the PGA Tour in what was Jack Nicklaus’ first pro event. Pratt said he, Jack and another guy tied for the last paying place, which paid $100. The next day in the newspaper, it said Jack and the other guy each received $33.33 while Bob Pratt received $33.34.

“I got the 34 (cents). So I was the leading money winner over Jack Nicklaus,” Bob Pratt said with a tap on the knee and the warmest of smiles. “Curtis Strange said years later he didn’t know who got the extra penny.”

Read the entire Las Vegas Review-Journal story here as well as view video.