LAS VEGAS (October 15, 2009) -- Long Island native Marc Turnesa, who won the 1994 Met Junior Championship at Mount Kisco Country Club, is back in Las Vegas this week as the defending champion of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open, held at TPC Summerlin. It’s a tournament and a venue that should produce good feelings for Turnesa, as he earned his first PGA Tour victory here in 2008.  

It’s been a different story for Turnesa in 2009. He has struggled throughout the season and currently stands 189th on the official PGA Tour money list. A neck injury forced him to withdraw from the Quail Hollow Championship in May, and his best finish this season was a tie for 30th in the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles in February. His victory last year makes him exempt on the PGA Tour through the end of 2010, but he is still eager to put a positive note on the 2009 season.

“I really haven't showed much form yet,” Turnesa told Newsday earlier this year. “But I know it can change any week.” The combination of a tournament he won and a course he likes could make the difference. Turnesa is paired with Stuart Appleby and Andres Romero for the first two rounds. Follow all the action from Las Vegas with live scoring on mgagolf.org.