Palo Verde High golf sensation Jack Trent chooses UNLV

Palo Verde High School's Jack Trent, Hits his ball out of a rough spot during final round of Division I Sunrise and Sunset region boys golf tournament at Reflection Bay Golf Club, Lake Las Vegas, 75 Montelago Blvd, Henderson, NV. (Donavon Lockett/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

It’s been a sweet month for the UNLV men’s golf team. The Rebels have won two of their past three tournaments, AJ McInerney and John Oda received Mountain West Player of the Week recognition, and Shintaro Ban won an individual title.

Now, Jack Trent, a junior at Palo Verde High School and the defending Division I state champion, has orally committed to play for the Rebels.

Trent is one of the nation’s most coveted recruits. He said he is thrilled at the chance to play for coach Dwaine Knight and UNLV.

“I am looking forward to being a Rebel, and there are several reasons why I made the decision to stay close to home,” said Trent, who moved to Las Vegas a few years ago from his native Australia. “UNLV is a top 25 program, the courses they have access to in Las Vegas are wonderful, they have quality players and a lot of great recruits on the way, and the weather is usually very good here.”

Besides winning on the local junior and high school levels, Trent also won the 2015 Clark County Amateur, a Southern Nevada Golf Association major. The top golfers in the area, including former PGA Tour player and UNLV All-American Edward Fryatt, and current Rebels Zane Thomas and McInerney play in SNGA tournaments, making the Clark County win all the more impressive.

“His golf IQ and overall ability for his age are very impressive and are what set him apart,” said Clif Vanetti, Trent’s swing coach. “It’s hard to describe what makes him so special, but he has an extra gear. He definitely has that ‘It’ factor.”

Trent enjoys working with Vanetti because they share similar philosophies.

“He is a feel-based instructor, and I’ve always been a feel player,” Trent said. “I don’t like using a lot of technology. I like to feel the shots and watch how the ball reacts, and he agrees with that approach.”

Knight was unable to comment about Trent because of NCAA regulations.

Deal of the week

Daily rates at Royal Links for Clark County residents start at $65 after 10 a.m. and include a free same-day replay.

Charity spotlight

• The inaugural Epicurean Charitable Foundation tournament is May 9 at Red Rock Country Club. It raises scholarship funds for high school students seeking a career in hospitality.

• The fifth annual Henderson Police Department charity tournament is May 21 at Revere. It benefits the Police Honor Guard, a component of the Henderson Community Foundation.

Stars on, off course

• Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Southern Highlands owner Garry Goett host the annual Governor’s Black Tie Invitational this week. The event has raised $16 million for area nonprofits.

• Cheyenne Woods, Tiger Woods’ niece, attended the T-Mobile Arena grand opening festivities last week and also played Shadow Creek.

• Las Vegas pro Charley Hoffman played with Tom Watson during Watson’s final round ever at the Masters.

Around Vegas golf

• Tim Hartman was low gross winner and Tom Burnip low net champ in the Legacy club championship.

• Tournament director Patrick Lindsey has traveled to the Farmers Insurance Open, Valspar Championship and other events recruiting players for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

• Larry Fuller recorded holes-in-one on the second and 17th holes in the same round at Falcon Ridge in Mesquite. That makes the three aces by different players in one round during the Masters almost seem ordinary.

The golf notebook appears every Thursday. Freelance writer Brian Hurlburt is a two-time author who has covered golf in Las Vegas for more than two decades. He can be reached at bhurlburt5@gmail.com or @LVGolfInsider.