Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006

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Doctor wins Dick Van Patten charity poker tournament

By Erin Warner

Physician and family man Sam Lin outlasted his competition at the Dick Van Patten No-Limit Texas Hold'em Celebrity Poker tournament in Palm Springs, pocketing $13,000 in prize money.

But to the winner go not all the spoils. After a poker buddy from Lin's hometown game in La Quinta, Calif., put up the $300 buy-in, the doctor promised him an even split of any potential winnings. Lin was chosen to represent his local game at the tournament, which was held at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino earlier this month.

At the tournament's final table Lin got lucky, chasing down a pair of aces in one hand and finding a lucky turn on the river in another. The 36-year-old, a physician who works for two California high schools, hadn't played in a big tournament before.

Players at the event competed for a $75,000 prize pool, while raising money for the children of U.S. Marines at the base in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Celebrities in attendance included Van Patten and his son Vince - an actor, World Poker Tour co-host and Hollywood.com spokesman - singer Connie Stevens, and "The Young and the Restless" actress Eileen Davidson.

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