Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 23, 1993 TAG: 9307230047
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Bolling hauled home the RVWGA winner's hardware again Thursday, shooting a final-round 5-over-par 77 at Botetourt Country Club to blitz the field by seven shots.
The victory was Bolling's third straight and fourth in the past six years in the RVWGA. The 47-year-old Salem resident and former Roanoker Liz Waynick, who won the tournament from 1980-82, are the only two players to ever win the title three times in succession.
"It's nice to be in [Waynick's] class," Bolling said. "I never got to play with her, but I know she's quite a player."
Minutes after completing her round, Bolling wiped a tear from her eye and said she was dedicating the victory to her ailing mother, Martha.
"I won this one for Mom because she's sick," Bolling said. "She has every clipping out of every newspaper about me and my golf. She's my biggest fan."
Although Bolling began Thursday with a six-shot lead and eventually won by seven, the final round was no walk in the park. Bolling bogeyed six of the first nine holes, turned in 42, and began to start thinking about a post-round speech that had nothing to do with victory.
"I was wondering how in the world I was going to explain the biggest choke job in history to everybody," Bolling said. "I said to myself, `I'm going to be so embarrassed if I lose this.' "
Bolling's rear-view mirror was full of 1985 champion Sara Cole, who had toured the first seven holes in 2-under to storm from nine to two shots back. Nancy Shuck, who had started six shots back in second, also was lurking, only four back.
"I said to myself," Bolling said, `Is Sara ever going to stop?' And Nancy was right there, too."
Not for long, though. Bolling then proceeded to tatoo the field, running off seven pars with a bogey (No. 13) and a birdie (No. 16) to win going away.
"It should have been easier than it was," Bolling said. "But I butchered the front nine and let them back in it. I was sweating bowling balls out there for a while, believe me. But once I made the birdie at 16 to go five ahead, I figured I had it won."
Bolling finished with a 54-hole total of 14-over 232. Shuck, who had a final-round 78, closed at 239.
"Always the bridesmaid, I guess," said Shuck, a runner-up three times but never a winner in the two local women's majors - the RVWGA and Hall of Fame.
Cole, who soared to 41 on the back after a front side of even-par 36, wound up third at 241. Marilyn Bussey was fourth at 242, while veteran Audrey Najjum took fifth at 244.
In team play, Hidden Valley, paced by Bolling and Shuck, won the Fran McCorkindale competition by 10 shots over Countryside. Hidden Valley also captured the Evelyn Anderton competition, winning by 67 shots over Botetourt Country Club.
by CNB