ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 29, 1996 TAG: 9607290098
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: IN THE REGION
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
A record field of 140 players will tee it up today in the first round of the sixth Smith Mountain Lake Junior Open.
The 36-hole tournament, contested at Waterfront Country Club in Scruggs, has attracted players from Virginia, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maine, New York, Tennessee, West Virginia and Canada.
The featured 16-18 age group consists of 80 players. Most of Roanoke's top players - Brandon LaCroix, Mark Baldwin, Tommy Lesperance, Justin Young, Brian Whitaker, Josh Points, Jason Orlando, Travis Horak and Mike Damiano - are entered.
Other Southwest Virginians expected to contend are Bedford's Lee Fisher, Lexington's Kevin O'Connell (last year's 14-15 winner) and the Martinsville trio of Neil Norris, Aaron Kovac and Marty Stanley.
Defending champion Brian Agee from Roanoke is too old to compete.
In the 14-15 division, Roanokers Trey Clower and Ryan Crush are among the favorites in the 39-player field.
The 11-13 division, Matt Chandler of Glade Hill and Radford's Ryan Sypniewski head a 21-player field.
In other sports news in the region:
* The Roanoke RiverDawgs completed a weekend trip to Florida with two wins to finish the regular season in first place in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues.
The RiverDawgs (10-4) defeated the Miami Tango 4-3 on Saturday and the Orlando Lions 5-2 on Sunday.
Pat McSorley scored the game-winner in Saturday's game, tallying on a left-footed volley in the 85th minute. Ian Spooner added two goals and Juan Hughes also scored. Goalie Aaron Ewert made 10 saves.
Hughes led the RiverDawgs on Sunday, scoring twice and adding an assist. McSorley, Ewert and Troy McClean also scored and Drew Barwash made nine saves.
Roanoke will play host to the Nashville Metros in a first-round playoff game on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Victory Stadium. The RiverDawgs have beaten the Metros twice this season, 4-2 in Roanoke and 1-0 in Nashville.
Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under.
* Roanoke's high school girls went unbeaten in two matches to win the USTA Mid-Atlantic Junior Team Tennis Championships this past weekend in Newport News. The Franklin County Shiners defeated a team from Hampton Roads and two from Gloucester in posting a 3-1 mark and a third-place finish.
LENGTH: Medium: 51 linesby CNB