Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 11, 1990 TAG: 9006110120
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Approximately seven hours before Linkous earned his fourth men's championship and third in the past five years, his younger sister, Vickie, won the women's title in a playoff with Dot Bolling.
"It's certainly something we've talked about," said Dicky Linkous, who maintained the same four-stroke margin that he carried into the final round.
"How many times do you have a brother and sister playing in tournaments on the same course on the same day, much less both win? It makes this one kind of special."
The older Linkous led by seven shots early in Sunday's final round and was never in much difficulty, even when he made back-to-back double bogeys at Nos. 9 and 10, then added a bogey at No. 11.
"I didn't panic because I realized the course conditions were so difficult that I had serious doubts anybody was having a terrific round," said Linkous, who got back on track with a birdie at No. 12.
He added a 20-foot sidehill birdie putt to entertain the crowd at No. 18 and finished the round with a 4-over-par 75 for a 54-hole total of 215, 3 over par for the tournament.
Augusta (Ga.) College junior Matt Mankin, tied for 15th after two rounds, moved all the way to second after a 2-under-par 69 in gusty winds.
"That may be the best round ever shot in this tournament when you consider the course and the conditions," Linkous said.
David Hagadorn of the host club and Virginia Tech shot a 70, and the next-best round was a 74.
With nobody making a serious move on Linkous, the suspense revolved around the team competition between Roanoke Country Club and Blue Hills.
Roanoke, which twice had lost to Blue Hills by one shot, prevailed by the same margin (1,345 to 1,346).
It was originally thought there might be a playoff when Don Foster of Blue Hills rolled in a downhill 20-footer for a birdie at No. 18, but, as often happens in these events, reports from the course were not completely accurate.
"I thought we'd won the tournament from what people were telling me," Foster said, "but I feel satisfied. I've always felt capable of playing well in this tournament, but this is the first time I'd really been in contention."
Foster finished with a 77 to tie for third at 221 with Dan Keffer of Roanoke, who closed with a 76. Defending champion Mike Smith of Roanoke was next at 223.
Mankin trailed Linkous by 10 shots through eight holes, then cut the margin to three with the last of his five birdies at No. 16.
"I was shooting for the top five," Mankin said. "But if I'd have been able to birdie [Nos.] 17 and 18, maybe word might have gotten back to him and put some pressure on. He would have had to let me back in the tournament.
"I've got to thank the people at Botetourt for letting me play without having to qualify. And I'm glad I made the extra effort to play, too. I had to take two exams Thursday, a week earlier than scheduled, just to get here."
by CNB