Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 17, 1990 TAG: 9007170065
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That has changed.
The amateur event has grown steadily since its birth, and this year's tournament - the first one sanctioned by the American Junior Golf Association - attracted nearly 150 participants from 16 states and throughout Virginia.
Judging by Monday's round, the first of the newly expanded three-day, 54-hole competition, the out-of-towners did not trek to the Roanoke Country Club in vain.
Eleven of the top 20 finishers in round one of the boys' 15-18 division were from outside the Old Dominion, including the top four spots.
David Reed, 17, of Dandridge, Tenn., led all golfers, shooting a 1-under-par 70 on the 6,472-yard course. It is his third appearance at the Robertson Memorial.
"I finished 15th one year and 8th one year," said Reed, a rising senior in high school. "I'm improving each year, and I've just got to go out there and do this again. Two more 70s would be pretty tough to beat.
"I hit the ball pretty well and putted well, too. I like this course. You look at it, and you think you can shoot great, but you can't. It's straight and not very long, but the bunkers and traps are laid well."
Three golfers - Nick Cifelli of Cranbury, N.J.; Brian Spencer of Raleigh, N.C.; and Richard Powers of Louisville, Tenn., who played in the same group as Reed - are two strokes back at 72.
Spencer, playing his first Robertson Memorial and first full round at Roanoke Country Club, had a chance to take sole possession of second place, but his 5-foot putt spin out of the cup on the 18th hole. However, the 16-year-old who included two birdies and three bogeys in his round was rightfully pleased with his play.
"I'm really happy," Spencer said. "I came in here today hitting the ball bad. I made some dumb mistakes, but I'll know better in the next two rounds. I was relaxed and not expecting anything big."
Powers, also competing for the first time at RCC, had just arrived from Dothan, Ala., where he finished third in the 15-16 division and 12th overall in the Future Masters Tournament over the weekend.
Many area golfers turned in solid rounds as well, including Collinsville's Brian Conner with a 2-over-par 73, Salem's Adam Harrell (74), Roanoke's Billy McBride (74), Martinsville's Jason Hughes (74), Roanoke's Andrew Shuck (75) and Radford's Matt Martin (75).
In the boys' age 13-14 division, Martinsville's Mike Pearson led the way with a 4-over-par 75 on the 6,046-yard course. Timmy Bower of Floyd is one of four golfers tied for second at 76. Scott Griffin of Troutville is two strokes back at 77, and Robert Floyd, son of professional golfer Raymond Floyd, is three back at 78.
In the girls' competition, Meredith Tucker of Rocky Mount, N.C., ran away with the first round, shooting a 3-over-par 75 on the 5,570-yard course. Heather Preston from Murrysville, Penn., is second at 79, four strokes back.
Play continues today with the 13-14 boys teeing off the second round at 7 a.m.
by CNB