Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 21, 1990 TAG: 9007210093
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Bussey's four-shot lead increased to 10 shots before she even teed off at Roanoke Country Club, and she was never challenged en route to her second straight victory in the event.
Bussey shot a 5-over-par 77 for a 54-hole total of 228 and a 10-shot victory over Valeta Pittman. Audrey Najjum finished third, 14 shots back.
Dot Bolling, who was in second place after two rounds, was forced to withdraw because of a migraine headache and nausea.
"I don't wish ill will on anyone," said Bussey, from Countryside. "I feel like I earned it. I had three rounds in the 70s. That's the first time I've been able to do that."
After a birdie at the third hole, Bussey led by 13 shots, and her margin never dipped below double figures.
"I never thought I had a chance of catching her," Pittman said. "I didn't put a lot of pressure on her earlier."
Pittman had a 77 and shared the low round of the day with Bussey and Nancy Shuck, who rallied to tie Mildred Wegmann for fourth at 244.
Roanoke Country Club captured the Fran McCorkindale Trophy for the low team total even without three-time city-county champion Penny Stallins.
Stallins missed her tee time for the second time in three days and, although she was allowed to play, she was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.
Stallins shot an 87 but was subject to a two-shot penalty for delaying her group.
"I've got China on the brain," said Stallins, who will leave Tuesday for the People's Republic of China and was headed to the doctor's office Friday for inoculations. "I'm just kind of out of it.
"I knew I was very close [to missing the 7:45 a.m. tee time]. My schnauzer had not come in and I had to go chase after him in a creek. The dog was soaking wet."
Bolling had become ill Thursday but traveled to Richmond with her husband to watch Hidden Valley pro Tim Holbrook in the Signet Open.
"She felt so bad by the time we got there that she stayed in the car," husband Jay Bolling said. "We had to come home after nine holes. She wanted to play this morning, but she was still feeling bad when she got up."
The tournament also was missing past Roanoke Valley Hall of Fame champions Sara Cole and Vickie Linkous, but Bussey would have been tough to beat under any circumstances.
"I really think she was in a flight by herself," Pittman said. "Just look at the scores from past years. She played very well regardless of who was here and not here. I'd say 228 is pretty low."
When she won in 1989, Bussey shot a 232. She was the first repeat winner since Stallins in 1983-84.
"I definitely think I hit the ball better this year," said Bussey, 41, who is the girls' basketball coach at Northside High School. "I happened to be in the clubhouse when Dot called. I made up my mind right then that I wasn't going to change a thing. I had a 76 in mind and I would have gotten it, too, if I hadn't bogeyed the last hole."
by CNB