Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 22, 1990 TAG: 9007220079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Holley is not as old as his prematurely white hair might suggest, but he is a past president of the Virginia PGA and remembers the time when there were two state opens, one run by the PGA and the other by the Virginia State Golf Association.
The two organizations got together in 1987 for the purpose of holding one state open tournament, which made plenty of sense but created no shortage of headaches.
It was decided that the field would be split 50-50, with each organization determining its qualification procedures. The VSGA, an amateur-oriented organization, held a qualifying tournament. The state PGA, on the other hand, used a more arbitrary process.
The state PGA allegedly filled its share of the field this year on a first-come, first-served basis, although that was not exactly spelled out on the entry application. As a result, some of the state's best professional golfers either did not receive invitations or faced insurmountable odds in qualifying.
Tim White, who won the Signet Open in 1987, was one of 34 players who vied for two spots made available by the Virginia PGA two weeks ago in qualifying in Richmond. It took a 69 to make the field, although every year there are players - mostly head pros - who have trouble breaking 85 in the Signet.
"The applications have gone up dramatically for the PGA share of the field," said Holley, who was occupied with the Scott Robertson Memorial tournament last week at Roanoke and did not play in the State Open for the first time in 20 years. "What's happened is, pros all over the state are hiring young assistants who have playing privileges.
"I see a definite problem that we've got to address. We're not blind to that. We are addressing it. We haven't given it enough study to announce anything publicly. But I think you're going to see something happen before next year."
The question is, should the State Open feature the best players in the state or should it serve as a reward to the head professionals for their service to Virginia golf, possibly at the expense of their own games?
"I want some of both," Holley said. "I don't know where to draw the line, but there's got to be a mix."
There is a chance that the Scott Robertson tournament will become a regular stop on the American Junior Golf Association tour, which would attract even more of the nation's top juniors to Roanoke Country Club, but not at the expense of local autonomy.
The Robertson was sanctioned by the AJGA, which meant that the top 20 finishers could earn points toward the Rolex championship. However, the AJGA tournament of champions was held this week, meaning the Robertson did not get any of the winners of past AJGA events.
"I can't speak for the committee," Holley said, "but I don't think there would be any desire to relinquish the running of the tournament. My feeling is, if there would be no quirks in how the tournament is run, that we would be receptive. Once word gets back, I would think they would be interested."
The Robertson committee did make some changes in its format to suit the AJGA this year. The tournament was extended from 36 to 54 holes ("A nice touch, I thought," Holley said), eligibility was extended to 18-year-olds who had not begun college and the dates were switched from June to July.
The most glaring oversight in Roanoke Valley golf is the absence of Audrey Najjum from the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame. Najjum has won three Hall of Fame titles, three city-county titles and three Virginia State Senior championships, and at 62 remains a force in local tournaments.
A younger but worthy prospect is Dicky Linkous, who has won four Hall of Fame championships, including three of the last five. Linkous, 32, is a former Virginia Mid-Amateur champion and runner-up in the state amateur. He also won the men's city-county tournament for the first time last year.
Wes Swope, who played on the golf team at Cave Spring High School, has accepted the position of head professional at Stone Manor Country Club in Goodview. Swope, 28, had been in Arizona for six years after playing one of the mini-tours.
Frank Moore, a Northside High graduate, captured the Peninsula Amateur on the second hole of a playoff against University of Virginia sophomore Charles Wentworth. Moore, who now lives in Virginia Beach, had a 36-hole total of 147.
David Brogan of Lexington tied for third in the Valentine, a prestigious invitational tournament at Hermitage Country Club in Richmond. Brogan, who was tied for the lead after the second round, finished five shots behind three-time winner David Partridge of Richmond.
The deadline is Aug. 1 for entries for the Cox Cable Roanoke celebrity golf tournament to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Organizer Don Stanley reports that there will be four separate tournaments within the tournament set for Aug. 6-7 at Countryside. The tournament has raised more than $200,000 over the past six years.
Virginia Tech's golf team continued its nationwide recruiting efforts by signing Brent Thaxton of Odessa (Texas) Junior College. Thaxton, originally from Edmond, Okla., and current Tech player Ross Roberts were teammates at Odessa. A spot opened for Thaxton when one of Tech's underclassmen, Kyle Kaufman, transferred to Appalachian State.
by CNB