VALLEY'S TOP AMATEUR GOLFER TO TURN PRO

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 25, 1992                   TAG: 9202250065
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
VALLEY'S TOP AMATEUR GOLFER TO TURN PRO
Dicky Linkous, the dominant figure on the Roanoke Valley amateur golf scene for the past decade, has decided it's time to test his game in the professional waters.
Linkous, who will represent Hunting Hills as a playing professional, said he plans to attempt to qualify for approximately five PGA Tour events this year, in addition to a handful of tournaments on the Hogan and T.C. Jordan satellite tours.
The 34-year-old Roanoke native said he will make his pro debut in late March in a Carolina mini-tour tournament in Durham, N.C. His first attempt at qualifying for a PGA Tour event will come April 20, when he will try to win one of four available spots for the April 23-26 Greater Greensboro Open.
"I'm pretty excited about all this," Linkous said. "I will have an opportunity to play some golf, test my game and possibly win some money.
"In the back of your mind, you're always asking yourself, `Can I compete on another level? How good am I?' I guess I may find out this year or over the next few years.
"You just don't know what's going to happen. Obviously, more people fail than succeed. I'm keeping the mental attitude that anything I do as far as professional golf will be a bonus. We'll see what happens. You never know until you try."
Linkous said the recent emergence of the Hogan and Jordan tours, plus the high cost of playing a strong amateur schedule, were key elments in his decision.
"It really wasn't viable for me to do this earlier in life," he said. "There weren't all these tours, all these opportunities. Furthermore, I didn't play as well as I do now.
"I certainly think I can compete on some of these mini-tours. Now whether you can go up against the big boys [on the PGA Tour] as a part-time pro, that's another deal.
"Plus, amateur golf has gotten so expensive. It's gotten to the point where I can't afford the type of amateur schedule I would like to play, regionally or nationally.
"So here's a way I can defer some of my expenses, possibly win some money and compete at a higher level."
Linkous said Hunting Hills will help finance his venture. Most tournament entry fees are in the $100 range, he said.
"This will kind of be like going into a new business," said Linkous, who will continue to work his job with his family's Roanoke-based supply store as well as providing lessons on a part-time basis at Salem's Glen Acres Driving Range.
"I'm not going into this as a short-term deal. There are no set limits - one year, two years, whatever. I'm not going in with blinders on, either. I've got to figure I'm going to take a lot of lumps, especially early. I haven't seen the courses, I'm going to have to feel my way around and it's going to be a whole new level of competition."
In addition to the GGO, Linkous said his tentative schedule includes PGA Tour qualifying attempts for the Anheuser-Busch Classic in Williamsburg, St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn., Chattanooga (Tenn.) Classic and Southern Open in Columbus, Ga.
"There's only four spots and you'll have to play your rear end off for one day to make it," said Linkous. "The way I feel about it, it's like the [state] lottery, except your odds are a lot better."
Linkous said he will approach the venture as if he has nothing to lose.
"If I don't do well, it won't be the biggest catastrophe in the world," he said. "If it doesn't work, you sit out a year and become an amateur again."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB