Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 9, 1993 TAG: 9305090064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"When I saw Chip's credentials," McBride said, "I knew we had to have him. Chip is not only a great player, but he's a great teacher, too. With the level I'm trying to take Hanging Rock, I felt it was crucial to get somebody in here like him."
McBride, who when taking the head pro's job at the Roanoke County club in January said his goal "was to put Hanging Rock on the map," figures he took a huge step in that direction when he landed Sullivan.
No doubt, Sullivan's resume was impressive.
Coming out of high school in Covington, La., Sullivan received a scholarship from perennial NCAA golf power Houston.
"Steve Elkington [a current PGA player] was my roommate," Sullivan, 28, said. "Houston had just won a national championship. Billy Ray Brown [also now on the tour] had just won the individual title.
"The problem was everybody was returning and I didn't get a whole lot of playing time. Plus, Houston was a city school, and I was looking for a more college-type atmosphere."
Sullivan transferred to Mississippi, where his college career teed off like a John Daly drive. Ole Miss was ranked in the top five in the country his first two years (1984 and '85), and in 1986, Sullivan won the Southeastern Conference individual title.
Upon graduation in '87, Sullivan immediately turned pro and set his sights on his next destination - the PGA Tour. Six years later, he's still trying to find golf's Utopia.
"I've tried six straight years to get my PGA Tour card," Sullivan said. "There are three stages, and I've missed it the final stage each year. I'm been very close each year . . . just a shot here or a shot there."
In the meantime, Sullivan spent three seasons on the United States Golf Tour (now known as the T.C. Jordan Tour), winning a tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and finishing eighth on the money list in 1990. Sullivan has been a regular participant on the South African tour for three of the past four U.S. winters, with nominal success.
Nevertheless, Sullivan's dream of playing the PGA Tour lingers.
"I haven't yet resigned myself to saying it's not going to happen," he said. "The average rookie age on tour now is 27. I'm only 28. I still believe it can happen."
Before going to Hanging Rock, Sullivan had served as an assistant at top clubs in Jackson, Miss., Birmingham, Ala., Cleveland and most recently Madison, Wis.
"I'm trying to find a place to establish some roots," he said. "I think I've found it right here in Virginia."
Sullivan has a unique arrangement with Hanging Rock in that he works only six months a year, from April through September.
"I'll work six months out of the year at clubs, but come Tour School time in October, I head there," he said. "When I miss getting my PGA Tour card, I go to the South African tour and play until mid-March."
Until October comes, though, Sullivan's main duty is helping others' games.
"I have an environment here where I can help others work on their game, and at the same time, set up a schedule where I can work on my own game," Sullivan said. "I have a reputation as being a player and a teacher."
Sullivan noted that the better he plays the more pupils he should attract to the Hanging Rock range.
"The response here is picking up," said Sullivan, who finished second in a Middle Atlantic PGA Tournament Wednesday in Front Royal. "It's just like starting any business. If I start winning some things around here it will help get my name out."
\ VSGA SCHOLARSHIPS: Three Southwestern Virginia youths were among 18 recipients of scholarship awards announced this week by the Virginia State Golf Association. Salem's Jonathan Ireland, Bedford's Robert Frick III and Covington's Charles Morris Jr. each received $3,500 scholarships. Ireland plans to attend Virginia Tech, Frick is heading to Hampden-Sydney and Morris going to Roanoke College.
The winners were chosen based on their academic achievements, citizenship, need, outside activities and interest in golf. There were 61 applicants.
Through the VSGA's supporting-member program, the proceeds of which fund the scholarship program, the Virginia Golf Foundation was able to award scholarships totaling $67,800.
\ SAND BLASTS: Alabama native Dave Kuykendall also has been hired as an assistant by Hanging Rock. . . . Roanoke College's Glenn Prillaman was joined on the All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference team by two other Roanokers - Hampden-Sydney junior Eric Early, who played at Patrick Henry High School, and Randolph-Macon senior Shane Amburgey, from Cave Spring High School. . . . Early, who led the Tigers with an 82.2 average for 13 rounds, was honored by the school as the recipient of the Bennett Barnes Memorial Trophy given to the most dedicated golfer and the Gustav Franke Jr. Cup, awarded to the golfer who best exemplifies the student-athlete.
by CNB