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

DATE: FRIDAY, June 25, 1993                   TAG: 9306250176
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


3 LOCAL GOLFERS ADVANCE

Three area players advanced to the quarterfinals with victories Thursday in the Virginia State Golf Association Junior Match Play Championship.

Scott Griffin of Troutville, Raymond Harrell of Salem and Joe Surkamer of Roanoke each battled through two matches to reach today's quarterfinals at Boonsboro Country Club in Lynchburg.

Griffin defeated Troy Thorne 2 and 1 and Stephen Hund 7 and 6 to earn a quarterfinal meeting with qualifying medalist Jimmy Forehand of Lynchburg. Harrell defeated Chris Neal 1-up and Carey Bliley 2 and 1. Surkamer squeaked past Gary Koh 1-up and Ridgeway's Brad Carter 2 and 1.

In other news in the region:

Lee Shirley finished in third place after firing a final-round 73 on Thursday at the Ping Myrtle Beach Junior Classic in Sunset Beach, N.C. The Roanoke golfer finished with a 227 total on the 5,896-yard Byrd Course at Sea Trail Plantation.

The Late Model Stock portion of the Roanoke Times & World-News 300 will bring all six of this year's winners, plus an out-of-town challenger, to Franklin County Speedway on Saturday night.

Four-time winner Rick Sigmon and two-time winner Dudley Lawhorn are the odds-on favorites, although Ronnie Newman, Harvey Harrison and Tim and Tony McGuire all have victories to their credit this season at the Callaway track.

Chrissy Oliver, who ran second in her lone 1993 start at FCS, also will be a strong contender in the 100-lap race. Oliver, from Lenoir, N.C., is considered the winningest woman in motorsports history.

The first race begins at 8 p.m. Gates open at noon and qualifying starts at 6 p.m. Admission is $5, with children 10 and younger admitted free.

The second 200-lap race in the $50,000 Late Model Stock Challenge will be run Saturday night at New River Valley Speedway in Radford.

Christiansburg's Ronnie Thomas won the first leg of the series in May and needs a victory Saturday night in the Shelor Chevrolet 300 to stay in the hunt for the $50,000 bonus that goes to any driver who wins all six races in the series.

Other races in the challenge are scheduled in July and August at the NASCAR-sanctioned .416-mile oval. The final two will be run in September and October at Martinsville Speedway.

Gates open at 2 p.m., with practice starting at 4 p.m. Qualifying begins at 6:15, and the first green flag is scheduled to fall at 8 p.m.

Admission is $8 for adults and $1 for children 10 and younger.



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