Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 17, 1993 TAG: 9307170129
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Three-time State Amateur champion McKnight shot a 5-under-par 67 and tied seven-time State Amateur winner Giles, who had a 69, for the 36-hole lead at 7-under 137 over the 6,684-yard Willow Oaks Country Club course.
The 41-year-old Wadkins, still trying to get his game back in shape after neck surgery that sidelined him for much of last year, had a bogey-free 67 that put him at 138.
"That 67 was about what I was supposed to shoot," said Wadkins, who has earned more than $2 million without a victory on the PGA Tour. "It's good to walk away from a round feeling you made as much as you could."
McKnight, the 38-year-old Galax fuel company executive who won the first combined State Open in 1985, had six birdies and only one bogey.
"I played a really solid round," said McKnight, who won the Eastern Amateur last weekend. "It was a fun day. I just want to go out tomorrow and play well. I hope I feel as comfortable over the ball as I did today."
Giles, the 50-year-old former U.S. and British Amateur champion who'll captain the U.S. Walker Cup team this summer, had five birdies and two bogeys and said he had at least five other birdie chances inside 10 feet.
"I played just about exactly today as I did yesterday [Thursday]," Giles said. "I'm not putting badly, but I'm not making any."
Virginia Beach pro Phil Stewart shot the day's low round, a 66, and moved into a tie for fourth place at 139 with fellow pros Jack Snyder of Palmyra (69) and Mike Moyers of Stanardsville (70).
The 168-man field was cut to the low 80 and ties for the final two rounds today and Sunday, which will be televised to some parts of the state. The cut came at 7-over 151, tying last year's low.
by CNB