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

DATE: SUNDAY, July 18, 1993                   TAG: 9307180149
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: D12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

GILES LEADS BY 2 SHOTS IN STATE OPEN

Seemingly ageless Vinny Giles of Richmond shot a 3-under-par 69 that included a double bogey and took a two-shot lead Saturday after the third round of the AMF Signet Open golf tournament of Virginia with a 54-hole total of 206.

"By and large, it was a pretty solid round," said the 50-year-old seven-time State Amateur champion, who had six birdies on the 6,684-yard Willow Oaks Country Club course.

"But I played 17 holes without a 5 and then committed both my cardinal sins on one hole - a 5 and a double bogey," Giles said of the par-3 15th, where he drove into the hazard, took a drop and wound up with a 5.

Touring pro Bobby Wadkins, boosted by an eagle on the par-5 12th, shot a 2-under 70 and surged past Galax amateur Tom McKnight into second place at 210. McKnight, tied for the lead with Giles after 36 holes, slipped to a 73 and was four shots back at 210.

"I'm still in the ball game and it looks like me and Vinny in the final round," said Wadkins, 41, still trying to get his game back in shape after neck surgery that sidelined him for much of the 1992 PGA season.

Giles is Wadkins' financial representative, and the two frequently play together - but not often against each other.

"I think it's to my advantage and I think it's to Bobby's advantage for us to be playing together," Giles said. "But if we get too comfortable with each other, Tom McKnight's going to shoot a 65 or 66 and go right past us."

McKnight, a three-time State Amateur champion and winner of this tournament in 1985, had three bogeys and only two birdies. Giles said McKnight got "some lucky bounces on the last four holes, but he didn't make any putts, so if all levels out."

by CNB