Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 22, 1993 TAG: 9307220081
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Unless Dot collapses and needs CPR somewhere, everybody else is history," Bussey said.
Continuing her personal hammerlock on the RVWGA, Bolling cruised around Blue Hills in 4-over-par 78 Wednesday to open a six-shot lead heading into today's final round at Botetourt Country Club.
Nevertheless, Bolling bristled at a suggestion that everybody else is playing for second.
"No way, Jose," she said. "The tournament is not over. Heck, I can lose [six shots] on the first hole."
The 47-year-old Salem resident confessed she likes her position, though.
"I'd rather be six ahead than six behind any day," she said. "But I'm not coming out and saying it's over. That would be stupid."
Nancy Shuck, who was one shot behind Bolling after a first-round 78 that was spiced by her first-ever hole in one, ran out of luck Wednesday. Shuck three-putted six times en route to an 83 that left her six back at 161.
Bonita Howell, sparked by a career-best round of 75 on her home course, is alone in third, seven shots back.
Bussey, who shot a 76, and 1985 winner Sara Cole (78) are the only others in the 66-player field within a sniff of the lead, standing nine back at 164.
Bolling, who called her Wednesday round "sort of a bore . . . just down the middle off the tee, hit the green and two- or three-putt," can join former Roanoker Liz Waynick as the only players to win the RVWGA three times in succession.
"I'm a big Chicago Bulls fan, so I'd like to three-peat, just like they did," Bolling said. "I was a Michael Jordan fan before he ever won anything. I said a long time ago that the Bulls were going to win and dominate."
How does she explain her domination in the City-County? (She also won the tournament in 1988.)
"Oh, my day will come," she said. "I'm just trying to take it while I can get it."
Shuck, who actually led by one shot after three holes Wednesday, saw her round dismantled by a double bogey-6 at No. 5 and a triple bogey-8 at No. 14.
"I hit the ball well," Shuck said, "but I putted like a goon."
Howell, who mixed three birdies with four bogeys Wednesday, improved 12 shots from her opening-round 87. Amazingly, she would be leading the tournament if she simply had parred the last two holes at Hidden Valley on Tuesday.
"I played the last two holes [Nos. 3 and 4] 8 over," she said. "I made a nine on the par-3 [third hole] and a double bogey [at No. 4]. I was feeling a little sorry for myself last night. But this 75 makes me feel a whole lot better, believe me."
In team play, Hidden Valley continued to dominate both competitions. Hidden Valley leads the Fran McCorkindale competition by 13 shots over Countryside and leads the Evelyn Anderton competition by 57 shots over Botetourt Country Club.
by CNB