Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993 TAG: 9307310167
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Sisson, who stormed from behind by matching the day's best score of 5-over-par 75, rolled in a six-foot par putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to beat favorite Ned Baber and Blue Hills teammate Rufus Spiers for the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame Seniors title.
"You've got to take 'em while you can get 'em," said Sisson, after winning his record-tying third championship in the tournament.
"This came out of nowhere today. I figured I had no chance," he said. "When somebody told me I was going to be in a playoff, I about went into total shock. I still can't believe it."
Neither could Winston Carter, who tossed away the title on the next-to-last hole, shipping two balls out of bounds en route to a quadruple-bogey 8. Carter, who led by four shots at the time, proceeded to bogey the final hole and miss the playoff.
"They can all thank me for there being a playoff," Carter said, managing a grin. "I had no idea I was that far ahead. If I had known, I'd have just taken a pitching wedge and hit short instead of messing with out of bounds. That's the way it goes, I guess."
"I really feel bad for Winston," Sisson said. "He had it locked up."
After tying at 11-over 152, Sisson, Baber (78) and Spiers (79) headed back to the first tee.
All three players missed the green in regulation. Sisson was the only one to get close in three, chipping his ball to six feet below the hole. He holed the putt to make the only par of the group.
Sisson's strong final round led Blue Hills to a 309 total for the day and a 17-stroke victory over runner-up Roanoke Country Club in the team competition. It was Blue Hills' record fourth Seniors team title and gave it the distinction of being the only club to win the regular and Senior Hall of Fame team championship in the same year.
In Juniors play, Ryan Ketron rebounded from a first-round 78 with a 75 to win his second straight Hall of Fame title. It was Ketron's second tournament triumph in three days. The rising senior at William Byrd High School won the Smith Mountain Juniors title Tuesday.
Aaron Johnson and Brian Hill tied for second Friday, three shots back at 156. Brandon LaCroix, 15, shot 75 to share fourth with Brian Turner (77) at 157.
First-round leader Josh Points, 15, skied to an 87 on Friday and tied for 10th at 164.
Countryside, which started the day three shots behind Roanoke Country Club, captured the Juniors team title with a 473 total. RCC finished second, six shots back.
by CNB