Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 21, 1993 TAG: 9308210094
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
If things go according to form in this morning's quarterfinals at Countryside, the afternoon semifinals will consist of a foursome - Don Foster, Rodney Naff, Denton Willard and Mark Funderburke - that's just as likely to be teeing it up in a Blue Hills Nassau.
"There shouldn't be any problem getting action with that bunch," Naff said.
The Blue Hills bunch was the one to bet on Friday.
Foster, making his '93 Valley Am debut after being exempt from qualifying, cruised past Bill Proffitt 5 and 3 in the morning, then he staved off junior threat Ryan Ketron 2 and 1 in the afternoon.
"My first goal was to get to Saturday, and I've done it," the 1992 champion said. "I had a pretty tough draw getting [Ketron]. Heck, I had just watched the kid shoot 66 in the morning [in a 5-and-4 victory over Blue Hills' Don Ragland]."
Foster had an ignominious start against Ketron, shanking two balls out of bounds in the first three holes. He had to make a 28-foot putt at No. 4 to keep from going 3-down.
But he kept plugging and got even by the turn. After birdies on Nos. 10 and 12, Foster never trailed again, ending the match on No. 17 when both players halved the hole with birdies.
"I just had too many bad holes to beat a guy like Foster," said Ketron, playing in his first Valley Am.
Foster, 54, meets an old sidekick, Charley Turner, in a quarterfinal. Turner, 53, who chose to play this week when the VSGA Mid-Amateur was postponed, beat Eric Early on the 19th hole to advance.
Naff, who had a record 10-under in qualifying, flattened 65-year-old Rufus Spiers 7 and 6, then he dispatched Carl Leonard 3 and 2.
"I played well in the morning [3 under for 12 holes] but struggled a little in the afternoon," Naff said.
Leonard, known as "Captain Scrape" at Countryside "because they say I can get it up and down from a trash can on I-81," won Nos. 14-15 to close to 2-down. He was eliminated on his home course when both players parred No. 16.
"When Naff got by today, I don't see anybody beating him," Leonard said. "I thought if I could beat him, I might win it. Because out here, if I play well, I'm hard to beat."
Naff plays last year's runner-up, Kelly Hunter, in his quarterfinal. Hunter, a late tournament replacement for his ill brother, Scott, advanced with a 5-and-4 victory over Chris Turner and a 4-and-3 victory over Mike Sassard.
"I don't know if I make enough birdies to handle Naff," said Hunter, a steady player who can make pars all day.
Willard didn't have it easy Friday, beating John Hostutler 3 and 2 before outlasting Alvin Nash 1-up.
"I dodged a big one today," Willard said. "[Nash] hit the ball better than I did. I was lucky. I missed 10 greens and got the ball up and down every time."
Nash, the first African-American to qualify for RVGA match play, vowed to return.
"I'll be back next year," said Nash, who took up golf six years ago. "I got a little taste of blood this year. I got whipped, but it made me stronger."
Willard will face Ted Comer in a quarterfinal. Comer, a 31-year-old biomedical engineer at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, upset Tim Chocklett 1-up in the second round to advance.
"I'm just sort of sneaking around," Comer said.
Funderburke, who made the semifinal round in 1990, moved on in workmanlike fashion. He knocked off David Hagadorn 3 and 2, then ousted Andy Miller 5 and 3.
"I think [Funderburke] might be the man," Naff said.
Funderburke, 37, will meet 20-year-old Rich Parker, a Maryland native who qualified for entry because he has taken up residency in the Franklin County home of Methodist (N.C.) College teammate Andrew Shuck. Parker nipped Richard Morgan 2 and 1 before bouncing No. 3 qualifier Alex Stanek 3 and 2.
"I'm sure a lot of people are wondering who I am," Parker said. "I checked to make sure I was eligible before entering. I don't want to take anyone's crown."
In the 50-and-over seniors division, 1992 champion Reggie Clark of Floyd, two-time champion Gene Funderburke, Gibby Wingfield and qualifying medalist Ray Holley advanced to today's semifinals.
Clark had six birdies and only one 5 on his card in a 5-and-4 victory over Jim Hunter.
"I got a putter out that I hadn't used in 30 years and finally made some," Clark said.
Gene Funderburke, 61, rallied from a three-hole deficit at the turn to edge last year's runner-up, Ray Barton, 1-up.
Wingfield ousted Paul Housman 1-up when he chipped in from 30 feet to birdie the par-5 17th. Neither player led by more than one hole in the match.
Holley, making his seniors debut this week, knocked in a pitching wedge from 90 yards to eagle the par-4 eighth and coasted past Doug Tolley 4 and 3.
Holley faces Clark and Wingfield meets Funderburke in today's semifinals.
by CNB