Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 17, 1994 TAG: 9404170065
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The recent decision by the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame to move the women's portion of its tournament from its customary weekend date in June to late July this year has infuriated some contestants, including top competitors Sara Cole and Dot Bolling.
"My big question is why," Cole said. "Now the area's three biggest tournaments for women - the State Amateur, the Hall of Fame and the [Roanoke Valley Women's Golf Association] City-County - are lumped together in a span of a little more than three weeks.
"In order to play in all three tournaments, I would have to basically take three weeks off in a row from work. It's really not fair to the woman who has to work. I don't think the people who made this decision took the woman golfer into consideration at all. It's unfair and discriminatory."
Bolling, the area's No. 1 player last year, agreed.
"I think it's very unfair, especially to the women who have to work," she said. "For [five] years, they didn't even let the women play. Eventually, I guess they will try to move the women all the way out."
Instead of playing in conjunction with the men's tournament on the weekend of June 11-12, the women are scheduled to compete in a Thursday-Friday (July 28-29) format with the Hall of Fame Junior-Senior events.
Hall of Fame executive director Ned Baber said the decision to move the women's event was precipitated by the size of the men's field, which, including new addition Water's Edge, will total 120 players (12 players for each of the 10 competing clubs). Add 50 women (five per team), and it becomes a problem to get 170 people around a golf course before dark, Baber said.
"Simply, there was no room for error in case of rain or something," Baber said.
Bolling and Cole contend the most viable solution to that problem would have been to cut the size of the men's teams.
"Cut the size of the men's teams to eight, even 10 players and there's no problem," Bolling said. "Only six of their scores count. Why do they need to have 12 players? The women only have five per team [with three scores counting]."
Baber said that option was considered. The other options, he said, were to flip-flop courses (the men on one course, the women on another) or move the women.
"We explored each option, and each one had its pros and cons," Baber said. "The bottom line is that we decided to do it this way this year. If it doesn't work, we might have to change it in the future. Nothing is etched in stone.
"I realize it makes it tough for the women with their three tournaments bunched closely together. We didn't want to hurt anybody or degrade anybody. But everything you do in a situation like this, somebody is asking somebody to give something."
Cole said she will be giving. Giving up a chance at a possible third Hall of Fame individual title, that is.
"I won't be playing in the Hall of Fame," she said. "I can't get three weeks off work in a row. It's really disappointing to me that a better solution couldn't be found."
\ MASTERS MUSINGS: One of the most surprising performances at Augusta National was recorded by goateed Jim McGovern. The former Old Dominion University player, who qualified by winning last year's Houston Open, shot a 3-under 285 and finished in a tie for fifth in his first Masters. . . . Virginian Curtis Strange fell two shots shy of finishing among the top 24, who earn automatic invitations for 1995. Strange, who hasn't won since the 1989 U.S. Open, is on the unqualified list for next year's tournament. . . . Counting his $360,000 winner's check at Augusta, Jose Maria Olazabal has banked $532,100 in three starts on U.S. soil this season. . . . Greg Norman's third-round fade - a 5-over-par 77 - ended his string of 10 straight sub-par rounds in major tournaments.
\ TOUR TIDBITS: Loren Roberts' victory in the Nestle Invitational last month left Virginian Bobby Wadkins as the only player on the PGA Tour who has earned more than $2 million without a win. . . . Ben Crenshaw has only three top-10 finishes dating to the 1992 Western Open. All three have been wins. . . . Top commitments to the Kmart Greater Greensboro Open on April 21-24 include Tom Kite, Lee Janzen, John Daly, Fuzzy Zoeller, Davis Love III, Lanny Wadkins, Hale Irwin, John Cook, Mark Calcavecchia and Vijay Singh.
\ CALL FOR HELP: Wayne Nooe, new director of golf at The Homestead resort, is looking for volunteers to work as fore caddies, course marshals and other positions for the U.S. Women's National Amateur Championship to be held Aug. 8-13.
Also, people wishing to support the tournament can become Cascades Patrons. For a $200 donation, patrons receive two invitations to the Players Dinner on Aug. 6, as well as tournament credentials.
\ SAND BLASTS: In another change, the Hall of Fame voted to reduce the size of Senior teams from seven to six members. . . . Former Glenvar star Adam Harrell and former Cave Spring stalwart Scott Hunter each had rounds of 73 competing for George Mason University in last weekend's Colonial Athletic Association championship in Wilson, N.C. The single low round in the 54-hole tournament was 71. . . . Former William Byrd player Chris Adcock, who survived a serious car accident last August, is a fixture in Emory & Henry's lineup. Adcock shot 85 and 79 in last weekend's Division II-III Virginia Intercollegiate at The Homestead. . . . Virginia Union's program has a long drive left. None of the Panthers posted a round in double digits in finishing 399 shots behind Intercollegiate winner Christopher Newport.
by CNB