Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994 TAG: 9406190064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Besides feeling rejected by the United States Golf Association, which didn't offer him a special exemption, Wadkins is fuming that the USGA changed course late and issued a special Open invitation to Spain's Seve Ballesteros.
Ballesteros received an invitation after saying he wouldn't try to qualify and saying he deserved a special exemption more than Arnold Palmer or Johnny Miller.
Ballesteros charged this spring that he "deserved [a special exemption] more than any of them [Palmer and Miller]" and that "qualifying is for rookies."
Soon thereafter, Ballesteros won a tournament for the first time in 26 months and got a last-minute Open invite.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I should be there, because I didn't play well enough in qualifying and haven't played that well the last year or two," Wadkins told the Dallas Morning News this past week. "I'm just very disappointed they gave Seve a spot after all the bitching and complaining he's done. I know he's a big name in golf, but guys like Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer had to go through qualifying, and if Seve thinks he's a bigger name than them, he's sadly mistaken."
Wadkins, who for years has labeled the Open his favorite event, said he can't understand why the USGA would invite a guy who has constantly ripped the sanctioning body.
"What has Seve done for the USGA except bitch?" Wadkins said. "I'm sorry they stooped to Seve's level. That, to me, looks terrible.
"He's always criticized them [the USGA] at every turn. There's always something he doesn't like. He doesn't like the rough or doesn't like this. If you look at every Open he's been at, you'll find something he's complained about."
Wadkins, who ranks 160th on the 1994 PGA Tour money list with $35,543, failed to qualify for the Open when he didn't make birdie on one of the final two holes on June 6.
\ OF COURSES: Improvements continue at one of Roanoke's oldest courses, Ole Monterey. The antiquated clubhouse is under renovation and the course's cart paths are being asphalted.
"We've also added all new sand for the traps," said Bruce Carr, course manager. "We've put in new traps at Nos. 8 and 16, plus added a few new trees here and there."
The layout's biggest need is a fairway irrigation system, and that might not be far down the road, said John Bahakel, nephew of course owner Cy Bahakel, of Charlotte, N.C.
"A watering system is under study," said Bahakel, overseeing work last Friday at the northeast Roanoke course. "We're in discussions with [golf architect] Russell Breeden about different things . . . what could and and should be done.
"The layout is pretty well-liked. I don't think you fix what's not broken. If we do irrigation, we might want to add some water hazards and ponds, too."
At Botetourt Country Club, irrigation pipe is close to being completed for all 18 holes.
"We should have water on every fairway soon," said Chris Rouse, Botetourt head professional. "It's the only thing the course has lacked. From what I'm told, the course is currently in the best shape ever."
\ HOT FRY: Bobby Fry, the only head professional at the Lower Cascades since it opened in 1963, recently scorched the 6,240-yard course in 10-under 62.
Fry, 58, hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation and had 11 "3s" on his card in posting the third-best score ever shot on the Hot Springs layout.
Fry also had a 62 four years ago.
The course record is 60, shared by the Sneads, Sam and his nephew, J.C. Sam turned the trick in 1983 at age 71, matching J.C.'s 1974 effort.
Jack Houston and Bernie Wisman, both of Cincinnati, were Fry's playing partners. Amazingly, Houston also witnessed J.C. Snead's gem 20 years ago.
\ JUNIOR SCENE: Organizers of the 11th Scott Robertson Memorial, to be held Aug. 8-11 at Roanoke Country Club, had received 123 entries, representing 24 states and Canada, as of June 7. The count is down compared to last year, primarily because of an American Junior Golf Association-sanctioned tournament scheduled the same week in Greensboro, N.C. Robertson officials are expecting to get an influx of entries from players not accepted in the Greensboro field. . . . The fast-growing Smith Mountain Lake Junior Invitational, scheduled July 25-26 at The Waterfront, is taking entries for its 125-spot field for boys and girls. Call (703) 721-2653.
\ SAND BLASTS: Martinsville's Keith Decker strolled to yet another Chatmoss Invitational crown last weekend, shooting 66-72. Decker's 6-under total easily bested runner-up Willis Johnson (145). Martinsville's Bill Sibbick and Fred Grace tied for third at 147. . . . Local stalwarts Dot Bolling, Marilyn Bussey and Sara Cole have been selected to compete for the Virginias team in the annual Virginias-Carolinas women's team matches scheduled July 11-14 at the Peninsula Club in Lake Norman, N.C. . . . Playing on her backyard Hidden Valley course, Bolling figures to be a strong contender in the Virginia Ladies Stroke Play Championship on June 28-30. . . . Ned Baber's brilliant final-round 68 last Sunday at Water's Edge gave him the distinction of being the first and last player to ever shoot in the 60s in the 21-year tournament. Baber, 57, shot a 69 at Blue Hills in the inaugural tournament in 1973. . . . Ryan Jenkins, recently honored by Bridgestone Sports as Division III's player of the year, is interning at The Waterfront this summer. Jenkins plays for Methodist (N.C.) College along with The Waterfront's Andrew Shuck. Jenkins finished fourth individually at the national championships this year, helping lead Methodist to the team title. He's currently preparing to compete for a U.S. team in a tournament in Japan later this month. The Colonial Heights native was the 1993 Division III national champion.
by CNB