Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994 TAG: 9406260078
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MANASSAS LENGTH: Medium
He'll try to make it two in a row in the 81st VSGA Amateur tournament that opens Thursday over the 7,237-yard, par-72 Robert Trent Jones Golf Club course.
Seven other former champions will be among those in his way, but a notable absentee is seven-time winner Vinny Giles of Richmond, who lost to Partridge in last year's semifinals and later won the AMF Signet Open of Virginia. It will be the first State Amateur that Giles has missed since 1984.
Three of the ex-champions were multiple winners - Tom McKnight of Galax in 1984, 1985 and 1989; Keith Decker of Martinsville, 1988 and 1991; and Wayne Jackson of Newport News, 1956 and 1965.
One-time winners back for another shot are Allen Barber of Yorktown, 1992; Hank Klein of Richmond, 1990; Mark Lawrence of Richmond, 1980; and Ned Baber of Roanoke, 1960.
There will be two rounds of qualifying Thursday and Friday. The low 32 will begin match play Saturday with two rounds. Another two rounds Sunday will narrow the field to the two finalists who will play 36 holes Monday.
The top challenges as usual probably will come from the younger set headed by Simon Cooke, 21, the Virginia star who lost to Partridge in last year's title match.
In his three appearances in the Amateur since he came to Richmond from Great Britain, Cooke has never failed to reach the quarterfinals.
Other younger challengers include Cooke's Cavalier teammate, Jimmy Flippen Jr. of Danville, son of 1958 State Amateur champion Jimmy Flippen; former State Junior champion and Virginia Tech star Curtis Deal of Suffolk; Ryan Ketron and Ron Willard Jr. of Roanoke; recent Maryland graduate Tommy Mensing of Richmond; and Conlin Giles, 19, of Norfolk, who lost to Vinny Giles in last year's quarterfinals.
Among the veterans who usually make a run are J.P. Leigh of Chesapeake, Tommy Orr of Richmond, Mike Smith of Roanoke, Charlie Green of Tazewell and northern Virginians Pat Tallent and Tim Vigotsky.
All but Vinny Giles of last year's quarterfinalists return - Partridge, Cooke, Jeff Scheumann of Newport News, Conlin Giles, Leigh, Tom Offutt of Arlington and Greg Bales of Ashland.
by CNB