Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994 TAG: 9407010005
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``I've kind of had what you'd call runner-up-itis lately,'' Savage said, ``and I'm getting a little tired of it.''
Savage, second in her past three ``big'' tournaments, will attempt to bury her self-imposed Avis tag today in the hills of Hidden Valley Country Club, where she takes a two-shot lead into the final round of the 17th Virginia Women's Stroke Play Championship.
Savage, a 40-year-old Michigan native now living in Arlington, purged bad memories of a first-round 81 with a tournament-best 1-over-par 73 on Wednesday to bolt into the 36-hole lead.
Savage's 7-over 154 total gives her a two-shot cushion on three players. First-round leader Fran Hensley (79) of Martinsville, teen-age sensation Lee Shirley (77) of Salem and Ellen McGowan (77) of Springfield are tied for second at 156.
Three shots back at 157 are 1993 champion Sherry Zaleski (78) of Manassas, Chris Epperly (79) of Virginia Beach and Glenna Buchanan (77) of Danville.
The only speed bump in Savage's cruise around Hidden Valley on Tuesday was the 347-yard, par-4 9th, where she ripped one out of bounds en route to a triple bogey. She toured the other 17 holes in 1-under, using four birdies to more than offset three bogeys - including one at No.18 that cost her a par round.
``I'm very happy with 73 coming off that 81,'' she said. ``This is exactly what I did last year. I shot a low second round last year, was tied for the lead going into the last day, then lost in a three-hole playoff with Sherry.
``So I was second in this tournament, runner-up in the Brandermill Invitational [in Richmond] and then second again last week in a big match-play tournament in Michigan.
``So, sure, I'd like to turn that around.''
Hensley, 50, who led by one after a first-round 77, turned at even-par 36 on Wednesday - two shots better than any of the leaders - before running into disaster on the final nine. She limped home in 43 on the back, allowing Savage to assume control.
Shirley, 17, was victimized by an uncooperative putter for the second consecutive day, again needing 38 putts to negotiate the course's treacherous greens.
``I've just been putting myself in some bad positions on the greens,'' she said. ``These older women have to be saying, `Oh, Lee, she'll learn.' A lot of them wouldn't have done the things I've done the past two days. In fact, at times, I really wonder what they're thinking about me.''
McGowan, 47, an 8-handicapper who made the first hole in one of her career Tuesday, is taking her rarified-air position in stride.
``This is what golf is all about,'' said McGowan, who tossed a life jacket to her round with a 1-under back nine.
``Hey, I could be home helping my husband. We're in the middle of moving. I'll take this heat any time compared to the alternative.''
SAND BLASTS: Local stalwart Dot Bolling shot 79 and is five back on her home course. ... Hidden Valley's Cathi Caldwell, one back after a first-round 78, shot 83 to fall seven off the pace.
Keywords:
GOLF
by CNB