Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 10, 1994 TAG: 9408110023
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Emily Johnson has a simple formula for a great round of golf:
``A lot of luck and a lot of good kicks,'' said Johnson, one of two golfers who opened the Scott Robertson Memorial tournament with record-breaking scores Tuesday at Roanoke Country Club.
Johnson, of Bethesda, Md., led the girls' open division with a 2-under-par 69, one shot better than the tournament record set last year by Kristen Register and Laura Philo. Johnson's closest competitor - three shots back - is Mallory Crosland, a fellow Bethesda resident who persuaded Johnson to play in the tournament.
In the boys' 16-18 age division, Neal Kauffman of Nebo, N.C., shot a 66 - two strokes better than the record round of 1991 champion Graham Andrews of Gretna. Brian Nash of Athens, Ga., is four shots back after a 1-under 70.
Johnson and Kauffman are making their debuts at the Robertson, and neither had a sound explanation for his performance Tuesday.
``Overall I was pretty consistent,'' said Johnson, who started the back nine with three birdies. ``Everything I hit just seemed to roll right toward the pin. The last two holes, my hands were shaking so much I was just trying to make par.''
Johnson said for years her summer golf schedule has included a tournament in Ponte Vedra, Fla., this week, but she was glad Crosland had tipped her off to the Robertson.
``This is Mallory's third year here, and she said it was a really nice tournament,'' Johnson said. ``I definitely like it so far. I'm sure I'll be back.''
Johnson will have to fend off a strong field today and Thursday, including Register from Roswell, Ga., who opened with a 75. Hollis Benedict of Grantville, Pa., and Anne Cardea of Midlothian also are at 75. Shelley Scruggs of Gretna is in a group of three at 77.
A bogey-free round - the first of Kauffman's career - helped account for the 17-year-old's record score. He recorded three straight birdies and six pars on the Dogwood front nine en route to a 32; he netted two more birdies on the back, finishing at 34.
``Going somewhere else and shooting 66 is kind of unreal for me,'' said Kauffman, a scratch handicapper who plays for McDowell High School in western North Carolina, near Asheville. ``I don't know what happened. I'd just hit a shot and go on and not even think about it.''
Four are at 71: Jason Peterson of Fairfax, G.W. Cable Jr. of Oakton, Wes Cothran of Forest and Henry D'Alonzo of Penn Valley, Pa.
James Forehand of Lynchburg is in a group seven at 73, along with Brian Hill of Roanoke and Faber Jamerson of Appomattox.
Lurking eight strokes back is Roanoke's Ryan Ketron, who shot an opening-round 74.
``I'm kind of disappointed,'' Ketron said. ``I'd been hitting the ball real well coming in, and I thought I'd score better. ... The greens were faster than I expected, and the fairways were firmer, but you can't make excuses.''
Daryl Byrd of Roanoke shot a 73 and leads the 13-15 age division by one shot ahead of Mark Pollard of Dallas. Cully Barragan, also of Dallas, is at 75 along with Jay Mundy of Augusta, Ga.
Roanoke's Brandon LaCroix opened with a 78. Kevin O'Connell of Lexington shot a 79.
by CNB