Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 11, 1994 TAG: 9408120049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He was that somebody.
Kauffman finally made his first bogey on his 30th hole of the tournament, but he widened his lead in the 15-18 age division to a whopping 11 shots with a 4-under-par 67 at Roanoke Country Club.
``You had a bogey?'' playing partner Wes Cothran asked Kauffman after the round. ``Where was I?''
Kaufman had two bogeys, in fact. The first came at No. 12, where he missed a 25-foot par putt, but any thought that he might crack was answered when he hit his second shot to 6 feet at the par-4 13th and rolled in the putt.
``I knew I hadn't made a bogey,'' said Kauffman, who had never played a bogey-less round before Tuesday. ``It was almost a relief to get the first one out of the way.''
Kauffman, with a 36-hole total of 9-under 133, is almost certain to break the tournament record of 213 set by Graham Andrews of Gretna in 1991. Last year's winner, Mike Meade, finished at 5-over 218.
``If a guy is shooting what he's shooting, he deserves to win,'' said Roanoke's Ryan Ketron, who shot 70 and moved into a five-way tie for second at 144. ``I've never seen him before, but that's pretty strong stuff.''
Much more competitive were the girls' division and the boys' 13-14 division, both of which are tied going into today's final round.
Emily Johnson, who set a girls' record with an opening-round 69, was matched by fellow Bethesda, Md., resident and Congressional Country Club member Mallory Crosland at 148. Kristen Register of Roswell, Ga., is two shots back.
Christopher Wisler of Dover, Del., shot the low round of the day in the boys' 13-14 group with a 75 and joined Mark Pollard of Dallas at 151. Jon Babich of Rockwall, Texas, was at 152 and Roanokers Brandon LaCroix and Daryl Byrd were at 153 and 154, respectively.
It was generally agreed that the boys' 15-18 group was Kaufman's to lose.
``He'd really have to come back to the field,'' said Whit Staples, one of those tied for second. ``I'm not pleased with the way I'm playing, so I'm not surprised that somebody is beating me, but I'm surprised that I'm getting beaten this badly.''
Kauffman, from Nebo, N.C., admitted that his play has seemed unreal at times, particularly after he birdied four of the first eight holes Wednesday and made the turn at 31.
``I've never had this happen before,'' said Kauffman, who was stumped for a moment when asked for his career highlights. ``I'd have to say [Tuesday] was more fun. It was almost effortless. I got tired today and it was almost a struggle coming in.''
A 15-footer at No. 8 was the longest of Kauffman's six birdie putts, although he had several par-saving putts of 10 feet or more. He was long off the tee with one of the few wooden-headed drivers in the field, but frequently went with a 1-iron for accuracy.
Kauffman, whose older brother, Kyle, played on the golf team at Virginia Tech for two years, won a regional tournament in high school and a one-day event in Shelby, N.C., but is pretty much of an unknown to the rest of the Robertson field.
``I've never heard of him,'' said Michael Trailov, one of the players at 144. ``This is my fourth national tournament of the summer and I think I would know if he was doing this every week.''
Kauffman hasn't been playing because there haven't been any openings. He is a member of the American Junior Golf Association, which apparently is how he got on the Robertson mailing list, but he hasn't been asked to play in any AJGA events.
``Maybe I'm just not good enough for them,'' Kauffman said, ``but it's frustrating to keep getting rejected all the time. I figure if I can win here, that might be my chance to get noticed.''
by CNB