Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 12, 1994 TAG: 9408120108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``The hardest day of golf I've ever had,'' said Kauffman, a first-time Robertson participant from Nebo, N.C. ``It was pure hell.''
Kauffman had to endure two rain delays, a complicated ruling and a strong early challenge from Roanoke's Ryan Ketron before emerging victorious at approximately 8:30 p.m.
When lightning interrupted play for the second time, tournament officials said they would make a decision whether or not to halt play by 7:15 p.m. That was extended to 7:30, at which time Kauffman and the other members of his threesome returned to the 14th hole.
``I'm glad we finished out,'' said Kauffman, a fast player who did his part to keep the round moving. ``Golf's meant to be 18 holes, not nine.''
By the time the players returned to the course, Kauffman had begun to right himself after a nightmarish front nine on which Ketron cut an 11-shot deficit to three.
``There was a point there when I felt, `I'm going to lose,''' said Kauffman, who lost a shot to Ketron on seven consecutive holes. ``People were going to see me around and say, `Ha ha, you blew it.'''
The low point may have come at No.9, where Kauffman's second shot flew over the green - ``I nuked it,'' he said - and became imbedded at the bottom of a hedge. Roanoke Country Club pro Phil Owenby ruled Kauffman was entitled to a free drop, which he parlayed into a bogey.
``Once I saw the ball was back in that hedge, I thought, `Here we go!''' Kauffman said. ``But I never thought I'd make worse than a double bogey.''
Kauffman had faith in his sand wedge, which proved to be his salvation on the back nine. Ketron still was only three shots back when Kauffman chipped in for birdie at No.12.
It was the beginning of a five-hole stretch in which Kauffman took five putts, most after feathery pitches.
Kauffman shot a 4-over-par 75 on Thursday to finish with a 54-hole total of 208, five shots better than the previous record set by 1991 winner Graham Andrews. Michael Trailov of Franklin, Tenn., had a late surge and finished tied with Ketron at 213. Both shot 69.
``I was the most depressed person here when they said they might count the scores just through nine holes,'' Trailov said. ``I wasn't even thinking about winning, just finishing.''
Ketron birdied four of the first six holes, but didn't make another until his first hole after the last delay.
``I kind of got out of my rhythm, which is not the normal way I go about playing,'' Ketron said. ``I was a little nervous.''
He was Cool Hand Luke compared to Kauffman.
``It hardly feels like I won by five shots - more like one or two,'' said Kauffman, who went 66-67 to open the tournament. ``I never felt comfortable all day.''
Nobody showed more poise than Jon Babich, who made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish with a 225 total and a one-shot victory over fellow Texan Cully Barragan in the boys' 13-14 age group. Brandon Lacroix of Roanoke was third, one shot ahead of two-day leader Mark Pollard.
Mallory Crosland, from Bethesda, Md., shot 220 to win the girls' division by three shots over Kristen Register of Roswell, Ga., who finished birdie-eagle-birdie. Crosland's clubmate, two-round leader Emily Johnson, slipped to fifth after shooting an 80.
by CNB