Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 21, 1994 TAG: 9408210019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In a much-anticipated rematch of Roanoke's amateur golf heavyweights, Naff knocked out Smith again Saturday in the semifinal round of the 1994 Valley Amateur Championship at Blue Hills.
Hitting all the shots he had to when he seemingly was on the ropes, Naff played the final seven holes 2-under-par to beat Smith 1-up.
It's the second time in two months Naff has rallied late to beat his more-celebrated rival. Naff pulled a similar trick in June, stunning Smith in the final round of the Hall of Fame.
"What can I say?" Smith said with disappointment. "Just like in the Hall of Fame, he did what he had to do to win and I didn't. It's pretty simple, really."
As simple as this local golf business has become lately for Naff.
The 38-year-old Roanoker will shoot for his second consecutive Valley Am title in today's 36-hole final against Adam Harrell. A victory would make Naff the first player since Pete Wallenborn in 1974-75 to win three major local titles - Hall of Fame and Valley Am - in a span of a little more than one year.
Harrell, the former junior standout now playing at George Mason University, advanced to the final with a 5-and-4 romp over Woody Allen, a former Glenvar High School teammate.
"I'm sure I'll be a big underdog," Harrell said. "I'm playing the defending champion on his home course.
"But we'll show up. I won't get too nervous, unless I get 8-down or something."
Naff, unknown on the tournament trail until a couple of years ago, added another chapter to his rags-to-riches story Saturday.
In the morning's quarterfinal round, Naff dodged a bullet against Salem's David Hagadorn, rolling in an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to win 1-up.
"I was lucky to get through that match," Naff said. "We both played worse than dogs. If David could have played anywhere near his game, I would have been out of here. He gave me the match."
Hagadorn, 26, missed a three-foot par putt on the 15th hole, giving Naff a 1-up lead he protected to the clubhouse.
"That putt and a five-footer on No. 14 that stopped on the lip beat me," Hagadorn said. "He was ripe to be beaten, but I just didn't play well enough."
Against Smith, Naff started quickly, slam-dunking a 55-foot birdie at No. 2 and going 2-up when Smith bogeyed No. 3.
Smith played the final six holes on the front side 1-under, winning Nos. 4, 8 and 9 to take a 1-up edge.
Then, Naff shifted into overdrive on his home course. He ripped an 8-iron to two feet for a birdie-3 at No. 12 to get even.
At No. 15, after Naff had completed a strong up-and-down for par from the left bunker, Smith, like Hagadorn, contributed to the defender's cause. Smith left a four-footer for par short, giving Naff the hole and a 1-up edge.
After halving Nos. 16 and 17 with pars, Naff ended the match at the par-5 18th, knocking his third from a green-side sand trap to gimme range. Smith, looking at a 20-footer for birdie, conceded Naff the putt, ending the match.
"My bunker play saved me," Naff said. "Not to take away from Mike, but I'm playing terribly. I must have shot 77 in the morning.
"I might have been 2-under on the back against Mike, but it was an ugly 2-under. Of course, I'll take an ugly 2-under over a pretty 2-over any day."
Smith wasn't enamored with his play, either.
"You can't play the last five holes in 1-over and beat anybody," said the 33-year-old insurance broker. "I've just got to play better golf."
Harrell, 20, continued his cakewalk through the lower bracket by thrashing Carl Leonard 5 and 4, then polishing off Allen.
"I'm surprised it has been this easy, but there's no freebie tomorrow," said Harrell, whose only close match was his opener, a 2-and-1 verdict over Mark Funderburke.
Allen, 20, wasn't too disappointed. His Valley Am run was much longer than he or anybody else could have expected.
"It's my first tournament in 2 1/2 years, so I have no complaints," said Allen, who is majoring in pro golf management at Mississippi State.
"It was nice to play Adam. We're longtime friends. I'll be here right beside him [today]."
In the Seniors (50-and-older) division, 1993 champion Gibby Wingfield and five-time winner Reggie Clark of Floyd advanced to today's 18-hole final.
Wingfield downed Connie Sellers 3 and 2, and Clark beat Bill Proffitt on the 19th hole in Saturday's semifinals.
Wingfield hit 16 greens and threw a 1-under 70 at Sellers.
"Ol' Big Bertha is taking care of me," Wingfield said of his new driver.
After Proffitt shanked his third shot and made bogey to let him get even, Clark made a nine-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to advance.
And what about his chances against Wingfield in the final, which begins at 8 a.m. today?
"Oh, he'll beat me to death," Clark said, smiling.
by CNB