Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9410280012
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: STANARDSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Again.
The Highlanders won their third state Group A golf championship in four years and second in a row Wednesday by stretching a six-stroke lead on the second day of play and finishing with a four-man total of 619, 10 shots better than runner-up William Monroe at Greene Hills Country Club.
Following, in order, were Northampton (661), Stonewall Jackson of Mount Jackson (673), West Point (684) George Wythe (687), Powell Valley (696), and Pound (796).
Glenvar senior Nick Varney came into the second and final round on William Monroe's home course with a 3-over-par 74, one shot back of the four-man group of leaders. Varney had a tedious day with his long game, but still finished at 77 and in fourth place with a 151 total.
The Highlanders' Tommy Lesperanc, who came into the final day tied for the lead with Monroe's Bill Donathan, Northamptons's Gilbert Bell, and Stonewall Jackson's Troy Copenhaver, shot a 6-over-par 77 Wednesday and finished in fifth place at 153.
Rounding out Glenvar's scoring were Ray Harrell, who shot a 77 both days, and Andy Shelor, a consistent 80-81 - 161.
Both Varney and Harrell played when Glenvar edged out William Monroe for the 1991 title.
Varney had his team's best tour on the final day, and for that he was glad. As an individual, he struggled.
``It was a disappointing day,'' he said. ``I had a lot of bad shots. Every part of my game was off.''
Varney's main problem was that he hit only five fairways off the tee. Still, he scrambled his way to two birdies and eight pars.
``I was erratic,'' he said.
Lesperance ran into problems with his short game.
``You saw me,'' he said. ``I didn't make any putts. All tournaments come down to the short game and today, I didn't have it around the greens.''
On Tuesday, Lesperance bogeyed the first three holes and the last three, but played the other 12 at 4-under-par. On Wednesday, his efforts resulted in nine pars, seven bogeys, and a double bogey.
Harrell was strong around the greens all day. He didn't have a birdie, but he did sink an eagle-3 on the 11th hole.
``That was a big momentum boost for me,'' he said. ``The guy from William Monroe [Kevin Moore] had birdied from the fringe and I came on top of him with an eagle.''
In the individual competition, Troy Thorne of Rappahannock shot a splendid 70 - no small feat on a day that began in the rain and ended in chill and wind - and wound up with a medalist total of 145. Donathan of William Monroe was second with a 147, and Bell of Northampton was third at 149.
William Monroe coach Randy Michie downplayed a home-course advantage.
``In some situations, it makes it tougher to play at home because everybody knows you here and expects you to do well,'' he said. ``That puts pressure on you.''
The first-day team leader had some pressure, too.
``We came in expecting a real fight, and we got it,'' Highlanders coach Bo Hagen said. ``This is tournament golf and you can't ask much more from our players.''
As for other Timesland golfers, Andrew Wagner of Giles fired a final-round 81 and finished at 160; Robert Boone of Galax shot rounds of 83, good for a 166; and Radford's Eric Merkt blew up with a 100 the second day and went home with a 183.
Although Lesperance had his frustrations, he never forgot the main aim.
``This is a high school event and although golf is an individual game, we're here for Glenvar,'' he said. ``That's what we play for.''
by CNB