Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 9, 1995 TAG: 9506090080
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Heading into today's opening round of the 22nd Hall of Fame championship at The Waterfront, Naff said he wouldn't bet a wooden nickel on his odds of repeating.
``I don't have a chance to beat those guys,'' he said. ``As far as I'm concerned, last year was a fluke. I still don't know how I won it.
``Now if it happens two years in a row, I might get a little cocky for next year.''
A virtual unknown on the local front before winning the 1993 Valley Amateur, Naff outdueled a more-celebrated rival, Mike Smith, down the stretch to win the '94 Hall of Fame by two shots.
Suddenly, Naff no longer was a secret.
``Don't pay any attention to what Rodney's saying about him having no chance,'' Smith said. ``We heard that one last year. He'll be tough; count on it.''
Naff said his game is not playing the same tune it was a year ago.
``I haven't been playing much at all,'' he said. ``I've been fooling with cars and I've about given up golf. Denton [Willard] and I finished third at Water's Edge [4-Ball Invitational on May 6-7], but I didn't do anything but carry and clean his clubs. He did all the playing.
``I just don't know where it's going off the tee anymore. I've got to get that straight lick back. Hey, I might have a chance if we were playing at Ole Monterey, Blue Hills and Botetourt. But with the three courses we're playing this year, if you don't hit it straight, you're dead. So I'm dead.''
Indeed, this year's three layouts - The Waterfront, Hunting Hills (Saturday) and Hidden Valley (Sunday) - for the 54-hole test are among the tightest layouts in the tournament's course rotation.
``Anybody who hits it straight has a good chance,'' Naff said. ``Length won't mean anything. You have to keep it in play at these places. I think even-par would win it going away.''
In tournament history, there has been one sub-par round at The Waterfront - a 68 by Dicky Linkous in 1991. Hunting Hills has yielded only five under-par rounds; Hidden Valley has surrendered 13.
The three courses might be tight, but the tournament appears to be wide open. Besides Naff, other best bets include Smith, Jake Allison, Hunter Morrissette, Barry Graham, former professionals Mike O'Keefe and Miller Baber, and collegians Adam Harrell - the '94 Valley Amateur champion - and Scott Hunter.
Smith, who won the title in 1989 in a playoff over five-time champion Linkous, said his game isn't up to par. He started 71-71 in last week's Kenridge Invitational before soaring to a final-round 84.
``And I made a good putt to shoot 84,'' Smith said.
Allison's game may be in the best shape. He tied for ninth in the Kenridge, tops among the Roanoke contingent on hand. In May, he teamed with Mark Teachey of Waynesboro to win the Virginia State Golf Association 4-Ball at Hidden Valley.
``Me the favorite? No way,'' he said. ``I don't think there is a favorite.''
The team competition appears to be a little more cut and dried. Roanoke Country Club, the defending champion, rates as a prohibitive favorite to win a tournament-record eighth men's team title.
RCC's deep 12-man roster includes Smith, Allison, O'Keefe and the Babers - Miller and his father, Ned, the 1960 State Amateur champion who fired a brilliant final-round 68 at Water's Edge last year to tie Jack Allara for third.
In women's play, which begins Saturday at Hunting Hills, teen-ager Lee Shirley will be seeking her third consecutive Hall of Fame title. Penny Stallins is the only women's player to win three in a row (1985-87).
Shirley rallied to beat Dot Bolling by two shots last year.
Shirley's primary competition should come from Bolling, two-time champion Sara Cole, '91 winner Mar-C Milona and perennial contender Marilyn Bussey.
Countryside is the defending women's team champion.
by CNB