Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 6, 1995 TAG: 9507060066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Varney shot 1-under 141 to win last year's 16-17 title by four shots. Varney, 17, won the 14-15 title in 1993, making him the only player to ever win two age groups at the Haley.
Besides Varney, the 60-member 16-17 field includes many of Timesland's best juniors, including Roanoke-area notables Brian Agee, Brian Hill, Mark Sweeney, Ray Harrell and Josh Points. Jason Orlando and Tommy Lesperance, who tied for second in the 14-15 division last year, also pose as threats.
South Boston's Matthew Anderson, who captured the 14-15 title in 1994, also is a contender in the 16-17 age group.
Brandon LaCroix of Roanoke rates as the favorite in this year's 21-player 14-15 field.
The 36-hole tournament also includes a girls' division and 12-13 boys' class. Roanoke's Lee Taylor, the defending 12-13 champion, didn't enter because he will be attempting to qualify for the U.S.Junior Championship today and Friday.
In other sports in the region:
At Roanoke Country Club, Roanokers Justin Young, Brandon LaCroix and Lee Taylor paced their respective age groups in qualifying for the VSGA State Junior Championship to be held July31-Aug.2 at Kingsmill Golf Club in Williamsburg.
Young fired a 1-over-par 72 to lead 18 qualifiers vying for nine spots in the 16-17 field. Other 16-17 qualifiers included Ray Harrell (74), Lee Fisher (74), Josh Points (74), Brian Whitaker (74), Tommy Lesperance (75), David McCall (78), Jason Orlando (78) and Mark Sweeney (78).
LaCroix's 72 paced 15 players shooting for seven spots in the 14-15 age group. Other 14-15 qualifiers included Andrew Hatt (75), Eric Hooke (75), Trey Clower (77), Kevin O'Connell (79), George Pickral (80) and Eric Reynolds (80).
Taylor fashioned an even-par 73 from the gold tees to take the qualifying medal for the 12-13 division. Matt Chandler (76) and Russ Johnston (84) bested six other players for the final two spots.
The Professional Putters Association (PPA) will hold a $1,000 tournament this Sunday at the Putt-Putt Golf & Games facility located at 6801 Peters Creek Rd. in Roanoke.
The tournament will be the sixth stop on the 1995 PPA National Tournament schedule. Among the 40 players expected to participate are North Carolina stalwarts Bill Kirby Jr. of Fayetteville and Dean Dwiggins of Winston-Salem.
A preliminary tournament will be held on Saturday as part of the Virginia State tournament schedule. The public is invited to attend both events free of charge. Tee times begin at 11 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday.
Samantha Thompson of Roanoke won a silver medal in the 25-meter freestyle swimming event at the 1995 Special Olympics World Games in New Haven, Conn.
Keith Hornsby hit an 18-foot shot at the buzzer to lift Shreveport, La., over the Roanoke Hawks in the 15-and-under AAU national tournament in Kingsport, Tenn. Roanoke is 2-2 in the tournament and plays again at 4 p.m.today.
Phillip Klaus had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Hawks. Leander Preston added 20, and Raymond Arrington scored 16 points.
Post 3 South defeated Post 42 Martinsville 12-9 at Salem Municipal Field behind three RBI apiece from Robert Kaczmerek, Doug Kenney and Josh Salmon. Brian Staggs struck out five for the victory as Post 3 South improved to 1-3. For Martinsville (5-4), Carl Morton had a double and a single.
by CNB