Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 16, 1995 TAG: 9507170097
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Short
When Curtis Strange finished the second round of the $1.1 million event at even-par 142, the hundreds of loyalists who have stationed themselves in the James River at the back of the 16th green and alongside the par-3 17th were in very real jeopardy of not getting to see their hero this weekend.
``I thought I would [make the cut],'' Strange said, ``but I had to sweat it out all afternoon. I wanted to put myself through some agony and pain before coming back out here today.''
A blistering heat that helped wilt many players Friday afternoon got him into the field. And a blistering start by Strange - he made birdie on four of the first six holes and missed makable chances on the other two - caused a stir in the galleries and brought hoards of hopefuls out to watch their man.
``They got excited like I did when I realized I had a chance to really shoot a low score,'' Strange said after matching the best score of the tournament, a 6-under-par 65. He is four strokes off the lead.
Strange was playing well, and that's a big deal among the Kingsmill fans.
``It's fun to have all the people behind you, and it's fun to play well at home,'' he said.
A par on the finishing hole wrapped up the 65, and Strange said his best round of the year was particularly nice with the British Open a week away.
``You'd like to have your A game going over there. I don't know about that, but at least it's a step in the right direction.''
by CNB