Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 23, 1995 TAG: 9507240087
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
``We have so many good players in this area that you have to challenge them,'' said the 32-year-old assistant pro at the Chantilly National course.
His 63 tied the record set in the State Open four years ago by touring pro Robert Wrenn over the 6,684-yard Willow Oaks Country Club course and gave him a 54-hole total of 205, 11-under par. (Scores in Scoreboard. B2)
Fellow Fairfax High School graduate Frank Ferguson could only kneel down and salute Schuller after he shot a 4-under 68 for a 207 total and second place.
``There's no side bet [on Sunday's round] - just pride,'' said Ferguson, 35, an assistant pro at the Washington Golf & Country Club.
Tied for third at 208, three shots back, were Williamsburg pro John Stone, 69, and Richmond amateur Simon Cooke, 70.
``I was playing well, but I was tentative over a lot of putts,'' said the 27-year-old Stone who, like Ferguson, bogeyed the 18th hole.
Cooke had two bogeys before he made his first birdie, but he was 3-under on the back nine.
``I really struggled on the front, but I hit it very well on the back,'' said Cooke, a 22-year-old University of Virginia senior.
Defending champion Jerry Wood, who said ``I just ran out of gas,'' struggled to a 1-under 71 and was tied at 209 with Charlottesville pro Rob McNamara, who had a 68.
Next to Schuller, the day's biggest move was made by amateur Hank Klein, who shot a 7-under 65 over his home course and finished at 210.
``I'm usually an erratic player, but today nothing went wrong,'' said Klein, 26, who won the State Amateur championship in 1990 after a successful collegiate career at Methodist College.
There were 15 players under par after 54 holes, including former champion Tom McKnight at 214. The Galax amateur, battling a severe cold, had a 68 that included a four-putt double bogey on the ninth hole.
The final 18 holes of the $75,000 tournament will be played today with the winner picking up $12,000. Part of the final round will be televised by WRIC-TV in Richmond.
``I was hitting it really well,'' said Schuller, whose only long putt was a 25-foot downhill slider on the 17th hole. He put the heat on the rest of the field when he ran off five straight birdies from the eighth through the 12th holes.
by CNB