
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 26, 1995                   TAG: 9507260036
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BOLLING WANTS FIFTH IN FAVORITE EVENT

Obviously, four Roanoke Valley Women's Golf Association city titles isn't enough for Dot Bolling.

Playing her customary role in her favorite event, Bolling fired a 2-over-par 76 on Tuesday at Blue Hills to take the first-round lead in the 54-hole tournament.

Well, what else is new? The Salem resident has won the RVWGA four times in the past seven years, including three from 1991-93.

``I love this tournament and I want to win it as many times as I can,'' Bolling said. ``For some reason, I play well in this thing. I feel real comfortable in this tournament ... unlike in that other thing.''

Ah, that other thing. That's the other local women's major - the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame championship - in which Bolling remains 0-for-forever. She finished second to Lee Shirley in this year's Hall of Fame.

``Seriously, I've had a good summer,'' Bolling said. ``I won the Lynwood Invitational in a playoff and finished fourth in the Stroke Play Championship. A win here would make it a real nice summer.''

Bolling takes a one-shot lead over Brenda King-Harvey into today's second round at Hanging Rock. King-Harvey, a member of the King family that has run Blue Hills since the 1960s, played her final 13 holes in even par to shoot a 77.

``I've been playing this course since I was 14, so it should be good to me,'' she said. ``I believe that's my best round ever in competition. Being this close to the lead is a new experience for me.''

Two-time champion Marilyn Bussey, 1984 Hall of Fame titlist Kathy Hull and Veleta Pittman are bunched at 78. Of the trio, Hull squandered the best shot at a low number by four-putting the par-5 12th.

``I was pumped up to make birdie and I four-putt the darn thing,'' Hull said. ``That and three three-putts killed me. At least I didn't shoot myself out of it in the first round. I've been second a thousand times in this thing. Everybody's not ribbing me yet, but I'm sure they will eventually.''

SAND BLASTS: Two-time winner and defending champion Sara Cole didn't play because of work commitments in Virginia Beach. ... The field is without Shirley, a talented teen-ager who is out of town this week attempting to qualify for a national event. ... Two-time champion Penny Stallins, who has been battling physical problems, also didn't play. ... The tournament wraps up Thursday at Roanoke Country Club.

by CNB