Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507310137
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Since he started working with Roanoke Country Club's head professional, Phil Owenby, several months ago, Partridge says his game has advanced to a new level.
The results speak for themselves. Partridge's 1995 resume already includes a second State Amateur championship, a record fifth Kenridge title and a third Richmond City Amateur crown.
``Every time I come through Roanoke now, I try to get by to see Phil,'' Partridge said. ``He's the best teacher I've ever worked with. Phil has really made a difference in my game. If I was as good a player as he was a teacher, we'd really have something going.''
Owenby, long recognized as one of the area's top swing gurus, refuses to take credit for Partridge's recent roll.
``I haven't really done a whole lot with him,'' Owenby said. ``Basically, I've been kind of saying, `See you later, you look good.'''
Partridge, 40, didn't require much fine-tuning, Owenby said.
``David has always been a good player, a guy who worked really hard,'' Owenby said. ``He wants to work on some fundamentals in his swing and when he turns the number [age 50], see what's there.''
Partridge's future may include a PGA Senior Tour bid.
``David is looking to take on a national schedule now,'' Owenby said. ``The biggest thing we've been working on is getting him a little more distance. He needs about 10 to 15 more yards out of his driver.''
When asked what Owenby was teaching him, Partridge laughed.
``It's a secret,'' he said. ``Mum's the word, baby.''
HOT FRY: While Owenby plays the role of teacher, his assistant, Mark Fry carries the playing torch for Roanoke Country Club.
Fry, 28, continued his fine summer in the AMF-Signet Open of Virginia, shooting 1-under 287 to tie for ninth among pros July 23.
``It was great to play well, especially after last year,'' Fry said. ``I had to withdraw last year because my daughter was born three days before the tournament started.''
The Open finish, worth $1,359, tops Fry's summer resume, which also includes a victory in a pro-am in Virginia Beach.
``I'm playing as well as I ever have,'' Fry said. ``It was special to go to the Open and put four solid rounds together.''
YOUNG AT HEART: The field at the Eastern Amateur perennially is top-heavy with collegians and other assorted youngsters.
So what, 40-year-old Tom McKnight says.
When the Galax fuel oil distributor birdied the first playoff hole to beat 22-year-old Australian Lee Eagleton, he became the oldest winner in the tournament's 39-year history.
McKnight replaced himself in the record book. He won his first Eastern in 1993 at 38. McKnight, whose 6-under 274 total included a first-round 64, is the fourth player to win the Eastern twice.
Virginia Tech's Curtis Dea (286), thanks to a final-round 66, tied for 18th. Hokies teammate David Havens of Wytheville was 22nd at 287. Roanoker Scott Hunter tied for 23rd at 288.
KING FOR A DAY: At Blue Hills, Mike Stinnette has a legitimate claim to the throne.
On July 22, Stinnette toured Blue Hills in 9-under 62, tying Billy King's 1978 course record from the blue tees. Stinnette, a 2-handicapper, had eight birdies and an eagle. The only flaw in the round was a bogey at the 17th, a relatively easy par-3, but Stinnette bounced back with a birdie at No.18.
Speaking of King, the Roanoke native stands second behind New Yorker Gene Borek in points for 1995 PGA Senior Club Pro player of the year. King has accumulated most of his points by qualifying for the Senior PGA Championship, in which he made the 36-hole cut, and the U.S. Senior Open.
HOT SPRINGS HOT-SHOTS: A field of 120 players representing 25 states, Canada, Bermuda and the United Arab Emirates will converge on The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs this week for the second ClubCorp Junior Players Championship.
The 54-hole American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event runs Tuesday through Thursday at the Lower Cascades Course.
Roanoker Jacob Jarrett is the only local entry in the boys' 15-16 division, which includes past AJGA event winners such as Nick Cassini and Brad Garner of Georgia and Keith Unikel of Potomac, Md.
SAND BLASTS: The Virginia State Golf Association's Junior Championship runs Monday through Wednesday at Kingsmill in Williamsburg. The Southwest Virginia contingent is led by Roanoke sectional qualifying leaders Justin Young (ages 16-17), Brandon LaCroix (14-15) and Lee Taylor (12-13). ... Ridgeway's Jerry Wood scored his first victory on a professional circuit this month, winning $25,000 in a Hooters Tour event in Decatur, Ala. The 1994 AMF-Signet Open champion said he hopes to attend PGA Tour Qualifying school in December. ...
R.E. Turner III has succeeded Roanoke native Wes Swope as head pro at Willow Creek Country Club in Rocky Mount. Swope is teaching pro at Drive-A-Way range in Salem. ... Mark Sweeney, a two-time All-Timesland selection at Lord Botetourt High School, will play his college golf at Carson-Newman in Jefferson City, Tenn. ... A foursome led by Blue Hills assistant Jeff Sprinkel shot 18-under to win the recent AMF-Signet Open Pro-Am. Sprinkel's amateur partners were Johnny Cates, Pat Patrick and Pat Price.
by CNB