Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 21, 1995 TAG: 9508220037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Tim Chocklett and Bill Proffitt, two steady players who always have seemed to play just well enough to lose, turned the tables Sunday at Countryside.
Chocklett rallied for a 5-and-3 victory over fading Cam Young to capture the Open division title, while Proffitt birdied the 19th hole to dispatch Gibby Wingfield 1-up for the Seniors crown.
For both winners, Sunday spelled the end to years of frustration as each scored that elusive first victory in a Roanoke major.
Chocklett had been knocking on the door for a long time.
"I was beginning to wonder if I would ever win this thing,'' said Chocklett, a 40-year-old teacher and golf coach at William Byrd High.
"I've been close a lot of times ... I was in the semifinals one year and I've been in the quarterfinals probably five or six times. I was starting to think to myself, `Well, maybe in just 10 more years when I get to the Seniors I can win.'
"I've always thought I was good enough to win, but I just hadn't done it. I firmly believe it just has to be your day and your time, and today was the day and time for me.''
It wasn't as easy as the final margin indicated. Chocklett had all he could handle in Young before the former Virginia Tech quarterback literally sacked himself over the match's final 16 holes.
Coming off upset wins over ex-champions Don Foster and Rodney Naff on Saturday, Young's fast-progressing game remained on auto pilot early Sunday. Young played the final 15 holes of the morning round in 1-under and rallied from an early two-hole deficit to lead 1-up at the lunch break.
Then Young's game began to unravel. He played it all over No.1, then conceded birdie to Chocklett. At the par-5 second, Young blocked his second shot into a deep hazard, where he chopped at his ball a couple times before conceding eagle-3.
Chocklett's advantage swelled to 3-up after Young bogeyed Nos.3 and 5. After getting a reprieve at No.6 - he won the hole with a bogey-4 - Young missed a 2-footer for par to win No.8 and a halving 4-footer for par at No.9.
Another three-putt at No.10 put Young 4-down. All bets were called off when Young airmailed a couple of tee shots left out of bounds on the 200-yard 11th.
After Young birdied the 13th "to prolong the agony,'' the match ended on No.16 when the Salem native blew his approach shot long and conceded the hole.
The loss ended a miraculous run for Young, a relative newcomer on the local tournament scene.
"Hey, I can't complain about anything,'' Young said. "I don't think anybody thought I'd be here. I beat Don Foster and Rodney Naff, two of the best in Roanoke. I shot 71 this morning against Tim. I would have liked to have played a little better in the afternoon, but what the heck, I had fun.
"Yeah, I'm a little upset because I had a chance [Sunday] and didn't take advantage. My putter let me down a little. But it was great experience for me, something I can use down the road.''
Proffitt, a 1-up 19-hole loser in last year's Seniors to eventual champion Reggie Clark, was flawless against Wingfield for 14 holes.
"I'm even par and I'm 2-down. What's going on here?'' Wingfield wondered aloud on the 14th tee.
But Proffitt bogeyed Nos.15 and 18 to let Wingfield draw even. Proffitt missed a straight-in, uphill 4-footer at 18 that would have won the match.
"That should have been it, right there,'' Proffitt said. "I just came off it and pulled the putt.''
Admittedly steamed at himself, Proffitt matched Wingfield's long drive on the first extra hole, then guided his approach to 15 feet. He boldly holed the putt, leaving Wingfield staring at a 12-footer to stay alive.
Wingfield's putt hit the cup, started to drop, then hopped out.
"I can't believe it didn't go,'' Proffitt said. "When that happens, I guess it's supposed to be your year. It's about time. I've never won anything.''
Wingfield, the 1993 champion, said it just wasn't in the cards for him this time.
"I hit the putt [at the 19th hole] dead in the hole,'' he said. "When those don't go in you're not destined to win."
by CNB