ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, June 10, 1996 TAG: 9606100090
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
The 1996 Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame men's and women's tournaments will forever be known as the ones accompanied by asterisks.
The final round of both events was washed out Sunday when a torrential morning rainstorm left the Roanoke Country Club course water-logged and unfit for play.
Jake Allison and Dot Bolling, owners of three-shot leads in their respective divisions, were declared individual champions.
Botetourt Country Club, a surprising four-shot leader after 36 holes, was declared men's team champion. Favored Countryside, a four-shot leader on the Hidden Valley course through one round, was declared women's team champion.
The dual washouts ensured the Hall of Fame of its first shortened championships in the organization's 23-year history.
``Get your asterisks out,'' said Roby Roberson, tournament director.
``We did everything we could do to try and play. We were prepared to bring in squeegees from the others courses and line up people to get the course ready.
``But the rain wouldn't stop. There were rivers of water everywhere and it got to the point where we had no choice but to call it off.''
The decision guaranteed Allison of becoming only the fourth player to win back-to-back men's individual titles. Pete Wallenborn, Dicky Linkous (twice) and Bobby Penn are the others.
``I don't believe I belong in that crowd,'' Allison said, whose 36-hole total of 2-under 140 led Botetourt's Danny Hopkins and Adam Harrell by three shots.
Allison labeled the victory ``bittersweet'' because he'd rather have played.
``I feel like I was lucky and it was handed to me,'' he said. ``While I feel good about the the way I played, I'd much rather gone out and done it the right way.
``People may say, ``Well, who will know the difference years from now?' Well, I'll know the difference.''
Allison noted the rainout cost his Roanoke Country Club team any shot at redemption in the team race. RCC was a disappointing sixth, 14 shots back of Botetourt, coming to its home course.
``We're not throwing any parties, believe me,'' he said. ``I think the Botetourt guys would rather have played, too.''
It marked the first men's team title for Botetourt, which was led by Hopkins, Harrell, Ryan Ketron (147), Ryan Fox (150), Scott Prince (151) and Roger Barker (152).
The washout guaranteed Bolling of her elusive first Hall of Fame crown. It's a title the five-time City-County champion has been chasing for 15 years.
``I think it would have been a lot sweeter if I could have played and been given the trophy with everybody around,'' said Bolling, who led Countryside's Kathy Hull and Marilyn Bussey by three shots after one round.
``I really wanted to play and to win it. But it's a win and it's a monkey off my back. That's the advantage of playing well the first day because you never know. Even on the PGA [Tour], they shorten them.''
Countryside, carried by Hull, Bussey and 1991 champion Mar-C Milona (82), posted its third straight and record 10th team title.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB