ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 17, 1996 TAG: 9607170034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: IN THE REGION
Troy Dixon became the final Roanoke-based player to qualify for this week's AMF-Signet Open golf tournament in Richmond.
Dixon, teaching professional at Target Golf Range, emerged from a five-way playoff to capture one of the final two spots in the field. Dixon fired a 1-under 70 to make the playoff in qualifying at River Bend Golf & Country Club in Chester.
The 72-hole tournament, featuring most of the top professionals and amateurs in the state, begins Thursday at Richmond's Willow Oaks Country Club.
* Southern Conference experts believe Appalachian State has what it takes to build on last season's school-record 12-win season, voting the Mountaineers the favorite to repeat as league champions in 1996.
Appalachian State, 12-1 in 1995, received 22 of a possible 37 first-place votes Tuesday by members of the media attending the league's annual preseason football gathering. Marshall finished second in the voting. (Complete voting in Scoreboard.)
Furman was a surprising pick to finish third with 215 points, three ahead of perennial power Georgia Southern. East Tennessee State was picked fifth, followed by VMI, Tennessee-Chattanooga, The Citadel and Western Carolina.
LENGTH: Short : 36 linesby CNB