ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607180054
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
Who knows? Maybe this is Dicky Linkous' turn to finally perform to his capabilities in the AMF-Signet Open.
Linkous, who made the 181-player field Monday when he fired a 2-under 69 in qualifying in Chester, views the 72-hole tournament which starts today at Richmond's Willow Oaks Country Club as a shot for personal redemption.
Despite all his past success on the local, regional and state levels, Linkous has a history of struggling in Virginia's premier golf event. He shot 7-over 295 last year and finished 19 shots back.
"I haven't played well at all in the State Open,'' the 38-year-old Roanoke professional said. "It's been the worst tournament I've played in how I've scored.
"I think some of that may be that I put a little more pressure on myself to play better. I want to show these guys in Virginia I can play ... because it's the only real tournament I get to play in Virginia besides the Blacksburg Open.''
As a non-PGA-registered pro, Linkous is afforded precious few opportunities to play in the state.
"I knew when I did it [turned pro in 1992] that I would be considered a renegade pro,'' he said. "They [the PGA-sanctioned pros] don't want you playing with them.
"That's OK. It doesn't bother me. I'd just like to play well.''
Linkous' qualifying effort at River Bend on Monday tied him for medalist honors with Simon Cooke, a former Virginia standout who has been tabbed by many as this week's favorite.
Cooke, who shot 69-68 to easily make the 36-hole cut in his first PGA Tour event (last week's Michelob Championship in Williamsburg), was the low amateur last year. He shot 8-under 280 to tie for fourth overall, four shots behind winner Rob McNamara of Charlottesville.
Besides Linkous, other Roanokers who could emerge from the field are 1980 winner Billy King of Blue Hills and long-hitting Chip Sullivan of Hanging Rock.
Mark Fry, the former Roanoke Country Club assistant now heading up The Homestead Resort's Golf School, tied for 11th last year and could contend again.
Two-time State Amateur champion Keith Decker of Fieldale heads the 90 amateur entries. Decker's worst finish in four starts at Willow Oaks is 11th. He tied for ninth last year, second in 1994 and seventh in 1993.
Galax's Tom McKnight and Richmond's Vinny Giles, the only two amateurs to win the tournament since the VSGA Open and VPGA Open merged into one tournament in 1985, are major absentees.
The other Southwest Virginia entry who could do damage is Lexington's David Brogan. The 1994 State Amateur runner-up won the Open qualifier at Richmond's Hermitage Country Club, shooting 2-under 142.
McNamara, an assistant pro at Farmington Country Club, took the title last year by beating Frank Ferguson in a playoff. Both finished at 12-under 276 on the 6,684-yard layout, which will play longer this year after taking 4 inches of rain on Monday.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 linesby CNB