ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 22, 1996 TAG: 9607220155
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
TWO SALEM GOLFERS, Lee Shirley and Dot Bolling, hope to win this week's two VSGA events in Hot Springs.
Neither Lee Shirley nor Dot Bolling will carry a broom in their golf bags this week in Hot Springs.
Nonetheless, the Salem duo hopes to pull a sweep in the VSGA's Women's State Amateur and Women's Senior Amateur championships.
Shirley and Bolling, the top two players in the Roanoke area the past five years, each rank among the favorites in their respective fields. The chances of a Salem-Salem quinella cashing is certainly anything but remote.
``That sure would be neat,'' said Shirley, of such a prospect.
``I could go for that,'' Bolling said. ``Hey, it could happen.''
Bolling figures to have an easier time holding up her end of the bargain. The five-time Roanoke City-County champion and 1996 Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame titlist is rated as the odds-on favorite in her Senior Am debut at The Homestead course.
``I feel like I've got a good chance at winning it,'' said Bolling, who became eligible for the Seniors when she turned 50 in February.
``But I've still got to play well. I can't just show up and expect them to give me the trophy.''
Bolling's strongest resistance figures to come from defending champion Chris Epperly of Virginia Beach. The 87-player field also includes four-time champion Audrey Najjum of Roanoke and two-time winner Ruth Ann Verell of Alexandria.
Shirley, a 20-year-old junior at North Carolina, is looking for her first State Am title. She has won virtually everything else, including three straight State Junior titles (1990-92), the 1994 Women's Stroke Play Championship and three Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame titles.
``I feel I'm definitely more prepared this time,'' said Shirley, who has qualified for match play in each of her three State Am appearances. ``College golf has made me a better player because the competition is so strong.
``I'm anxious to play this tournament. I've been in summer school and I haven't been free to play in a lot of tournaments. So I'm ready to go out and play.''
Shirley comes to the Cascades Course on a high. Last week, she qualified for her second U.S. Women's Amateur, winning one of eight spots in a Pittsburgh qualifier. She made the U.S. Am field two years ago, only to fall one shot short of making match play.
Shirley faces a field that is headed by two-time defending champion Amy Ellertson of Richmond, four-time winner Jane Mack of Richmond, two-time champ Anne Patrick of Richmond, two-time runner-up Fran Hensley of Martinsville, and 1994 runner-up Natalie Easterly of Richmond.
Roanoke's Kathy Hull, reigning State Junior champion Joannah Pattison of Wytheville, Blacksburg's Juanita Petrone, Martinsville's Jessica Adams and 1992 runner-up Sara Cole of Roanoke head up the remainder of a sizable Southwest Virginia contingent.
Qualifying for both fields begins today. Match play begins Tuesday and culminates Friday with the championship match in both events.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB