ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607260040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
Most of those surveying the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame Junior-Senior first-round leaderboards Thursday had to do a double take. Better make that a couple of double takes.
On a day that became almost sole property of the long shots, unknowns Bob Young and Marvin Jones each posted even-par 71s at Botetourt Country Club to take a one-shot lead on the Senior field into today's final round at Water's Edge.
Meanwhile, on the Junior scoreboard, sharing the lead along with the more accomplished Jacob Jarrett, was unheralded 16-year-old Michael Jefferson of Water's Edge. Each carded 2-over 73s and lead favorite Brandon LaCroix and Mike Damiano by one.
They say every underdog has its day. If you don't believe it, just ask Young and Jones.
``What am I doing here?'' wisecracked Young, a 57-year-old retired auto glass shop owner who plays out of Ole Monterey.
``I shouldn't be here. I'm playing way over my head. My chances of winning this thing? I'd say, `not too good.'''
The 4-handicapper was good enough Thursday. Young would have had the lead outright if he hadn't ``gone to sleep'' on an 18-inch putt for par on the final hole.
``Shoot, I wasn't even thinking about my score,'' Young said.
Jones, a 60-year-old Yokahama Rubber Co. employee, conceded he was ``a fish out of water.''
``Naw, I'm not thinking about winning. Are you kidding me?'' said Jones, a 7-handicapper who had just toured the back nine at his home course in a tidy 2-under 34.
Two-time defending runner-up Dan Keffer and venerable 67-year-old Arman Fletcher are tied for second at 72 with another pair of upstarts - Dexter Woods and Curt Mull.
In Seniors team play, Botetourt, boosted by Jones and 74-shooters John Shotwell and Bill Deck, leads Blue Hills by one shot, with Roanoke Country Club two back.
While Jarrett is known for his part on Northside High's 1995 Group AA title team, Jefferson came from out of nowhere.
``Coming over here I'd never figured I'd be tied for the lead,'' said Jefferson, a rising junior at Gretna High School.
``I made a bunch of putts, though. And when you do that good things happen.''
Led by Jarrett, RCC took a four-shot lead on Countryside in its bid for a second straight Junior team title.
LENGTH: Medium: 54 linesby CNB