ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 10, 1996 TAG: 9608120124
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
MILLER BABER starts slowly against Kelly Hunter before getting his golf game dialed in to advance to a Valley Amateur quarterfinal.
Four down after five holes to Kelly Hunter in their second-round Valley Amateur golf match Friday, Miller Baber found his mind beginning to wander.
``I was beginning to think about how nice it was going to be to watch the PGA on TV this weekend,'' Baber said.
But just when Baber was about to look for his remote control, his golf game suddenly clicked back on.
Playing Countryside's final 13 holes in 4 under par, Baber stormed back and beat Hunter 2 and 1 to advance to today's quarterfinal round.
Baber will meet teen-ager Jason Orlando. The Northside High School standout advanced with a 1-up victory over pesky Tom Hall in the second round.
``I've got that young flatbelly [Orlando], and I'm not looking past him,'' said Baber, 31. ``I may have the experience on him, but that youth helps in a lot of things, too. Those guys don't worry too much about making a five-footer; they just ram 'em in.''
Hunter, the 1992 Valley Am runner-up, had Baber on the run for a while.
``I felt in good shape at 4-up,'' Hunter said. ``But [Baber] turned it around and played solidly after the slow start. I helped him some, too. At least, maybe I scared him a little bit.''
In the other lower-bracket quarterfinal, two-time champion Bobby Penn faces Carson Newman College sophomore Mark Sweeney. Penn and Sweeney weren't tested in a pair of easy victories Friday.
``I think I've heard of him,'' Sweeney, 19, said of Penn, long one of Roanoke's top amateurs.
When relayed Sweeney's remarks, Penn laughed. ``He hasn't heard of me because I'm too damned old,'' said Penn, 36.
``Seriously, I think you have to look at these young kids. They're all hitting it 40-50 yards by me. I'm just surviving so far.''
In the upper bracket, 1995 champion Tim Chocklett outlasted '93 runner-up Mark Funderburke 2 and 1 in the second round. Chocklett draws unheralded Mike McKinney in a quarterfinal.
Chocklett, 1-down to Funderburke through 10 holes, rallied to win with the aid of some golfers who were not playing in the tournament. Chocklett said a foursome cut in front of he and Funderburke on the 13th hole, creating a slight delay and sparking a slow burn by his opponent.
Funderburke ``wasn't the same after that happened,'' Chocklett said. ``He wasn't amused. Then, I made a long putt on him and that didn't help matters for him.''
In the other upper-bracket quarterfinal, 1993 champion Rodney Naff faces 19-year-old Brian Agee. Naff advanced by beating Ryan Konkus 4 and 3. Agee also won 4 and 3, beating Keith Myers.
``I don't know why I should even bother to show up,'' Naff said of his matchup with Agee on the youngster's home course.
Agee still may be a little wet behind the ears, but he knows enough to take Naff with a grain of salt.
``Don't believe a word he says,'' Agee said. ``All I know is he beat me last year [in the second round] and I want revenge.''
In Seniors play, John Edwards, the final qualifier in the field, supplied the big news, knocking off defending champion and qualifying medalist Bill Proffitt 1-up. Edwards, the former Salem High School boys' basketball coach, will face Don Hampton, a 1-up victor over Bob Young, in today's semifinal round.
In the other semifinal, five-time champion Reggie Clark meets Al Looney. Clark eliminated Chip Fitch 4 and 3, while Looney dispatched Pat Greeley 3 and 2.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 linesby CNB