ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, August 14, 1996 TAG: 9608140043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
Few expected Tommy Lesperance to lead the 13th Scott Robertson Memorial junior golf tournament.
With 25 state champions, six international players and two Cannon Cup participants competing, Lesperance seemed overmatched Tuesday at Roanoke Country Club.
The Salem native, who recently graduated from Glenvar High School, never has fared better than last year's 18th-place finish. His only major junior title came at the 1995 Roanoke Valley Golf Association tournament.
But there were Lesperance and Allen Thompson atop the leaderboard, tied for first in the boys' 15- to 18-year-old division. Both shot even-par 71 during the first day of the 54-hole tournament.
Six golfers are one stroke back. And Countryside's Jason Orlando is tied with 11 others two shots off the pace.
``I'm not overwhelmed that I'm in first,'' said Lesperance, headed to George Mason University in the fall on a golf scholarship. ``But I'm really happy with this performance. This is a national tournament. And I'm really fortunate to be in first place in a tournament like this.''
Steve Slotterback, an assistant pro at Roanoke Country Club, isn't surprised.
``Tommy is a solid golfer,'' Slotterback said. ``He never has a real bad day. He can [win this tournament].
``Now that he's in first place, I think the field is going to come to him now. Tommy knows this golf course.''
Lesperance's familiarity with his home course was evident Tuesday. As most newcomers to the course struggled to make par, Lesperance had two birdies and two bogeys to take the lead.
``If I can play like I did today, I'll have a legitimate chance of winning it,'' he said. ``But I can't focus on winning the tournament right now. I have to play good [today], then I can focus on winning Thursday.''
Lesperance isn't the only local golfer in the lead. Roanoke's Lee Taylor grabbed a two-shot lead in the boys' 13-14 division through the first round. Taylor, who will be a freshman in the fall at Patrick Henry High School, shot a 72 to lead Bryan Kane of Raleigh, N.C., by two shots. Wirtz's Matthew Chandler, Pearisburg's Russ Johnston III and Amherst's Ryan Stinnett each shot a 75.
``Last year, I shot an 85. So this year felt a lot better to start it out better,'' Taylor said. ``I will try to do my best so I can win it all.''
In other competition, Cimmie Shahan leads the girls' 15-18 age group. The Spring Grove, Pa., native shot a 73..
``I was real happy with my last round,'' the 15-year-old said. ``If I can continue that performance for the next couple of days, I will be real happy with the way I've played.''
Her biggest competition comes from Angela German of Columbus, Ga. German, who was ranked No.6 in the country in the most recent Golfweek poll, is one shot behind.
Meanwhile, favorites Jessica Belski of Worthington, Ohio, and Lauren Jeski of Tampa Bay, Fla., are way behind.
Belski, ranked fifth in the country, is 11 shots back. Eleventh-ranked Jeski is seven back.
Tai Perry of Kennett Square, Pa., leads the girls' 13-14 age group with a 79. Erika Hansen, of Grand Ledge, Mich., is one shot back. Martinsville's Becky Poindexter is eight shots back.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN SPEARMAN STAFF Andrew Gregory chips toward theby CNBeighth green on the Redbud nine Tuesday during the first round of
the Scott Robertson Memorial golf tournament at Roanoke Country
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