ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 11, 1996 TAG: 9612110045
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
For all of the Chip Sullivan disciples in the Roanoke Valley, the price of lessons has just gone up.
Big time.
Which is just where the Hanging Rock Golf Club teaching professional will find himself come January.
When Tuesday's final round of the 1997 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament in Lompoc, Calif., was canceled due to unplayable conditions, Sullivan had finally caught the dream he had been chasing since 1986 - a full-time roster spot on the PGA Tour.
``Forget Cloud Nine, I'm way above that right now,'' said Sullivan, via telephone from his California hotel room Tuesday night.
``I'm stunned. When you accomplish something that has been a dream so long it's hard to realize what's going on.''
The 32-year-old Louisiana native certainly knew what was going on at the 7,105-yard La Purisima Golf Club the past week. Sullivan finished with a 90-hole total of 7-under-par 353 to finish in a tie for third behind Allen Doyle and Jimmy Johnston, who tied for first at 352.
The top 40 finishers and ties won PGA Tour cards for next season. The remaining 61 players earned playing privileges on the '97 Nike Tour, the big circuit's Triple-A league.
``What a grind this tournament is. Believe me, my gut was turning out there,'' said Sullivan, who had failed in his first five attempts at earning his PGA card.
Sullivan, who was hired by Hanging Rock head pro Billy McBride three years ago, beat numerous players who have won PGA Tour events.
Included were such names as Tommy Armour III, Mike Standly, Donnie Hammond, Tom Byrum, Billy Ray Brown, Jim McGovern, Brian Henninger, Dave Barr, Tim Simpson, Mike Springer and Keith Fergus. Richmond native Bobby Wadkins, who never has won a PGA Tour title, shot 364 to qualify for the Nike Tour.
Sullivan was the only player in the field to break par four times. Sullivan's fourth-round 67 tied for low round of the tournament.
``I'm definitely in a zone,'' said Sullivan, who burned up the Middle Atlantic PGA tour this summer, winning player-of-the-year honors.
All the way to the bank. Sullivan earned $7,000 for his third-place tie, which is just mere pocket change to the millions offered on the PGA Tour. Sullivan will have spots in all the '97 PGA stops except for the four majors and two invitation-only events - Bay Hill and Memorial.
``I wish the Bob Hope was starting tomorrow,'' said Sullivan, who will make his PGA debut at that event in January.
``I'm playing the best I've ever played in my life right now. If you can catch one hot week, who knows? I need to do something to make the top 125 [money-winners], so I can come back in '98 without having to go through this again. I don't think I could do this again.''
After the past week, nobody should short-change Sullivan.
``I was a club pro,'' he said. ``Club pros aren't supposed to do this. I just tried to beat the golf course. If I hadn't, I'd folded like a cheap chair.''
Sullivan said he and his wife, Kari, will continue to live in Roanoke, where they recently bought a house.
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