ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 25, 1997 TAG: 9704250064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING THE ROANOKE TIMES
GREENSBORO, N.C.
Roanoker Chip Sullivan gets most of his evening meals from McDonald's and Domino's Pizza after a full day of golf.
Every time Chip Sullivan hears someone say that playing on the PGA Tour must be the Life of Riley, he can't help but laugh.
``If this is supposed to be the life of luxury, I sure haven't felt it yet,'' Sullivan said Thursday at the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic.
The load on the former Roanoke club pro trying to survive in his first year on tour didn't get any lighter at Forest Oaks Country Club.
After struggling to a first-round 4-over-par 76, Sullivan faces the prospect of having to shoot 60-something today, or else load up the car and leave his sixth straight tournament without a paycheck.
Since making the cut in two of his first four tournaments and earning $6,340, Sullivan hasn't made a dime on the course since the Buick Invitational Feb.6-9.
``Yeah, it's been a while since I've been to the bank,'' said Sullivan, who must finish among the tour's top 125 money-winners to retain his playing card for 1998.
``I need to do something soon. I'm still waiting for that one big week.''
That more than anything else keeps the 32-year-old Sullivan going. A top-five finish here, a top-10 there and the resulting sizable checks would cure a lot of ills.
``Glen Day [fellow tour competitor] told me, `Chip hang in there,''' Sullivan said. ``He said 80 percent of your winnings will come from four tournaments. He said try to make some cuts in others and do the best you can there, but you're going to have four tournaments in which you make the majority of your money.
``I've got about 20 left, so I've got to stay positive.''
Sullivan was positive about Greensboro until his first round was sabotaged by a wayward driver and an uncooperative putter. He had to save par on three straight holes from the sand and birdie the final hole to finish 10 shots off the lead.
Thursday's big number was made even tougher by the fact it was witnessed by a gallery of 50-60 Roanokers who made the 115-mile trip south to urge on the former Hanging Rock teaching pro.
``It was really nice to see all the people from Roanoke,'' Sullivan said. ``But it's tough to play so crummy in front of them. You just want to do so well for them.''
His following included Hanging Rock part-owners Joe Thomas and Roger Smith, two of the five investors who are combining to back Sullivan's first-year tour effort. The other investors include Hanging Rock part-owner Bob Rusinko and Roanoke Valley businessmen Brad Graham and Jess Newburn.
``We're figuring on it running about $75,000,'' Thomas said. ``Of course, he has won about six [$6,000] back. We're hoping, of course, he'll win the rest back, plus some more.
``But whatever happens, that's OK. We all know Chip is doing his best. If it doesn't work out it won't be because Chip didn't work at it.''
After completing his round just before 2 p.m., Sullivan stopped to eat lunch with his wife, Kari, and her parents. Sullivan's father-in-law, Tom Hall, the Mountain View Elementary School principal, served as Sullivan's caddy.
``That's OK, Chip,'' Hall said. ``You'll get 'em tomorrow.''
Then it was on to the practice range, where Sullivan would pound balls for a couple hours. Another hour or so on the putting green would complete a day that started with a 6:30 a.m. wake-up call at the Residence Inn.
``People think all this is so much fun,'' Sullivan said. ``But I'm telling you it's hard work.
``The mental strain of playing a round in these conditions just wears you out. Then you have to go practice some more. I'm usually on the golf course from sunrise to sunset, so by the time I get back to the hotel I don't want to do anything but to go to bed.''
But not without dinner.
``I'm ordering in - pizza,'' Sullivan said. ``We keep all the Domino's hopping. Kari and I don't go out a whole lot. It's usually pizza or the drive-through at McDonald's on the way home from the course.''
The life of luxury? Yeah, right.
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY THE ROANOKE TIMES. 1. Chip Sullivan lifts aby CNBshot out of the bunker on the 17th hole Thursday. Sullivan struggled
again with a 76. 2. Roanoker Chip Sullivan waits to hit a tee shot
during Thursday's first round of the Greater Greensboro Chrysler
Classic. 3. Chip Sullivan (right) stands with his father-in-law and
caddy Tom Hall during Thursday's round. Hall is the principal at
Mountain View Elementary School. 4. Chip Sullivan has had a number
of these kind of putts during his first year on the PGA Tour. This
miss was on his first hole. He went on to shoot a 76 and trails the
leaders by 10 shots. KEYWORDS: GOLF