THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, August 29, 1994                TAG: 9408290169
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                     LENGTH: Short :   43 lines

SULLIVAN KEEPS HIS LOCK ON VA. BEACH OPEN

Bryan Sullivan won the Virginia Beach Open golf tournament for the third time in the four-year history of the event at Honey Bee Golf Course. The Kitty Hawk pro shot a 3-under par 67 Sunday to give him a two-day total of 132 and the first-place check of $5,000.

Sullivan finished Saturday's round tied with David Graham of Hampton at 65. Both were one shot up on Chip Sullivan of Salem, Va., no relation to Bryan.

The three pros and amateur Steve Widden played in the final foursome.

Bryan Sullivan said, ``I'll play it like it any other round,'' before he walked onto the first tee. He did, playing steadily to leave the front nine 2-up on Graham and 4-up on Chip Sullivan.

When Bryan Sullivan eagled the par-5 10th hole, it looked as if he had opened an insurmountable gap on his closest challengers.

But Graham got a two-shot swing on the the par-4 14th, then, two holes later, knocked his 2-iron within 2 feet of the pin on the 16th and gathered another birdie to pull within a stroke.

The drama seemed to affect everyone, except Bryan Sullivan. He and Graham parred 17 and when Graham's tee shot on 18 found the rough next to a fairway bunker, Sullivan played it smart, laid up in three and putted out for his title and another Open payday.

He has finished in the top 10 of every event that he has appeared in 1994.

``I felt confident after the eagle,'' said Sullivan, who looks unemotional on the course. He wasn't he said.

``Your stomach's churning. You can't drink enough water. I just kept telling myself, `I'm in the lead. They have to catch me,' ''said Sullivan.

``I was aggressive. I putted miserably, not taking anything away from Bryan. I had my chance and didn't do it. That tee shot on 18 was the kiss of death,'' said Graham, who collected $2,000.

Virginia Beach resident Gary Strickfaden won the amateur championship with a 36-hole score of 135. by CNB