THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409250214
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Experience counted Saturday as Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club member and seven-time club champion Bill Willard fired a 4-under par 65 on his home course, grabbing the 36-hole lead of the Virginia State Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship.
A field of 128 golfers teed off Friday in the 18th VSGA Mid-Amateur. The 54-hole tournament, making its first stop at the Cavalier, will be decided today.
Willard, a Virginia Beach insurance agent, sizzled to five birdies and a lone bogey Saturday. He shot an even-par 69 Friday for a two-round total of 134.
Direction and distance are the name of the game in golf, and at the venerable old course the premium was on the latter.
Built in 1928, the Cavalier is a 6,029 yard, par-69 course with narrow fairways. As several players discovered to their dismay, it was better to be straight rather than strong.
After shooting a 67 on Friday, Mike Daschbach of Virginia Beach struggled to a 9-over par 78 on Saturday.
``It seems like everything I hit is either on the cart path or out-of-bounds,'' said Daschbach, with a rueful smile.
Consistent play catapulted Chesapeake's Jay Rickles into the runner-up spot through two rounds. Rickles posted back-to-back rounds of 68 to finish at 136 on Saturday.
First-round leader Scott Inman of Springfield, Va., faltered to a 2-over par 71 Saturday after his opening 66, falling to third at 137.
Dan Ward of Virginia Beach finished Saturday's round four shots off the pace, shooting his second 69.
Former Mid-Amateur champion David Partridge of Richmond stayed in contention with rounds of 70-69. He entered today's competition in fifth place at 139.
Inman's woes began at the par-3 8th hole. Even for the round, he pushed his tee shot over the green and had to chip over the steep hill to the rear of the rear of the green. His chip shot hit the flag and dropped near the cup.
``I'd rather be lucky than good,'' Inman said after the shot. But his two-putt left him with a bogey.
Willard's play at the 13th hole was indicative of his day. He went to 5-under after a birdie there - placing his tee shot in the middle of the fairway, poking a short iron to within 5 feet of the cup and knocking home his putt on the 310-yard par-4 hole.
Sixty-three players will tee off in the final round at 8 a.m. by CNB