THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506210196
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
SMALL IN QUANTITY but large in quality, the field for the 68th annual Commerce Bank Portsmouth City Amateur Golf Championship tees off Saturday at Sleepy Hole.
The closing round in the 36-hole tourney will be Sunday.
The usual question remains to be answered: Can anybody beat J. P. Leigh?
The 47-year-old Leigh, a Portsmouth native and now a resident of Suffolk, is the defending champion. He also is gunning for his 13th city championship.
Leigh's other victories came in 1967, 1968, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.
Leigh had rounds of 73 and 78 for a 151 in winning last year. He edged Troy Ferris of Virginia Beach and Jeff Shield of the Eastern Shore by one shot.
About 50 players will be seeking the coveted Carl Martin Memorial Trophy, which belongs to the winner for one year.
``I believe we have about as strong a field as we can get,'' said Leigh. ``Sleepy Hole is really beautiful and those who haven't played there in a while are really going to be pleased.''
Two other former city champions, Murray Rudisill and Billy Jahn, are in the field. Rudisill, golf coach at Old Dominion University and a Portsmouth resident, is a three-time winner. Jahn, from Virginia Beach, won in 1985.
Another contender should be Billy Gilpin, current club champion at Sleepy Hole. Among other top players entered are Larry Brinn, Billy Judah, Barry Blum and Paul Goings.
For the third year the tournament will be 36 holes. Previously it was a 72-hole event.
The city tournament began in 1926 and has been played every year since except in 1943 and 1955. ILLUSTRATION: File staff photo
J.P. Leigh, a Portsmouth native, is the defending champion. His
other victories came in 1967, 1968, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987,
1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.
by CNB