THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 9, 1995 TAG: 9507070093
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 110 lines
FOR THE SECOND YEAR in a row, a tinge of sadness mars the opening of the First Flight golf tournament.
The 36-hole tourney at Elizabeth Manor gets under way on Monday with a field of 192.
Death claimed defending champion Dan Ward of Virginia Beach on March 3, ending his long battle with cancer. The 39-year-old Ward, a 3-handicapper, won last year's rain-abbreviated tournament with an opening round 68.
A 2-inch rainfall and continual lightning prompted officials to cancel the second round after play was halted for two hours and 52 minutes in an effort to get in 27 holes. This was the first time in its 34-year history that the First Flight was shortened.
One year earlier Chesapeake's Gary Johnson had captured the First Flight title for the second year in a row. His dad, Red Johnson, had been there to root for both victories but died shortly before the 1994 tournament.
Johnson, 36, is among the challengers again this week. The former baseball star at Deep Creek High School, who signed a bonus contract with the California Angels but later decided against a pro career, is one of the longest in the area off the tee.
The two-day First Flight is limited to players with handicaps of 2.6 and higher. The 12 gross leaders gain berths in the Eastern Amateur, which starts on Thursday at Elizabeth Manor.
Several former First Flight winners are competing, in addition to Johnson. These include three-time champion Marshall Fleming, Charlie Mathis and Steve Blosser.
Elizabeth Manor pro Tim Newsom is tournament director. Newsom said players will be flighted into the second round by their opening round scores. This was done last year for the first time.
The First Flight record is 136, posted by Bill Newton of Newport News in 1977. This was shot when the tournament was held at Sleepy Hole, the only year it has not been played at Elizabeth Manor.
The record over the Manor course is 137 by Paul Going in 1988. Going is competing in the Eastern this year.
Following are Monday's opening-round pairings:
7:30 a.m. - John Field, Rob Field, Paul Croston, Craig Brinn.
7:38 - Derek Sandorff, Tom King, Scott Johnson, Mark Bezik.
7:46 - Paul Holley, David Williams, Steve Burkholder, Jeff York.
7:54 - Willis Bell, Chris Karvala, Gary Lynch, Michael Wynne.
8:02 - Andy Zaviskie, Lin Baker, Michael Martin, Oscar Salter.
8:10 - Ken Stone, Anthony Grefoire, Jay Foley, John Hottendorff.
8:18 - Lee Stillman, Terry Holmes, Steven White, Ryan Lambert.
8:26 - Ron Thow, David Whitener Sr., Pat Baker, Steve Blosser.
8:34 - Ronald Thowa, David Whitener Jr., Tom Baker, Henry Whitener.
8:42 - Starter's time
8:50 - Armando Wamba, Pete Micotina, Gene Romeo.
8:58 - Duncan Brown, Sal Candrilli, Charles Schmitt.
9:06 - Johnny Owens, Jerry Worthington, Bob Young, Andy Domme.
9:14 - Larry Flora, Les Flora, Burden Lowery, Stewart Hogge.
9:22 - Mitch Burton, Mark Ballard, Ron Brown, Roger Moland.
9:30 - Rick Garrity, Allen Dail, Jerry Deans, Mark Yewcic.
9:38 - Gordon Huey, Jim Eilerteen, Carmen Pisipia, Carl Herrington.
9:46 - Jim Paradee, Robert Podmenik, Robert Harding, Brian Gifford.
9:54 - George Kemp, Paul Adams, George Owens, Anthony Mitchum.
10:02 - Starter's time
10:10 - Jack Barrett, Mike Chesson, Lou Johnson, James Sims.
10:18 - Chris Quick, Al Dietz, Bryce Londeree, John Castleberry.
10:26 - Joe Gatling, Elliott Lucas, Larry Haskins, Gary Morton.
10:34 - Walt Tapler, John Ricketts, Mel Lassiter, Chris Shepperd.
10:42 - Tom Mihalik, Jason Brown, Wyatt Boothe, David Baker.
10:50 - Tom Hathaway, Gary Johnson, Wilbur Johnson, Joseph Howell.
10:58 - David Ropp, Tom Savage, Bob Savage, Jim Lanning.
11:06 - Mike Southworth, Brian Martin, Gary Albertson, Marc Tefft.
11:14 - John Hackney, Marvin Teachey, Jack Barr, William Kennett.
11:22 - Starter's time
11:30 - Howard Spainhour, Stan Avery, Robert Whitmore, Charles Frye.
11:38 - John Winn, Leroy Mowell, Charles Mathis, Raymond Logwood.
11:46 - Manny Hunter, Dennis Gartman, Ed Freeman, Edwin Green.
11:54 - Richard Cox, Bill Callis, Mike Scotece.
12:02 p.m. - Mark Stearns, Jim Archer, Marvin Hinkle, David Mank.
12:10 - Gary Pope, Mark Conrad, Jim Garrett, Ron Teegarden.
12:18 - Roger Davis, Kenneth Frink, Joseph Biava, Bill Moran.
12:26 - Tim Abbott, Tom Couch, Ralph Knapp, Bernie Rull.
12:34 - Robert Hughes, Steve Crain, Keith Osborne, Eddie Sanderlin.
12:42 - Starter's time
12:50 - Marshall Fleming, Stewart Fleming, George Fischer, Tom Wood.
12:58 - Richard Fears, Rick Matthews, Paul Gottlieb, Alec Phillips.
1:06 - Michael Pope, Victor Cox, David Cox, Wayne Peterson.
1:14 - Jim Miller, Chip Wynne, Mark Hollingsworth, Matthew Spruill.
1:22 - Billy Hawkins, Anthony Butt, Gregg Fischer, Richard Cox.
1:30 - Clarence Newton, Chip Gillenwater, Steve Watts.
1:38 - Bill Thomas, Mike O'Connor, Duncan McDuff, Al Keene.
1:46 - Tom Forchas, Steve Whitfield, Jim Ware, Eddie Leche.
1:54 - Steve Polansky, Steve Hedgepeth, Dave Umberger, R. C. Hall.
2:02 - Starter's time
2:10 - Henry Ezzell, Jerry Davis, Tom Newbern Sr., Tom Newbern Jr.
2:18 - Jim Vita, Brian Ennis, Dana Rice, Paul Townsley.
2:26 - Don Fett Jr., Bill Womble, Don Fett Sr., Jack Ferrell.
2:34 - Paul Fleming, Scott Fleming, Cameron Robinette, Tim Daughtery. ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Gary Johnson, of Chesapeake, a two-time winner of the First Flight
golf tournament, is among the challengers again this week.
Sleepy Hole tourney ending
The annual Sleepy Hole Amateur concludes today at Sleepy Hole.
First-round action in the 36-hole tournament was Saturday.
by CNB