THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 TAG: 9507120520
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
Mark McCumber has faith in the adage ``Lightning never strikes the same place twice.''
He particularly hopes it's true after a bolt hit his condominium the night prior to Tuesday's Michelob Shootout at Kingsmill, knocking out all the televisions in the temporary McCumber residence.
``Tonight's light show promises to be better,'' McCumber said, referring to a fireworks display being put on by Anheuser-Busch Tuesday night along the bank of the James River.
McCumber, however, has been known to strike twice. In fact, he's won the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic twice, last year and in 1987.
Could he strike a third time? In Tuesday's Shootout, he showed his game is ready, outlasting the rest of a field of 10 to cash the $6,500 winner's check.
As if by script, the four biggest names were still around by the time the nine-hole, single elimination event arrived at the 16th tee: McCumber, 1993 A-B champion Jim Gallagher Jr., 1991 U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart and hometown favorite Curtis Strange.
In order, Lanny Wadkins, Gene Sauers, Mark Carnevale, Chip Beck, Jay Haas and Roger Maltbie had made their exits.
Stewart was eliminated in a chipoff at the 16th, dumping his wedge attempt in a greenside bunker.
At the 17th, Gallagher had a 40-foot birdie putt from the back fringe race 4 feet past the hole, at which point Maltbie checked in with his flavored brand of commentary.
``Jim, I'm up here in the stands with Sarah (Strange) and she ain't rooting for you,'' said Maltbie, a live microphone feeding the crowd.
Curtis Strange smiled at the subtle volley.
``She ain't rootin' for you either, Curtis,'' crowed Maltbie, drawing huge laughter from the crowd of approximately 3,000.
McCumber took his cue, draining his 25-footer for birdie. Strange, facing a 12-footer for birdie, three-putted to eliminate himself while Gallagher made his par-saving putt.
McCumber followed that with an approach shot to 18 inches at the par-4 18th hole. He tapped in for birdie to beat Gallagher's par.
``This is a nice start to the week,'' McCumber said. ``It's fun to see the other side of these players and have a little fun. But we get a little more serious when we get to the last few holes.''
YOUNG CATS: While there is no Tiger Woods in the field, the tournament isn't without noteworthy collegians with some big names.
Josh McCumber and Robert Floyd, possibly the second- and third-most talked about college freshmen of the past season, received sponsor's exemptions and will tee off as part of the 156-player field Thursday.
McCumber, nephew of defending champ Mark McCumber, and Floyd, son of future Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd, were teammates at the University of Florida this season.
This is an all-in-the-family week for Josh, who will have younger brother Kort caddying. Kort, 18, recently signed a golf scholarship with the University of Virginia, where he will enroll this fall.
``I'm hoping it'll be an enjoyable week,'' Josh, 19, said. ``Of course I'll be a little nervous. But it's still just a golf course and I'll still be hitting golf shots.''
Josh, who shot a 1-under-par 70 in Monday's Orion Burkhardt Pro-Am, played a Tuesday morning practice round with his uncle Mark, a 10-time winner on the PGA Tour.
``We discussed a strategy,'' Mark McCumber said. ``If there is a course on the PGA Tour set up for him to do well, this is it. His game is more precision than power and you've got to put it in the fairway here.''
Josh McCumber had an excellent freshman season, finishing in the top 30 in the Jack Nicklaus Trophy standings which decide Division I national player of the year honors. He finished second twice in collegiate events.
Josh McCumber received a relatively friendly tee time. He is paired Thursday morning at 8:52 off the 10th tee with Bart Bryant and recent Georgia Tech graduate Stewart Cink, with whom McCumber played some college golf this past season. Cink was the Jack Nicklaus Trophy winner.
``He's a great guy,'' McCumber said. ``I'm pleasantly surprised with that pairing.''
Floyd did not fare as well as McCumber this season, but closed well, finishing fourth in the Southeastern Conference championships.
If there are similarities between the two Floyds' games, it is that both have unique swings, both are long off the tee and both possess a delicate touch around the greens. But Robert says the most common comparison made is in their fairway swagger.
``People say we walk alike,'' said Robert Floyd, 19, who has missed the cut in three PGA Tour events. ``Comparisons are something you learn to deal with. I have to because they are drawn so many times.'' by CNB