THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507150501
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAVE PATON, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
On a shimmering hot day at Kingsmill, a breeze from the James River was a breath of life, at least in the places where it blew.
Tournament officials said the mercury hit a high of 95 degrees, with a heat index of 102. But especially at the 16th and 17th, the River Course's river holes, a steady southerly breeze afforded some relief. The more inland front nine and even the 18th green, only a quarter-mile from the river, were noticeably hotter.
A-B spectators apparently were following the rules of handling the heat - wearing light-colored clothing and staying hydrated. First-aid officials reported no serious cases of overexposure to the sun.
Players had their climate-control tactics down, too, a good thing since temperatures for the weekend are forecast to stay where they are or perhaps even edge into triple digits.
``I wouldn't want to be Gary Player or Johnny Cash out here,'' Fred Funk said. ``It'd be thermal meltdown.''
HOLE HAPPENINGS: The 435-yard 18th hole, with its tee box close by the James and its fairway bordered by a lake in front of the tee and down the left side, saw some odd shots Friday.
Jim McGovern, after holing long putts on the first four holes, missed a 3-footer. Playing partner Rick Fehr was on top of a mountainous ridge with the hole 16 feet away and about 4 feet below him, a bit like putting down a playground slide. He sank it for a closing birdie that lifted him to even par for the tournament and allowed him to make the cut.
Richmond's Robert Wrenn also one-putted 18, but not for so charmed a result. First he hit three balls into the water and, getting over at last, hit an iron to the green and sank the putt for a 9 on the par 4. The hole ruined two days of good work; Wrenn shot a 2-under 69 Thursday and was even through 17 before the nine knocked him to the wrong side of the cut line at 3-over 145. The rest of the Richmond contingent was with him, as Lanny Wadkins shot a 76 Friday for a 148 and brother Bobby went 75-149.
On the front nine, Funk got a happy bounce that helped him get in with a second straight 68. At the par-5 7th, his drive went right, heading for an out-of-bounds row of townhouses, but struck a moving golf cart and kicked left. He parred in.
HOWISON DQ'd: Ryan Howison, a 28-year-old rookie from Columbus, Ohio, was disqualified Friday for practicing his putting stroke Thursday on the second tee using what tour officials termed a ``practice aid.'' A playing partner - his partners Thursday were 1994 Virginia State Amateur champion Scott Inman and Colorado-born rookie pro Jonathan Kaye - reported the use of the aid, and Howison admitted using the device, and was disqualified.
VSGA IN FRANCE: Mid-Amateur champion Bill Williard of Virginia Beach will play on a Virginia State Golf Association team that will leave for France after the Signet State Open to play in a goodwill match, which the VSGA team won in 1993, and the individual-competition Biarritz Cup, which was won that year by Allen Barber of Yorktown. Barber, Williard, Inman and Mike Smith of Roanoke will comprise the team.
FAMILY TIES: Jim McGovern's caddie this week is younger brother David, who has followed both his brothers' footsteps to some degree.
The eldest McGovern, Rob, was a middle linebacker in the NFL, with his longest stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jim, who played golf at Old Dominion University, is in his fifth year on the PGA Tour.
David, 23, was a starting quarterback for Massachusetts, which plays I-AA football. But he's opted for Jim's sport since college.
When not caddying for Jim, David is playing a number of minor pro events in the North Atlantic and will play the Florida mini-tours this winter.
Jim said his brother is doing a much better job of caddying for him than he did for David during a U.S. Open qualifier.
``He played great for 27 holes,'' Jim said. ``Then for the last nine holes he was caddying me on one shoulder and the bag on the other. I'd just gotten pretty sick and I didn't know it at that time.'' MEMO: Staff writer Rich Radford contributed to this story.
by CNB