THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 16, 1995 TAG: 9507140208
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
WHAT A DIFFERENCE a year or two has made for George Owens.
A perennial contender for top honors, Owens finally reached the brass ring with a victory in the First Flight Tournament at Elizabeth Manor.
Four times he has gained berths in the Eastern Amateur, but his 3-over-par 143 Tuesday provided him with his first championship in the qualifying tournament. The 12 top finishers each year advance to the Eastern.
Last year Owens, a 45-year-old Virginia Beach sub-contractor who once was an Elizabeth Manor member, posted an opening round 74. He was figuring a sub-par second round might get him into the title chase.
Owens was on his way to that goal when a rainstorm came while he was finishing up the front nine.
Officials were hoping the entire field could get in nine holes to base the win on 27 holes. However, after a 2-hour, 52-minute delay, the decision was made to cancel play when lightning continued.
Scores reverted to first-round results.
Two years ago, Owens had rounds of 72 and 74 to tie for ninth place. But he had business commitments and had to relinquish the berth he had won in the Eastern.
Owens was afraid the elements might delay his title hopes once again Tuesday.
Rain, thunder and lightning had forced the players to get off 35 minutes late in the second round. And, as Owens approached the 18th hole, it was nearly 9 p.m. and quite dark on the course.
Owens and first-round leader Jack Barrett, also from Virginia Beach, shared the lead as they approached the final hole in the last threesome.
A splendid 43-yard sand wedge shot put Owens on the green with a chance for a birdie on the par 5 hole.
``I made the decision to play it safe, lay up and make an easy par,'' said Owens. ``Normally, I would go for the birdie. But I was playing well and I didn't want to risk giving it away at the end.''
He lagged up his putt and made a 2-foot tap-in for his victory.
It proved a wise decision when Barrett four-putted the final hole to finish two shots back.
It was the second straight near-title miss in the First Flight for the 51-year-old Barrett, who is retired from the Navy and won the Virginia Beach Amateur last month. Last year, Barrett tied for third, two shots behind winner Dan Ward.
Ward died March 3 after a long battle with cancer, and the players had a moment of silence in his memory before teeing off.
In coming back from a 3-shot deficit in the first round, Owens had four birdies and four bogeys.
He birdied Nos. 1, 5, 10 and 13. He had bogeys at 6, 9, 15 and 17. ``I three-putted 6 and 9 and was over the green on 17,'' recalled Owens.
``I didn't play very solid in the first round, but my putter kept me in the game. I just hung on and stayed in the hunt.
``Then in this last round, I played well. I hit 14 greens.''
Joining Owens, the Broad Bay club champion, and Barrett in qualifying for the Eastern were Charlie Mathis (147), Stephen Whitfield (147), Marc Tefft (149), Tim Dougherty (150), Tom Newbern Sr. (150), Tom Forchas (150), Mike Chesson (150), Nathan Mitchum (151), Gary Johnson (151) and Michael Martin (151).
Mathis, a former Flight Flight winner, gained third place on a scorecard playoff.
A similar card playoff broke a seven-way tie for the final three Eastern positions. Also posting 151 were Bernie Rull, John Winn, George Fischer and Tom Mihalik.
Perhaps the most disappointed was Rull, who had 75-76. ``I had a triple bogey at No. 5 in that last round,'' said Rull, a Portsmouth entry. ``A par there and I finish in fifth place.''
The Flight 2 winner was Chesson with Forchas second, Newbern third and Johnson fourth.
In Flight 3 Bryce Londeree led with 82-73-155. Second was Oscar Salter (80-76-156). Jeff York placed third and Ron Thow Jr. was fourth, both with 80-76-156.
Mike O'Connor won the Flight 4 division with 85-77-162. Gary Lynch (89-74-163) was second, John Field (87-77-164) was third and Jay Foley (85-79-164) was fourth.
Flight 5 winner was Richard Fears (91-75-166), followed by Al Dietz (91-81-172), Joseph Howell (94-82-176) and John Ricketts (90-87-177).
Howard Spainhour won a card playoff to top the Senior Flight with a net score of 64-70-134. Runner-up was John Hackney (66-68-134). Third went to Ed Freeman (66-73-139) and fourth was Walt Tapler (70-71-141).
NOTES - Former champion Marshall Fleming voluntarily disqualified himself when he reported he had signed an incorrect scorecard that had given him a 78 instead of the 79 he shot. He pointed it out to tournament officials. ``A man of integrity,'' said tournament director Tim Newsom. . . . Western Branch golf coach Wayne Peterson managed to finish despite a harrowing experience during the tournament. First he had to rush his mother to the emergency room at the hospital. Then his home was struck by lightning, causing considerable damage, on Monday night. ``My wife said `go play' so here I am,'' said Peterson. . . . Danny Murphy waited nearly an hour at the tee to get a place in the tournament and promptly shot a 74 to tie for eighth after the first round. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Jack Barrett, who finished second with a 145, coaxes a putt.
George Owens wins with a 143.
by CNB