THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 28, 1995 TAG: 9508280135
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
John Stone made an important transition Sunday at the Virginia Beach Open - from tournament leader to tournament winner.
Stone, 27, a Yorktown native and assistant pro at Williamsburg Country Club the last 20 months, fired back-to-back rounds of 4-under-par 66 at Honey Bee to capture the $5,000 first prize at 8-under-par 132.
That was one stroke better than that of first-round leader Mike Mueher and should give Stone some much-needed confidence when he heads to Pinehurst, N.C., in October for PGA Tour qualifying school.
``I was really patient, I waited for my chances to come and I took advantage,'' Stone said. ``I've been so close this year.''
Stone, who attended Yorktown High, then Atlantic Christian College for two years before turning professional, held leads at the Virginia State Open, the Maryland State Open and the Virginia Club Assistant's Championship this summer.
He finished sixth, third and fourth, respectively, and was beginning to wonder what he had to do to record his next victory.
Sunday, he found an effective formula on Honey Bee's rain-softened fairways and greens. Stone never came close to making a bogey in finishing off his career-lowest tournament score.
His last of four birdies, at the 498-yard par-5 18th, was his most impressive, an ideal combination of skill and composure.
Stone stood on the 18th tee at 7-under par, thinking he had a two-stroke over playing partner Mueher, but unsure. Before hitting his tee shot, Stone wisely asked an official to radio the clubhouse for Mueher's score. He discovered his lead was but a single shot.
``My original thought was to hit the center of the green, then three-putt to win,'' Stone said.
Instead of the conservative shot he would have played with a two-stroke spread, Stone walloped a 5-iron approach shot 210 yards to within 25 feet of the hole. He nearly bagged the eagle putt, then tapped in for a birdie it turned out he needed because Mueher also reached the green in two and left his eagle and playoff-forcing putt six inches right of the cup.
``I learned patience today,'' Stone said. ``I learned to keep my emotions in control, my mind in control. It's not the good swing that holds up in these things, it's the good mind that holds up.'' by CNB