THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 16, 1995 TAG: 9510160123
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
They are the best of the best. So the No. 1 players on the 12 qualifying teams figure to battle it out for individual honors in the Eastern Region golf tournament, which gets under way today at Ocean View Golf Course.
But don't be surprised if a player who comes in as his team's No. 5 representative challenges for medalist honors. Such as Bud Grissom of Great Bridge.
Grissom sparked the Wildcats to the Southeastern District championship with a round of 76 at Sleepy Hole and a 78 at Seven Springs. He finished one shot behind the eventual winner, Churchland's Jason McEwen.
And even though he continues to play Grissom in the No. 5 spot, Great Bridge coach Bill Welch acknowledges that the steadily improving senior ``is playing the best golf on our squad right now.''
``There's no doubt that Bud was the best player on our team in the district tournament,'' Welch said. ``Nobody has a prettier swing than Bud, and he has the ability to score even better.''
Welch says he feels that all of his players are capable of shooting in the low 70s at any time. Three were in the 70s in a practice round at Ocean View last week, and No. 1 player Matt Perrin has been a low-70s scorer all year.
``That's what it will take for us to contend as a team in the regional,'' Welch said. ``And you never know what can happen on a golf course.''
Welch views Cox as the team to beat. The Falcons have won four consecutive region titles. But two years ago Great Bridge was runner-up and went on to win the state tournament by 33 shots.
Cox won last year's regional with a 36-hole team score of 627. This year the Falcons are unbeaten and won the Beach District tournament for the seventh straight year with a sizzling 604.
Runner-up Kempsville had 619. The Chiefs also qualified second in last year's region tournament, ending a long string of state tourney qualifications for Great Bridge.
Cox's Matt Paulson won last year's regional with 139, a whopping 10 shots in front of second-place Kevin Miller of Salem. Grissom tied for 35th with 168.
Miller got a measure of revenge by winning the Beach District crown on Wednesday with a personal-best 66 at Kempsville Greens and a 75 at Bow Creek.
Paulson had a district tournament to forget. After an opening 71, he soared to 85 in the second round and finished 15 shots behind Miller.
``That wasn't characteristic of Matt,'' said Cox coach Stuart Holland. ``I expect him to play well in the regional.''
Grissom isn't the only unsung player who might push the tourney leaders. Granby's Cameron Tenney mans the No. 3 spot for the Comets and was the Eastern District medalist, leading both rounds with 73-72-145.
Coaches feel there are several players, in addition to the pacesetters on the qualifying teams, capable of winning region medalist laurels.
Most certainly, Miller is one.
There are numerous other likely contenders, including Churchland's Robert Davis, who was third last year; Western Branch's Scott Wasco, fifth a year ago; Ocean Lakes' Chad Wilson, the Beach District runner-up; Adam Dixon of Kellam, who was 13th last year; First Colonial's Brian Horan; and Deep Creek's Chris Huntzinger.
The Peninsula standout is Gloucester's Mike Little, who was medalist in five of his team's district matches and headed the all-district team.
Today's opening round starts at 10 a.m. by CNB