THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 12, 1996 TAG: 9607110150
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, sports Editor
LENGTH: 69 lines
MAYBE A COUPLE of the secrets to winning a golf tournament are not expecting to win or even setting a victory as your goal.
That worked for Jamie Sims, the winner of the First Flight Tournament.
Sims posted a 36-hole 141 to top a field of 187 in the two-day tournament at Elizabeth Manor Tuesday. He claimed a 3-shot edge over runners-up Murray Rudisill and Jason Brown.
The 35-year-old Sims played in his initial First Flight Tournament a year ago and finished in a tie for 20th place.
``This year when I entered I wasn't thinking about winning,'' said Sims. ``I only wanted to be one of the 12 who qualify from this tournament into the Eastern Amateur. That was my only goal.''
After falling five shots behind Brown at the end of Monday's first round, Sims stood in a three-way tie for fourth place.
``I figured I was right on target,'' he said.
``I really wasn't thinking about winning when I pulled even with Jason on the back nine. But then he hit out of bounds on the 17th and took a triple bogey. That's when I first thought that I had it won.
``I just played it safe on the last hole and went for par.
``Until then, truthfully, I had no idea I would win this tournament.
``I've been second in so many tournaments. I was second in one at Langley and in another at Sewells Point. But I had never won before.
``I always knew my skill level was there. It was just a matter of doing a little better thinking on the golf course. In the past year my game has really improved because my decisions are better.
``But I had no idea that I would win. I just wanted to be in the Eastern qualifiers.''
Sims is a native of New Orleans who moved to Virginia Beach in 1992. His wife is a Navy helicopter pilot and was transferred here.
He made an early move on the leaders in the closing round, with birdies on the first two holes. A bogey at No. 9 gave him a 1-under 34 on the front.
On the back nine he birdied the 11th and bogeyed the 14th in a par 35.
Brown followed his opening 67 with a 77. This was also the second First Flight Tournament for the 20-year-old Methodist College (Fayetteville, N.C.) golfer from Kitty Hawk. He trimmed 16 strokes off his 1995 score.
Rudisill, a Portsmouth resident, has played in numerous Easterns but this was his first start in the First Flight. His handicap recently went to 3. Only players with 2.5 handicaps and under are eligible for the Eastern except for the 12 First Flight qualifiers.
Ironically, Rudisill had no intention of playing in the Eastern.
``I have seven of my (ODU) players in the Eastern and I want to watch them,'' he said.
His withdrawal enabled all of the 149 scorers to gain Eastern berths. The qualifiers included Virginia Beach's George Kemp, last year's First Flight winner.
In addition to Sims and Brown, here are the other qualifiers:
Michael Southworth, Virginia Beach - 76-70-146
Bubba Bruce, Virginia Beach - 69-77-146
Gregg Fisher, Portsmouth - 77-71-148
Jeff Kristofak, Virginia Beach - 74-74-148
Sean Dougherty, Suffolk - 74-74-148
George Kemp, Virginia Beach - 79-70-149
Tom Lowe, Suffolk - 74-75-149
Michael Millen, Charlottesville - 73-76-149
Rob Ross, Virginia Beach - 75-74-149
Robert Podmenic, Perkaskie, Pa. - 72-77-149 ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MIKE HEFFNER
James Sims tries to coax his ball into the 9th hole in the First
Flight tournament. by CNB