THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 23, 1996 TAG: 9607230368
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 30 lines
State Amateur champion John Rollins of Richmond heads the field for today's start of the 36-hole Payton Memorial golf tournament at The Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club.
Rollins, a senior at Virginia Commonwealth, routed Norfolk's Troy Ferris 8-and-6 in the finals of the State Amateur 17 days ago at Hot Springs and has continued to play well.
He tied for eighth Sunday in the AMF Signet Open in Richmond, which included professionals.
Rollins will tee off today at 12:36 p.m.in a foursome with three Chesapeake golfers, Curtis Deal, Billy Judah and Robbie Rasmussen.
Deal is coming off a Top 15 finish in the AMF Signet Open. Judah was a quarterfinalist in the State Amateur.
Rasmussen is the two-time defending champion, but failed to qualify for the State Amateur or Signet Open this year.
``I hadn't practiced as much as I should have,'' he said. ``But I think I'm ready now. I like this course and always look forward to this tournament.''
The Payton is limited to players 24-and-under and is divided into five divisions.
Karla Roberson of Chesapeake is a two-time winner and the defending champion in the girls division.
Roberson, a junior at Longwood, says she has been struggling lately, but finished second in the Women's State Amateur three week ago in Fairfax. by CNB