DATE: Wednesday, August 27, 1997            TAG: 9708270818

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Golfer of the Week 

                                            LENGTH:   37 lines

TOMMY SMITH: VIRGINIA BEACH

Editor's note: Smith was nominated by his wife more than a month ago. Since then, Smith went on strike with the other UPS drivers until the strike was settled last week. Said Smith: ``I went back to work for three days, then I'm on vacation this week!'' Karen Smith says she and Tommy have known each other for 24 years, but were just married last January.

Age: 43

Occupation: UPS driver

Handicap: 3

Favorite area course: Seascape because it's a good get-away. It's a beautiful course.

Lowest score: 64 at Kempsville Greens, about five years ago. It was cold. I had seven of eight birdies.

Clubs: Mizuno irons; Taylor Bubble driver; lots of putters, but usually a Ping.

Shot I dread the most: A half-wedge, from 25 to 50 yards out.

My dream foursome: Nick Faldo, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and me.

Biggest golf gripe: I hate being behind slow players. Golf is most enjoyable when you can hit and go, hit and go.

Most memorable shot: I've had five holes-in-one, but my most memorable shot was probably when I drove the green at Seascape's par-4 No. 8. I had the putt, from about 25 feet, for the eagle.

Funniest thing I ever saw on the course: One time my dad banged his club against his golf bag, and we found out later he broke his watch, which was in one of the bag's pockets. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Lawrence Jackson/The Virginian-Pilot

Tommy Smith

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu