DATE: Tuesday, September 30, 1997           TAG: 9709300431

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   40 lines

VERAQUE: GIVE THAT LADY GOLFER A MEDAL

Even with a terrific opportunity presenting itself, Joceyln Veraque refused to concern herself with medaling.

The Ocean Lakes senior golfer was more interested in breaking 80 and helping her team earn its second consecutive victory than being the medalist in a match with Green Run last Tuesday.

As it turned out, Veraque didn't shoot in the 70s, but the Dolphins posted a 327-377 victory. And to her surprise, her 80 on the par-70 Bow Creek course landed Veraque what is believed to be the first medalist honor ever won by a female in the Beach District.

``I've been in (the running) a few times, but this time I wasn't really thinking about it,'' said Veraque, who learned to play from her father Freddie, a scratch golfer. ``I didn't think I could with the guys on our team. They were my biggest challenge that day.''

``It's not too often that an 80 is going to medal,'' Ocean Lakes coach Gary Spedden said. ``Joceylyn really took advantage of the situation. But she had shot a 78 the week before, so she was pretty excited.''

Veraque also took advantage of some hard work over the summer, making her drives longer and, in turn, lowering her scores.

``I'm definitely hitting it straighter and longer,'' she said. ``I'm scaring a lot of guys.''

Veraque was hoping to scare up another sub-80 score against Green Run, and needed a 20-foot chip to do so.

``It hit the flag and I hit the putt for the 80, so I didn't think I'd medal,'' she said.

Veraque hopes to play college golf and said she's been contacted by Longwood and Hampton University. But she'd prefer to play at her dream school - North Carolina. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Joceyln Veraque of Ocean Lakes is believed to be the first female

medalist in the Beach District.

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