DATE: Thursday, October 9, 1997             TAG: 9710090698
SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                      LENGTH:   65 lines

FORMER CHAMP TRYBA HOPES FIND WINNING FORM AGAIN AT KINGSMILL

If it hadn't been for a slow start, due in part to a hurricane, Ted Tryba figures he just might have been able to defend his title at the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill last year.

Tryba, who beat Scott Simpson by a stroke to win the 1995 tournament when it was known as the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic, shot a pair of respectable one-under-par 70s on Thursday and Friday. The wind was whipping when he played Thursday, and on Friday his tee time forced him to play through the worst of Hurricane Bertha's wind and rain. Tryba entered the weekend eight shots behind leader and eventual winner Scott Hoch.

``I played very well on the weekend,'' said Tryba, who shot 65 on Saturday and 67 on Sunday to finish third, seven shots behind Hoch. ``I think I could have been a bigger challenge had I played at different times Thursday and Friday.''

Tryba, whose parents drive here each year from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to watch him play, is struggling this season. His best finish was a tie for ninth at the Nissan Open in March. Heading into play Thursday at the '97 Michelob Championship, Tryba is 125th on the money list - the absolute last position a player can be and still keep his Tour card for next season.

But his record at Kingsmill suggests that he's in for a substantial payday this week. In the four times he's played here, the lowest he's finished is tied for 22nd. He has won $1.351 million since first joining the PGA Tour since 1989 - $236,011.11 of it at Kingsmill.

``Anyone who has won a tournament before remembers certain things about it,'' Tryba said. ``I don't live my life by it day-by-day, but I remember the good things that have happened to me here.

``This course suits my game really well. I should do decently this week.''

Two years ago, Tryba came to Kingsmill confident of a strong showing because he was striking the ball better than he had in months. Even though he finished with a 3-under 68, he became discouraged Saturday because he hadn't scored as well as he thought he should have.

``But when I went to the range Sunday to prepare for the final round, I didn't miss a single shot,'' Tryba said. ``I knew I had a heck of a chance then. I played the first 12 holes hitting the ball as good as I've ever hit it. And I was able to bring it home.''

One of Tryba's fondest memories was his play at the par-5 15th hole on Sunday. The day before, he'd made bogey on the 506-yard hole, statistically the easiest hole on the course with a scoring average of 4.573.

Sunday, however, Tryba was on the green in two, just 10 feet from the cup.

Tryba's troubles stem from a circumstance most men never encounter at the tender age of 31. His body composition is changing. His chest and shoulders are bigger, broader, and it's affected the smoothness of his swing.

``The size of my body is much bigger,'' he said. ``When I was younger, my hips were a certain size and my upper body hadn't caught up. I was told a long time ago this would happen to me, that I'd gain body tissue at age 28, 29 and 30. I'm just starting to come out of it, just starting to learn how to work around my body.''

Tryba says he has to be careful about how much weight work he does, because he can't afford to add any more muscle mass.

``I can't get too big, too strong,'' he said. ``I have to do light stuff.''

Tryba doesn't have to worry about doing much heavy lifting this week. He's more than strong enough to lift tournament checks, even ones for $279,000. That's this week's winner's share. ILLUSTRATION: Staff file photo

Ted Tryba hasn't won since his victory at the 1995 Anheuser-Busch

Golf Classic.

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