Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 3, 1990                   TAG: 9006030134
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

GRANT'S 69 GOOD FOR LEAD IN BLACKSBURG

But to the rest of the field in the Greater Blacksburg Open, Grant's 3-under-par 69 looked really good.

Grant was the only golfer to break 70 on the 6,685-yard, par-72 Blacksburg County Club course, taking a one-shot lead into today's second and final round. His opening round featured three birdies and no bogeys.

About the only excitement Grant had came as the result of a poor tee shot on the 539-yard, par-5, 17th hole.

"I hit my drive into a hazard [tall grass on the left side of the fairway]," said Grant, a Radford native and a member of the golf team at Virginia Commonwealth University. "But I found my ball, hit it out and saved par."

Only two others in the field of 140 managed to break par.

Steven Toney of Lynchburg, playing in a group with Grant, shot 2-under 70. However, he felt his score could have been lower.

"I was just consistent; I hit about 15 greens," said Toney, who had never seen the Blacksburg course before the tournament started. "But I couldn't make too many putts. I missed four 10-footers for birdie."

Thomas Joyce of Bassett, a former captain of the VCU golf team, shot a 71. He, too, said a few putts would have made a big difference in his round.

There was a seven-way tie for fourth at even-par 72. The logjam included the top two pros, Blacksburg County Club's Jimmy Williams and Rich Buckner of Dumfries.

Also at even-par were Jerry Wood of Martinsville, a teammate of Grant at VCU and a two-time winner of the Virginia Beach Amateur; Mike Fields and David Boardman, both of Roanoke; Hobe Bauer of Bluefield, W.Va.; and Larry Williams of Floyd.