Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 19, 1990 TAG: 9007190030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I think anything under 20 [shots] is close," said Bussey, the defending champion. "Just ask Patty Sheehan. If professionals can lose a lead like that, then surely those of us who hack it around can do it."
Sheehan lost an 11-shot lead, including six shots on the final 18 holes, Sunday in the U.S. Women's Open.
Bussey has the same four-shot lead she had after two rounds last year, when she fell behind by two shots before coming back to beat Audrey Najjum in a playoff.
"I felt I had blown it last year," said Bussey, who had an 8-over-par 44 for the first nine holes of the final round in 1989. "I just told myself, `At least score in the 70s so it looks respectable.' "
That approach was similar to the one Bussey took Wednesday, when she bogeyed four of the first eight holes. She was at par for the last 10 holes en route to a 78 at Blue Hills.
That gave Bussey a 36-hole total of 151, 5 over par at Hunting Hills and Blue Hills. The final round will be played Friday at Roanoke Country Club.
Dot Bolling, who trailed by seven shots after the opening round, cut the difference to two shots through eight holes and finished with the low round of the day - a 75.
"I'd rather be four shots ahead, but that's not too many [to be behind]," said Bolling, the 1988 champion. "That's four putts; that's all. I'd rather be chasing her than her chasing me."
It appears that nobody else is in contention for the individual championship. Valeta Pittman shot a 78 and is in third at 161, followed by Najjum and Mildred Wegmann at 162.
Najjum had 43 putts and speculated that, at age 62, this may be her last RVWGA tournament.
Nevertheless, Najjum said she hopes to regain her putting stroke and make up some ground Friday, when the tournament concludes on her home course.
Penny Stallins, another three-time champion who plays out of Roanoke Country Club, missed her tee time Tuesday and is not eligible for the individual championship. She carded an 80 Wednesday.
Few of the golfers have played at Roanoke since the remodeling of the Red Bud nine. In recent years, the women have played the Dogwood and Crabapple nines in their tournament.
"I haven't played [at Roanoke] all year long," Bussey said. "Frankly, I just ran out of time. I had heard that Hunting Hills was really dry, so I decided I'd better get over there."
by CNB