Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 11, 1993 TAG: 9308110237
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
So far, it's a huge cha-ching.
Register, a 16-year-old native of Roswell, Ga., fired a girls' division record-tying 2-under-par 71 to highlight Tuesday's first round of the 10th Scott Robertson Memorial junior tournament.
Meanwhile, in the showcase boys' 15-18 division, Joshua Brewer of Brownstown, Ind., and Joey Chuasiriporn of Timonium, Md., each posted 1-under-par 70 to take a one-shot lead over a closely bunched field.
It was Register's round, though, that turned the most heads.
"I'm trying to do my best so the colleges will notice me," said Register, who will enter her junior year of high school in the fall.
"I hope to win this thing. I think it would really help when it comes to [attracting a college scholarship]. I've never been in this position before, but know what, I like it."
Register was 3 under through 13 holes and would have bettered the 71 shot by Floyd's Susan Slaughter in 1987 had she not bogeyed the par-3 18th.
"After playing the practice round, I set 72 as my goal," said Register, who recently met and played with a slightly more famous Georgia-bred player, Vicki Goetze.
Register enters today's second round of the 54-hole tournament with a one-shot lead over Laura Philo of Amelia Island, Fla. Philo, who is heading to Wake Forest University on scholarship in the fall, had five birdies and an eagle-3 at the par-5 17th en route to a 72.
"It was pretty wild," said Philo, whose card was littered with six bogeys. "But I can't complain. I made a 33-footer for the eagle at 17, and it's the second-lowest score of my life."
Salem's Lee Shirley, the 1992 champion, is locked in a three-way tie for third at 76.
Shirley, 17, rescued her day with a 1-under 35 on the back nine.
"I hit the ball really well but couldn't make any putts," Shirley said. "There are a lot of good players here this year, but I'm not overly worried. There are two rounds left and there's not that many people in front of me."
That's certainly not the case in the big boys' class.
There's a six-way log jam at 71, including 1992 Virginia State Juniors champion Chip Glover of Verona; reigning Maryland State Juniors titlist Miguel Rivera; John Stahlschmidt of St. Louis; Joshua Hartman of Chevy Chase, Md.; and North Carolinians Jay Basinger and David Mandulak. In all, 31 players shot 75 or better.
Brewer, 17, who had to qualify Monday to gain a spot in the tournament, used only 28 putts in fashioning his 70, which included a 2-under back-nine 34.
"I thought if I could get the putter working I could shoot a low number," said Brewer, an all-state high school player in Indiana. "I made a bunch of three- and four-footers, and that's what you've got to do to score."
Chuasiriporn (pronounced Chu-cira-porn) was 3 under through 12 holes before running into trouble at Nos. 13-15, making three straight bogeys. He climbed back into red figures with a birdie at the 18th hole.
"I got it up and down all day long," said the Maryland State Private Schools champion. "I hit only nine greens. While I'm fortunate to shoot 70, I still feel like I let a round in the 60s get away with those three straight bogeys on the back.
"I'm just glad to play well. I finally beat my sister [Jenny, who shot 76 in the girls' class] here. On the drive down here Sunday night, we were talking about maybe we both could finish in the top three. That would be something, I think."
The two leaders may have been aided by early tee times. The wind kicked up a bit in the afternoon, driving scores upward.
In the boys' 13-14 division, Ben Keefer of Richmond birdied the first two holes en route to a 73 and a two-shot lead.
Keefer, who finished in a tie for seventh last year, had three birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.
Kyle Thompson of Easley, S.C., Teague Bodley of Irving, Texas, and Cameron Yancey of Blackstone are tied for second at 75.
Roanoke's two strongest entries, Brandon LaCroix and Jason Orlando, shot 77 and 79, respectively, to remain in contention.
\ SAND BLASTS: It was not a banner day for Roanoke-area players. Brian Hill of Roanoke was the only 15-18 player to shoot better than 78. Floyd's Tim Bower, Lexington's Scott Reynolds and Forest's Wes Cothan each had 78. . . . Ryan Ketron, Roanoke's top threat to win, skied to an 80. Although he didn't offer an alibi, Ketron's mind may not have been totally on his game in the aftermath of what transpired during the weekend - a head-on automobile collision that left his William Byrd High School teammate, Chris Adcock, seriously injured. "I hear Chris is doing better," Ketron said. "I'm going to the hospital to hopefully see him [Tuesday night]." . . . Chesapeake's Kennis Sigmon was 3 under until playing the final six holes 7 over to shoot 75. . . . Ohio golfer Michael Reardon recorded an eagle-2 at the 358-yard par-4 10th, but bogeyed the final two holes en route to a 72. . . . A long-drive competition in each age group will be held following today's round.
Keywords:
GOLF
by CNB