Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 22, 1993 TAG: 9308220093
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Mark Funderburke was on his way to the practice range.
"Only one player was out here [Friday night] after two rounds," Funderburke said Saturday. "I knew I wasn't hitting it that good. I'll be out there again tonight."
No one needed to question Funderburke's motivation as he stood on the brink of the biggest title of his career. He will play Rodney Naff at 8 a.m. today in the final of the Roanoke Valley Golf Association's Valley Amateur, scheduled for 36 holes at Countryside.
Naff, the qualifying medalist, staged a furious rally Saturday morning to defeat 1992 runner-up Kelly Hunter 1-up, then he defeated Ted Comer 3 and 1 in a semifinal.
Funderburke, who seemed headed to extra holes until morning opponent Rich Parker missed a three-footer on the 18th hole, never trailed Saturday afternoon in eliminating defending champion Don Foster 3 and 2.
"The Crow Man [Foster] is as good a match-play player as there is in the valley," Funderburke said of his Blue Hills clubmate. "We've battled over the years, but this year it seems I've beaten him more than he's beaten me."
The closest Funderburke came to losing his nerve Saturday afternoon was when he was walking off the 14th green and saw his father. Gene Funderburke, a two-time Valley Am seniors champion, had made an eagle-3 on the 17th hole to clinch a 2-and-1 victory over qualifying medalist Ray Holley in his semifinal.
"That added pressure for me," Mark Funderburke said. "I don't think there's been a father and son play for the [open and senior] championships, even though he's probably happier for me than he is for himself."
The elder Funderburke's opponent will be 55-year-old Gibby Wingfield, who ended Reggie Clark's bid for a fourth Valley Am title, 2 and 1.
Wingfield, who did not play golf competitively from 1970 to 1990, is the son of Countryside builder Warren Wingfield. The son was the course's professional when it was known as Arrow Wood in the 1960s.
"The day the construction started, I was there to meet the heavy equipment," said Wingfield, who beat Funderburke 6 and 5 in the first round of last year's Valley Am senior event.
Nobody has had a more spectacular Valley Am debut than Naff, who carded a 63 on Wednesday at Blue Hills and won the qualifying medal by eight shots. He was 13 under par for his first 48 holes.
"Things looked pretty bad going to [No.] 16 this morning," said Naff, who had the first of consecutive birdies when he rolled in a 15-footer at the 16th. "Two holes later, they looked pretty good, but I was just lucky to be [in the semifinals]."
Naff, 37, is a lifelong Roanoke resident whose game - and reputation - have made a sudden rise. A member of Botetourt Country Club, he says he represents Equipment & Supply, a former employer.
"I've played Funderburke a lot of times - 100 times, maybe - and I'd say he's about a 4-1 favorite," said the Northside High School graduate.
"Good," Funderburke said. "I hope he feels that way."
Although he has reached match play for the last eight years, Funderburke had played in the semifinals only once before Saturday. Most of his golf highlights have come at Blue Hills, where he has won two club championships.
"I probably don't deserve any [respect]," said Funderburke, 36. "I've never done nothing."
A self-professed "grinder," Funderburke is known for his short game and a coolness under pressure that stems from his days as a Cave Spring High School basketball player.
"I love people watching," he said. "In basketball, I came off the bench and shot [the free throws on] every technical. I couldn't wait until the other coach start using dirty words."
by CNB