Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 23, 1994 TAG: 9407230017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE: HOT SPRINGS LENGTH: Medium
It came 16 years after her first title and 12 years after the last of three previous titles.
"This has to be the topper," said Najjum, believed to be the oldest player to win the championship. "Most of the women who have won this have been in their early 50s."
Najjum joined Doris O'Brien of Richmond as the only four-time winners of the event. The longest span between any of O'Brien's championships was four years.
Najjum got stronger as the week went on, opening the championship match with four consecutive birdies, three of them conceded because her approach shots were so close to the hole. She won all four holes and never saw her advantage drop under 3-up in a 4-and-3 victory over Chris Epperly of Virginia Beach.
It was only Epperly's second year of eligibility in the seniors' (50-and-over) division.
At the Cascades Course, Amy Ellertson of Richmond defeated Hollins College graduate Natalie Easterly of Richmond 7 and 6 to win her first State Amateur title. Ellertson won three of the first four holes and needed only 12 holes to secure the victory.
Najjum, who used an eagle-2 on the 19th hole to defeat Peggy Woodard in the first round Tuesday, won her last three matches by identical 4-and-3 margins.
"I think, when you go up there, you just want to play well and not embarrass yourself," said Najjum, a member of the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame. "I had no expectations. Quite frankly, I never thought I had a chance of winning.
"But, you know, I've never been one to do what she's supposed to do."
It was the sixth trip to the final for Najjum, whose previous championships were in 1978, '80 and '82 - all at The Homestead. The matches were moved to the Lower Cascades this year, although Najjum's semifinal match Thursday with Gay Stillwell of Charlottesville was played at The Homestead because of wet conditions at the lower course.
In other finals involving players from Southwest Virginia, 18-year-old Lee Shirley of Salem won the first extra hole at the Cascades to defeat Sara Kayson in the first flight of the open division. Johannah Pattison of Wytheville took the second flight with a 6-and-5 victory over Donna Faison.
In seniors play, Norma Lemon of Covington fell to Helen Ferneyhough 3 and 1 in the first flight. Joyce Jacobs of Lexington beat Madeline Hylton of Blacksburg 4 and 3 to win the third flight and Joann Jacobs of Water's Edge in Penhook took the fourth flight with a 4-and-2 triumph over Virginia Sawyer.
by CNB