Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9408180042
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Lee Shirley, 17, of Salem became the first - and only - Southwest Virginia player to earn a spot in the 144-player field in sectional qualifying Tuesday in Columbia, Md.
Shirley shot a 78 to take the fifth and final qualifying berth in a field of 21 players. Chris Epperly of Virginia Beach also qualified, shooting a 75.
Shirley, who will enter the University of North Carolina on a golf scholarship next month, said she was elated to make the elite field that includes top women amateur players from around the nation.
``It's a big honor to get to play in this tournament,'' Shirley said. ``I just hope I can play well.''
Qualifying at various sites across the country concluded Wednesday. The final field is expected to be released today by the sanctioning United States Golf Association.
Defending champion Jill McGill of Denver, last year's runner-up Sarah Ingram of Nashville, Tenn., and Hollins College graduate Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa., are among the players exempt from qualifying.
Thirty-six holes of qualifying on Aug.8 and Aug.9 will pare the field to 64 players. Match play begins Aug.10 and runs through the 36-hole finale on Aug.13.
HALL OF FAME TRIPLEHEADER: Shirley figures to play a leading role in today's first round of the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame Women's, Senior and Junior championships at Countryside.
The three-pronged tournament concludes Friday with 18 holes at Roanoke Country Club.
The 44-player women's field tees off first, starting at 7 a.m.
Shirley, who has won the Virginia Stroke-Play Championship this month, will shoot for her second consecutive Hall of Fame title. She beat Nancy Shuck by three shots last year.
Besides Shuck, Dot Bolling and Marilyn Bussey figure to provide Shirley's stiffest competition. Former champions in the field include Mar-C Milona, Kathy Dodd, Penny Stallins and Audrey Najjum, who won her fourth State Senior Amateur crown last week at age 66.
Two-time winner Sara Cole didn't attempt to qualify for Countryside's team because of work commitments.
Defending champion Hidden Valley will seek its fifth title in six years in women's team play.
With two-time defending champion Ryan Ketron no longer eligible, the field is wide-open in the 44-player Junior field.
Brian Hill, who finished second to Ketron last year, heads a contenders list that includes Tommy Lesperance, Chris Turner, Mark Sweeney, Jason Orlando, Brian Agee, Justin Young and Mark Baldwin.
In team play, 1993 champion Countryside will chase a record sixth crown.
The 60-player men's Senior division field is highlighted by the debut of 55-year-old ``rookies'' Don Foster and Don Ragland of Blue Hills, both former Valley Amateur champions.
Other strong contenders include 1993 champ J.D. Sisson, three-time winner Arman Fletcher, Ned Baber, Dan Keffer, Winston Carter and Rufus Spiers.
Based on qualifying results, defending champion Blue Hills ranks as a prohibitive favorite in Senior team play. The qualifying competition at Blue Hills was so stiff that reigning Valley Amateur champion Gibby Wingfield couldn't make the team. It took a qualifying score of 1-under-par 141 to qualify for Blue Hills' six-man squad.
by CNB