ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 8, 1996 TAG: 9612100052
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: FROM Associated Press and staff reports
Chip Sullivan fired a 5-under-par 67 Saturday to move into a tie for second place in the PGA Qualifying Tournament in Goleta, Calif.
Sullivan, an assistant professional at Hanging Rock Golf Club, shot the low round of the day and remains in contention for a PGA Tour card. The top 40 finishers automatically qualify for one season on the professional circuit.
His performance Saturday has assured Sullivan of at least making the cut for the Nike Tour, which is awarded to the top 70 golfers not making the PGA tour. Currently, Sullivan stands at 6-under 282 for the tournament with two rounds to play.
Paul Claxton, of Vidalia, Ga., leads with a 7-under 281.
In other sports news in the region:
*Keith Decker, a furniture company official from Fieldale, has been named the Virginia State Golf Association Golfer of the Year for the second time this decade.
Decker, who also won the award in 1991, earned his honor with an overpowering win in the AMF Signet Open, becoming only the third amateur to take the title since the VSGA and Virginia professionals merged Opens in 1985. Decker's 12-under 276 was an amateur record and seven better than his nearest competitor. A two-time Amateur champion, Decker finished second in the Mid-Amateur, which he has won three times.
Richmond's Stan Fischer won Senior Golfer of the Year honors and Blackstone's Cameron Yancey was named Junior Golfer of the Year.
Dick Dillard took over as VSGA president after the annual meeting in Charlottesville.
*Roanoke's Kelly Hunter advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Virginia State Indoor Tennis Championships in Richmond with victories over Royce Silvan and Jon Ramthun.
Hunter dropped the first set 7-6 (16-14), but advanced when an injury forced Silvan to retire from the match.
In his first match of the day, Hunter knocked off Jon Ramthun in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.
In doubles play, Roanoke's John Barker and Hunter advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Alex Forrest and Eddie Phillips. In the quarterfinals, Barker and Hunter lost to Ranthum and Ed Butterworth 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
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