THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 15, 1994 TAG: 9407130150
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Can the golf magic continue for airlines pilot Jay Rickles when the Eastern Amateur comes up next week?
Rickles is one of 45 Virginians in the July 21-24 Eastern Amateur field at Elizabeth Manor. And he's coming in fresh from winning the crosstown 14th annual Sleepy Hole Amateur, topping a field of 132.
Earlier this year Rickles won the Virginia Beach Amateur.
Rickles, 41 and a former collegiate golfer at Louisiana State and Florida International University, beat the largest SHAM field in five years. He posted rounds of 75-67 for a 2-under-par 142.
Rickles also won the 1988 Sleepy Hole Amateur.
He had a one-stroke edge over J.P. Leigh and was two shots in front of Curtis Deal.
It was a five-birdie closing round that won it for Rickles Sunday. He was six strokes behind first-round leader Billy Gilpin Jr. on Saturday.
His last birdie at the 16th was where Rickles moved into the lead. Rickles and Leigh, a former champion and runnerup last year to David Knorr, shared the lead as they headed into the 16th.
Rickles missed the green but chipped in for a birdie. Leigh 3-putted from 28 feet. Both parred the last two holes.
``Jay just played great golf in that last round,'' said Leigh. ``His game was solid all the way.''
Added Leigh: ``It's funny that I 3-putted for a bogey at No. 9 and then 3-putted at the 16th because my putting was really carrying me. I was hitting the ball in streaks and didn't really drive well. But I was happy with my putting except at those two holes.''
Rickles was delighted that he didn't have to go to a playoff to claim his championship. Twice Leigh has won this tournament in playoffs. And two years ago Rickles tied with Steve Castro for low score at 145, losing on the second hole of their playoff.
Leigh, also entered in next week's Eastern and a former winner there, finished with 73-70.
Deal posted 72-72 and briefly forged into the lead when he jumped 4-under-par at the 7th hole of the second round.
Troy Ferris and Warner Conley tied for fourth, both with 72-73-145.
Gilpin faltered to a 77 in the final round to close at 146. Jack Barrett had 76-71 to take seventh overall.
Gilpin's 146 won the first flight. The second flight went to Walter Moore with 80-72-152.
Third flight winner was Levin Kinchlow with 76-79-154. Brent Frye won the fourth flight with 77-81-158, while Randy Conner's 88-83-171 took the fifth. by CNB