THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 2, 1996 TAG: 9609020161
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 34 lines
David Mathis, of Lexington, N.C., shot a one over par 73 Sunday, which was good enough to give him the 19th annual Tidewater Amateur Golf Tournament title at Cypress Point Country Club.
Mathis' 2-under 142 total was six shots better than Ricky Christian of Chesapeake and Roger Savage, of Virginia Beach. J.P. Leigh of Suffolk took third at 149.
``I thought I was playing pretty solid when I came up here,'' said Mathis, who attends Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. on a golf scholarship. ``And I was trying to stay as focused as I could.''
Defending champion Dick Ogden of Chesapeake, tied after the opening round, ballooned to an 84 and finished out of the money.
The threat of tropical storm winds failed to deter 250 golfers who competed for over $55,000 in prizes and merchandise. Players came from throughout Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina, with some from as far away as Florida.
A $500 first place prize was awarded in each of 11 flights with over $20,000 in prize money awarded in all.
Play took place under partly sunny skies on Saturday, which gave way to brilliant sunshine on Sunday, with winds gusting between 25 and 35 mph.
In past years, the tournament has been played at Stumpy Lake Golf Course. players this year rated the course at Cypress Point good but tough. Greens were firm.
``This is a golf course that people playing from the white tees don't think is that hard,'' said Steve Ellis, who assisted with the tournament. ``The championship flight is played from the blue tees. You've got to bring a golf game if your going to score.'' by CNB