DATE: Sunday, June 29, 1997                 TAG: 9706290192

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   74 lines

CHESAPEAKE'S LEIGH TEES IT UP IN STATE AM FOR THE 26TH TIME HE WAS RUNNER-UP IN 1985 AND HAS ADVANCED TO THE SEMIFINALS TWICE.

Ho-hum. Another year, another State Amateur for J.P. Leigh.

This week's event at The Virginian in far-off Bristol marks Leigh's 26th appearance, his 19th in a row. He has been competing in them since 1962 and is among 12 players with southside connections making the seven-hour trek to Bristol.

``If I qualify, I play,'' said Leigh, who lost 2-and-1 to Tom McKnight in the 1985 final. ``I always want to play because if I'm playing good enough, I feel there's a possibility of winning. Now, those expectations are great, especially for someone who isn't used to playing that much golf anymore. These days, usually one of those young whippersnappers beats me.''

Leigh also has advanced twice to the semifinals and six times to the quarterfinals. Few know Virginia amateur golf better.

In handicapping the field, Leigh mentions local Curtis Deal, Vinny Giles, Keith Decker, defending champ John Rollins, Tony DeLuca and Allen Barber as possible champions. Rollins, described by Leigh as ``a great player,'' seeks to become just the fourth player in more than 60 years to successfully defend his crown.

The others are Giles (1968-69), Curtis Strange (1974-75) and McKnight ('84-85).

Here are Tuesday's and Wednesday's qualifying-round tee times for the locals. The cut is made after that, then three days of match play, 36 holes a day, commences.

Paul Jamieson (7:35, 11:54); Dick Ogden (8:17, 12:36); Harry Black (8:31, 12:50); Mike Dunavan (8:38, 1:04); Leigh (8:52, 1:11); Jay Fisher (9:34, 10:44); Bryan Augsburger (9:48, 10:30); Denny Kamencik (9:48, 10:23); Curtis Deal (10:02, 10:16); Conlin Giles (11:19, 7:00); Oscar Salter (11:54, 7:28).

Inside the leather: Cypress Point CC is staging a free junior on July 22 from 8-9:30 a.m. for the first 20 players who register. Kids must be between 10 and 15 years of age. Contact the Cypress Point pro shop at 490-8822 to sign up. ... Catholic High School grad Angie Baskette is the Dick Welsh Scholarship winner, as awarded by the Lake Wright Golf Association. Baskette, a 10-handicapper who will attend Elon, receives $1,800 in deference to her athleticism, academic achievement and other accomplishments. ... American Golf's Mike Waugh is splitting time between Chesapeake GC and Ocean View. ... Kevin King has left Sea Scape and is back at Lake Wright, working for Eddie Luke. ... Another passport recruit for Murray Rudisill at Old Dominion. Finlay Young of Edinburgh, Scotland, who has represented the Lothian Region five times in Scottish medal competition, has signed his papers. In May, he set the course record at 100-year-old Lothianburn Golf Club with a 65. Last year, Finlay won Scotland's Champion of Champions by three strokes. He also placed second in Scotland's junior championship. ... ODU's Troy Thorne, a sophomore from Warsaw was the only Monarch to crack the All-CAA lineup this spring. Thorne, who finished with a stroke average of 74.8 and was the top finisher in six of their 10 matches, was named second-team all-conference. Five players from VCU were honored. ... James Watson of Hampton won the ``A'' flight competition at this year's National Retired Military Golf Classic in Myrtle Beach. The tournament is the second-largest single-site amateur tournament in the world - second only to Myrtle's DuPont World Amateur. There were 1,024 players in the tournament, representing between 40 and 45 states. ... Qualifying for the 1997 RE/MAX North American Long-Drive Championship is July 12 at the Virginia Beach Golf Range on Holland Road (463-9437), from noon-5 p.m. For more information, call either Chad Drexel at the range or Glenn Russell at 490-7300. It's open to the public. ... Jon Corliss, formerly of ODU and now at Chesapeake GC, and Princess Anne's John Frankos, were among the Middle Atlantic PGA qualifiers for this year's State Open. Corliss tied for first with a 72; Frankos shot 76. Greg Overton of Newport News GC at Deer Run, also qualified. ... The late Tom Strange, winner of five Virginia State Opens and former head professional at Elizabeth Manor and Bow Creek, will be inducted into the MAPGA Hall of Fame on Nov. 15 in Richmond. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

J.P. Leigh, one of 12 locals making the seven-hour trek to Bristol,

will appear in his 19th straight State Amateur.

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