DATE: Sunday, October 26, 1997              TAG: 9710240273

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 20   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAY LIDINGTON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   48 lines

COX'S ROEBUCK WAS THE TOP FINISHER FROM HAMPTON ROADS IN TOURNAMENT

The hopes of high school golfers from Virginia Beach and the rest of Hampton Roads got blown away by a stiff Blue Ridge Mountain breeze at last week's state tournament in Clifford.

During Monday's first round at the Winton Country Club, skies were sunny and the ground moist. But during Tuesday's second round, the weather turned cloudy and windy and the greens slickened. Local golfers seemed to struggle to keep pace with the changing course conditions.

Cox, bidding for its second state title in the '90s, finished fourth with a 623-stroke total. Defending state team champ Mills Godwin retained its crown with a 611.

Cox's Ryan Roebuck was the top Hampton Roads finisher. His 72-77-149 was good for seventh place, one stroke from winning a tournament medal. Princess Anne's John Bonds capped a surprising state tournament debut with a 155, one stroke better than Ryan Garland of Cox and his 156.

``Today it wasn't that hard,'' Bonds said after Tuesday's final round, which had become a battle with the elements by its end. ``The greens were tricky. If you putted well, it was an easy course.''

Other area scores included: Patrick Cummings, Cox, 157; Darren Alexander, Cox, 164; Michael Krop, Cox, 165; Justin Halvorson, Bayside, 178.

Tripp Bartholomew went 84-81-165 for the tournament and struggled in the second round, despite shaving three strokes from his score.

``When you have it (blowing at you) you're hitting an extra club or two into the greens, it can affect your score dramatically,'' Bartholomew said of the wind.

MILLER MISSED: Salem's Kevin Miller, among pre-tournament favorites to win the state individual championship, withdrew with a bruised thumb but is still contemplating his golf future.

Miller has said he'd like to play golf as well as football at the college level and is exploring his options in both areas.

He's been offered golf scholarships to Virginia Tech and Marshall and has made an official visit to North Carolina, which is recruiting him as a kicker, the position, he plays with the Salem football team. He's also interested in Wake Forest.

Recently, USC, California and UCLA were added to the mix thanks to the help of Gil Haskell, the receivers coach for the Green Bay Packers and a friend of Miller's late uncle.

``Cal and Wake have told me I could play both (golf and football),'' said Miller, who wondered if some schools might offer him both as a recruiting ploy.

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