July 1, 2004

Ens. Billy Hurley (Leesburg, Va.) and Scott Wise are atop the Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA) Amateur Championship leader board after turning in first-round 5-under par 66s. The 91st VSGA Amateur is being played at the par 71 Roanoke Country Club with 127 competitors.

With just a day of rest between the final round of the Northeast Amateur in Rhode Island on Sunday and the VSGA Amateur Championship, Hurley produced seven birdies to offset a pair of bogeys Tuesday. Seeing the course for the first time during Monday's practice round, Hurley birdied three of the first-four holes on the back nine and sunk putts inside of 10 feet on holes 10 and 12.

Billy is not the only Hurley representing his family in the tournament, however, as younger brother Daniel is currently tied for 77th with a 6-over par 77.

A format similar to the U.S. Amateur, the top-32 players after Wednesday's round will qualify for match play to decide the tournament winner. Sixty-four players qualify for match play in the U.S. Amateur.

2004 VSGA Amateur Championship Leader Board
(through one of two qualifying rounds for match play)
1. Billy Hurley 66 -5
Scott Wise 66 -5
3. Keith Decker 69 -2
Ryan Stinnett 69 -2
Allan Strange 69 -2
J.T. Belcher 69 -2
J.P. Leigh 69 -2
8. Brant Dixon 70 -1
Tom Offutt 70 -1
David Partridge 70 -1
Jeffrey Klatt 70 -1