July 2, 2004

Ens. Billy Hurley (Leesburg, Va.) capped off the qualifying portion of the 91st Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA) Amateur Championship Tuesday earning medalist honors with a two-round 7-under par 135. He finished three strokes ahead of J.T. Belcher who produced a pair of 69s en route to his 4-under par 138.

After the first round of action, Hurley and Scott Wise were atop the leader board after turning in first-round 5-under par 66s. In round two, Hurley produced three birdies and a bogey. He started his round on the back nine where he turned in back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13. His lone bogey of the afternoon was on the 18th. Putting it on cruise control over the front nine, Hurley produced nine-straight pars to claim medalist honors.

Hurley's younger brother, Daniel, did not make the final cut, turning in a two-round 12-over par 154. Daniel, however, will likely accompany Billy for the rest of the tournament as his caddy.

With the field now cut to 32 players, match play is set for the next three days. Hurley will face K.P. Harris who posted a qualifying score of 4-over par 146, including a final-round 68.

2004 VSGA Amateur Championship Leader Board
(32 players who have now qualified for match play)

1. Billy Hurley 66-69 135 -7
2. J.T. Belcher 69-69 138 -4
3. Adam Horton 73-66 139 -3
Scott Wise 66-73 139 -3
5. Keith Decker 69-71 140 -2
Hunter Watts 71-69 140 -2
7. Donnie Toney 71-70 141 -1
Miller Baber 73-68 141 -1
9. Jeffrey Klatt 70-72 142 E
J.P. Leigh 69-73 142 E
Ryan Stinnett 69-73 142 E
H. Dudley Payne 71-71 142 E
David Partridge 70-72 142 E
Jeff Greenfield 72-70 142 E
15. Emmett Clougherty 76-67 143 +1
Matt Watson 72-71 143 +1
Will Oldham 73-70 143 +1
Paul Erdman 71-72 143 +1
19. Jeff Killian 71-73 144 +2
Greg Bales 75-69 144 +2
Craig Mason 72-72 144 +2
James Huffman 76-68 144 +2
Ryan Sypniewski 74-70 144 +2
Robert Menefee 72-72 144 +2
25. Charles E. Green 73-72 145 +3
Allen Barber 71-74 145 +3
Mark Boedicker 76-69 145 +3
Tom Offutt 70-75 145 +3
David Passerell 71-74 145 +3
Allan Strange 69-76 145 +3
31. David Brogan* 74-72 146 +4
K.P. Harris* 78-68 146 +4

* qualified for the match play portion of the championship in a playoff, seven golfers for two qualifying spots.