By Randy King

Archives Reprint

   randy.king@roanoke.com

   981-3126

    DALEVILLE - Matt Mankin or Miller Baber? Barring developments bordering on the absurd today at Hidden Valley, one will walk away with the most prestigious title in Roanoke Valley golf.

    Effectively distancing themselves from the rest of the field, Mankin fired a sizzling 5-under-par 68 and Baber carded a 70 at Ashley Plantation Golf Club on Saturday to turn today's final round of the 31st Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame championship into basically a two-man shootout.

    With the consensus being that they're the two best players in the area not to have won the title, one figures to shake the tag while in turn loading even more excess baggage on the one who comes up short.

    Right now, it's advantage Mankin. A Botetourt County native, he stands at 5-under 139 through 36 holes and will take a three-shot cushion on two-time Valley Amateur champion Baber into today's final round at Hidden Valley.

    "Miller hasn't won it either, has he?" said Mankin, ineffectively trying to play oblivious to the developing story line. "So it would be great for both of us.

    "Yeah, I must admit that I've heard a few things from my buddies about not winning this tournament. It's been frustrating with all of 'em telling me, 'You haven't won the Hall of Fame?' So, yes, I would love to win it and get that monkey off my back."

    Baber realizes he's the one who has the steeper hill to climb.

    "Matt is the best player in Roanoke, so we'll see," Baber said. "Fortunately, he's getting all the ribbing about not winning it and it hasn't worked my way yet. But if he wins, yeah, I'm sure I'm going to be getting a fair amount of ribbing."

    While the pair of leaders go head-up in the final pairing for the individual title, the race for the team crown could be even more of a fight. For the second consecutive day, the six counting scores for Blue Hills and Roanoke Country Club added up to 446.

    Prohibitive pretournament favorite Blue Hills mustered its score Saturday without contributions from 1983 HOF champion David Tolley and '94 winner and first-round leader Rodney Naff, both of whom soared to second-round 79s.

    Back to Mankin and Baber, each of whom have been highly competitive on the local scene for a quarter-century.

    "Yes, it is surprising that neither of those guys have won this," said Cam Young, who is tied for third with Chris Clemens, seven shots back. "It's probably Matt's year ... but if Miller gets the putter hot, Miller can play."

    Mankin, 36, and Baber, 39, both have been perennial contenders in this event.

    Perhaps realizing he is the one who has to play catch-up, Baber attempted to push all the heat on Mankin.

    "I'm not majorless," he said, firing a salvo at the leader. "I will say it would surprise me if somebody beat both of us, though."

    Meanwhile, Scott Wise's run for an unprecedented third straight crown was derailed by a second consecutive 75, which left him 11 shots off the pace.

Let any elected or appointed official know what you think and how you feel by CLICKING HERE.