Groves gears up for pro tour

Dustin Groves’ dramatic win in last Sunday’s Cannon Cup may have been one of a kind in Central Virginia golf.

Groves, who recently graduated from Wake Forest, was Tiger-esque in his Sunday performance as he came back from six shots down to win the event at Spring Creek.

His run of playing 8-under par between the second and 13th holes in the final round was quite remarkable, and he missed a two-footer that could have given him yet another birdie.

For the first time in the 19 years of the Battle Trophy competition, and even before that competition began, the Charlottesville area will have two of its top amateurs turning pro in the same season. Crozet’s Nick Little turned pro after the Kenridge a couple of weeks ago, and Groves plans to follow suit by summer’s end.

Groves has an aggressive tournament schedule lined up for the next two months — the Virginia State Amateur, followed by the Dogwood Amateur in Atlanta, then the Southern Amateur in Memphis, the Eastern Am in Portsmouth and the Western Am in Chicago, followed by the Cardinal in Greensboro.

He will cap it all off with the U.S. Amateur in Oklahoma.

After that, Groves plans to turn pro, unless he makes his other goal, earning a spot on the U.S. Walker Cup team. Twelve American amateurs will take on the Europeans in Philadelphia.

“That’s my first goal,” Groves said. “If that doesn’t work out, I will definitely turn pro right after the U.S. Am.”

Battle Trophy

There’s a new leader at the top of the Battle standings — Greene Hills’ Mikey Moyers, the champion in 2006. The Virginia Tech-bound golfer holds a slim lead on his longtime friend, Weston Eklund, who plays for Radford.

A couple of veterans from Farmington, Paul Kane and Philip Mahone, have moved within striking distance of the youngsters, while Spring Creek’s Jerry Burton and Old Trail’s Ty Grove are also in the picture.

With two events remaining, this year’s trophy chase may not be decided until the Jefferson Cup at Birdwood in early August.

eGolf is coming

The eGolf Tour (formerly the Tarheel Tour) is coming back to Spring Creek Golf Club for a $300,000 event on June 24-27.

Spring Creek master pro Jack Snyder invites all local golf fans to come out and watch these professional golfers throughout the week. Admission is free.

Thought of the day

What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?

The shag bag

If you have played much golf around Charlottesville over the years, and ventured to Meadowcreek, you’ve probably run into Don Stokes.

Don is asking golfers in the community for help, not for himself, but for two people close to him, son D.C. and wife Jackie. D.C. is in need of a kidney transplant and his wife, Jackie, is the match to donate a kidney.

Stokes is holding a fundraising golf tournament to support the couple during their recovery. The tournament is set for Friday, June 26, at Meadowcreek, captain’s choice, 9 a.m. shotgun start, $60 per person, $240 per team. For information, e-mail .