Past champs meet at CVI

The past two champions of the Central Virginia Invitational Golf Tournament couldn’t be more different.

Chuck Brewer, who clinched the 2006 title with a chip-in eagle on the second playoff hole at London Downs, recently won his first championship as a senior, taking home the Seniors Division title at May’s Fox Puss Invitational.

Will Harper, who stormed to a 12-stroke victory in the 2007 CVIGT, just finished his first year at Longwood University.

Both players are in the field for this year’s event, which begins Friday at Winton Country Club in Clifford.

Harper used a 4-under 68 at his home course — Ivy Hill — to take an early lead. He put a stranglehold on the tournament with an even-par 71 at Winton the next day.

Both courses are in play again this week. Saturday’s second round will be at Colonial Hills in Forest. Ivy Hill will host the final round Sunday.

Brewer and Harper aren’t the only golfers to watch this weekend. Defending CVIGT seniors champion Jim Gaddy is back to defend his title. Jacob Singleton, the rising Liberty University sophomore who lost to Brewer in the 2006 playoff, is also in the field.

Marshall Tinsley, a rising George Mason sophomore who finished second last year, is in the field. He shot the best round at Winton in last year’s tournament, carding a 1-under 70. Brian Horning, who was in second place after one round of the Fox Puss this year, and accomplished senior golfer Rick Bendall are also in the field.

Overall, the tournament’s participation numbers are down, said London Downs pro Jerry Conner, a former CVIGT champ. Conner said only about 80 golfers have registered for the event as of Wednesday morning.

State qualifying

Corbin Pillow, a member at Hat Creek in Brookneal, shot a 145 Monday at Danville Golf Club to qualify for the VSGA State Amateur Championship, which will be held June 24-28 at Kingsmill’s famed River Course in Williamsburg.

The River Course is the host for the annual LPGA Michelob Ultra Open.

Pillow’s score qualifies him as an alternate for the SunTrust State Open of Virginia, which will take place July 17-20 at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian.

Pillow will be joined at the State Am by Singleton, who was exempt from qualifying because he advanced to the round of 16 at last year’s State Am.

Faber Jamerson, who won the second of his two State Open titles in 2006, is exempt from qualifying for this year’s State Open.

Chip-ins

Lauren Doughtie, who lost to Forest’s Sarah Harvey in last year’s VSGA Women’s Amateur Championship match, shot a 5-under 139 at Forest Creek Golf Club in Pinehurst, N.C., to earn medalist honors and earn a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open later this month. Blacksburg High’s Courtney Ellenbogen also earned a spot in the U.S. Open field. The Open will be held June 26-29 at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn. … Virginia Tech’s Jurrian van der Vaart earned an honorable mentional All-America nod from Golfweek Magazine. … Martinsville’s Keith Decker continues to lead the VSGA player rankings with 333 points, 178 points better than Alexandria’s Dan Hosek (155). Amherst’s Ryan Stinnett is fifth in the rankings with 135 points.