Vinny Giles, who made a living as a sports representative, couldn’t have given the Virginia Legends of Golf fundraiser today and tomorrow at Independence Golf Club a better boost than with his recent victory in the U.S. Senior Amateur. Giles, 66, will tee it up at Independence, Virginia’s home for golf, along with professionals Lanny and Bobby Wadkins, Curtis Strange and Robert Wrenn in a Skins Game exhibition tomorrow at 1 p.m. The event will raise money for the Virginia State Golf Association Foundation’s junior golf program.

The Virginia Tech men’s golf team comes to town this weekend to prepare for the VCU Shootout tournament at Hermitage Country Club. The first thing the players want to see isn’t the course. They want to see the hardware their coach, Jay Hardwick, picked up yesterday at the Senior State Open of Virginia. Hardwick, the first-round leader, birdied the 15th and 16th holes at the Country Club of Virginia’s Westhampton Course, then sank a four-foot par putt on the last hole to win by a stroke over two other professionals, defending champion Jon Corliss and Dean Sumner.

Virginia Tech golf coach Jay Hardwick has a shoulder healed from surgery and the first-round lead in the Senior Open of Virginia. Hardwick, 60, posted a 1-under-par 69 yesterday at the Country Club of Virginia’s Westhampton course. He leads by a stroke over defending champion Jon Corliss of Virginia Beach, Robert Wrenn of Richmond and low amateur Bobby Bleiler of Suffolk. Three more amateurs—CCV member Mike Ligon, Tim Kelley of Ashland and Robert Morris of Great Falls—are two back after 1-over 71s.

Here’s hoping the weather is a lot better than it was a year ago for the Senior State Open of Virginia. The fourth edition of the 36-hole tournament unfolds tomorrow and Friday at the Country Club of Virginia’s Westhampton Course. Rain plagued the event last year, but it didn’t keep Jon Corliss, PGA teaching professional at Heron Ridge Golf Club in Virginia Beach, from shooting a 5-under-par 65 the second day and taking home the Harry W. Easterly Jr. winner’s trophy.

Adam Horton of Chesapeake will be on hand to defend his title in the Valentine Invitational at Hermitage Country Club this weekend. The 54-hole stroke-play tournament has long been one of the premier invitationals in the commonwealth and consistently draws a strong field. Horton won wire-to-wire a year ago. Last year’s runner-up, Scott Shingler of Haymarket, also is in the field and ranks high on the contender list. Shingler was the low amateur and tied for second overall at the SunTrust State Open.

Vinny Giles, Lanny Wadkins, Bobby Wadkins, Curtis Strange and Robert Wrenn are among the best golfers who have called Virginia home. This is one fivesome the Virginia State Golf Association Foundation will allow on its state home for golf course, Independence Golf Club in Midlothian. The five greats will come together Oct. 5 for the Virginia Legends of Golf Skins Game exhibition. Tee time is 1 p.m.

Before the start of the final round of the Virginia State Golf Association Junior Boys Championship, Matthew Ball Jr. gave younger brother Adam a pat on the back and urged him to bring home the trophy. Little brother did just that. Adam Ball, 15, of Richmond continued his machine-like performance by posting a 4-under-par 68 at the Country Club of Petersburg yesterday for a 54-hole total of 11-under 205, three strokes clear of Mikey Moyers of Stanardsville.

PETERSBURG - Adam Ball is just 15 years old, but he says he’s comfortable with his final-round pairing in the Virginia State Golf Association Junior Boys Championship. Ball, the first-round leader after shooting a 5-under-par 67 Monday at the Country Club of Petersburg, maintained a share of first place after delivering a 2-under 70 yesterday that gave him a 36-hole total of 7-under 137.

DANVILLE—Lauren Greenlief has earned the opportunity to pull off a rare double in state women’s golf. Greenlief, an 18-year-old from Oakton, won two matches yesterday in the Virginia State Golf Association Women’s Amateur Championship at Danville Golf Club and advanced to today’s final match. Greenlief, the reigning State Women’s Stroke Play champion, meets tournament medalist Whitney Neuhauser, 21, of Barboursville in today’s scheduled 18-hole final.

The Virginia State Golf Association has tournaments running concurrently this week. The Junior Boys Match Play Tournament is today through Friday at Roanoke Country Club. The Women’s Stroke Play Championship is today through Thursday at Meadowbrook Country Club. Go to http://www.vsga.org for the complete list of entrants and starting times for the two tournaments.