By AL MILLEY

Keith Decker has found his golf comfort zone playing amateur events in the state of Virginia.

Decker, now 41, has made a successful career of playing amateur golf in the state and the Independent Sales Representative for American Furniture of Martinsville has no plans to change that schedule.

"My goal every year is to play in and do my best in VSGA (Virginia State Golf Association) events," said the Martinsville native when asked recently about his amateur career to date and his schedule for 2001.

Decker's schedule has already started. He ventured out of state for the Pine Needles 4-Ball Invitational at Pinehurst where he teamed with David Partridge of Richmond and finished fourth. He also teamed with Martinsville pro Mike Haley to win the Mariner's Landing 4-Ball at Smith Mountain Lake.

He will participate in the Virginia/West Virginia Matches at Greenbriar, being selected as a member of the Virginia team for the 10th straight year since the matches were resumed in 1991.

Decker is a member of both Forest Park and Chatmoss in Martinsville, and plays in their respective invitationals every year. He will play in the Forest Park Invitational early in May, a tournament he has won 18 times, and will play in the Chatmoss Invitational in June, a tournament he has won 11 times.

Other events he will play include the Virginia State 4-Ball, the W. Townes Lea Invitational at Danville, the Kendridge at Farmington C.C. in Charlottesville, and the State Amateur.

Decker won the Kendridge for a third time last year and also won the Virginia Mid-Amateur played at Fincastle a record fourth time.

"That's a normal schedule for me because of my limited time," added Decker who travels Virginia and North and South Carolina selling hotel and motel furniture.

"Regardless of what some people think, I don't play golf every day. I play two times a week, and most of the time it's just weekends.

"My priorities are my family, my work and my golf in that order. Golf never gets in the way of my work or my family," said Decker in mentioning his wife, Penny, and daughters, Christina, 11, and Elizabeth, 8.

Two years ago Decker was inducted into the Martinsville/Henry County Wall of Fame for his golf accomplishments, becoming the first amateur to be so honored.

The Wall of Fame remains one of the highlights of Decker's amateur golfing career. Another highlight is having his name inscribed on every major golf trophy in the state of Virginia. He won the Virginia State Open in 1996, won the Virginia State Amateur in 1988 and 1991, and was a member of a Virginia team that won the U.S. State Team Championships in 1995 at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla.

Decker has also represented Virginia in three international matches, playing Goodwill Matches in Japan in 1992 and '97 and in France in '93. He has played in a few other national events.

"I qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur last year because on-site qualifying was held at The Homestead. I made it through the first phase with a 68-74 and reached the round of 64, winning my first match and losing in the round of 32. I felt good about that, going that far in a field that started out with 6,000 players."

Decker also qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur in 1999, but didn't go when it came in conflict with the Virginia Mid-Am.

Decker had a lucrative offer to turn pro following graduation from Elon College where he was an NAIA All-America and led the Fighting Christians to the national title in 1982.

"I was offered $75,000 to see what I could do in the pro ranks. That was big money, especially in 1982. I thought about it, for about five minutes, and turned it down. I've never regretted that decision.

"I wouldn't enjoy it. I don't like to practice and I know the pros put in 12- and 14-hour days practicing. I enjoy amateur competition and I especially enjoy playing in state and local events where I see a lot of familiar faces every year. I also like a little wager on the side," Decker added with a smile.

Decker recalled one side bet during a Forest Park Invitational in the 1980s. "I opened with a 79 on Saturday, my worst competitive round in five or six years, and I was nine shots down going into Sunday's windup. We paired off for a little side bet in our foursome on Sunday and I shot a course record 10-under 62 and won the tournament by four shots. I had one bogey during the round. It came on a par-3, and my partner on the side bet aced the hole. We were something like 14-under for the day."

Decker was introduced to golf at a young age by his parents, John and Paulina Joyce. "I worked some at Chatmoss and Forest Park and I always had the opportunity to play. I also played baseball and basketball, but I soon found out those sports were not suited for a short, fat person."

He took three lessons in golf, those coming at a young age.

"I had been playing several years, and I knew I wanted to become a better golfer. I was told Cole Moss at Bassett Country Club was one of the best teaching pros so I purchased three lessons from him for $10 at an auction during the Fair.

"I think I was 14 at the time, and what he told me during those three lessons had a lasting impression on my golf game. He told me to hook the ball . . . he said all the good players hook it. He showed me how to hook the ball, and I'm still hooking it," added.

Decker's success over the years has been the result of a golf game with few weaknesses, being ranked No. 1 in Virginia in VSGA computer rankings instituted last year. He is long and straight off the tee (with a natural draw) and is an above-average putter with a good touch around the green and a good sand player.

Those qualities add up to a golfing comfort zone for Keith Decker.