What would possess grown men to chase after little white balls in humid, 90-degree weather? The honor of Lebanon County golf and a gentleman affectionately known as 'Swish'.

 Saturday, on Lebanon Country Club's 6,562-yard, par-72 layout, local teams Dan Brown-Brian Auman and Rick Troutman-Greg Ulp, reached the semifinals of the 65th annual W. B. Sullivan Better-Ball-of-Partners tournament. Brown and Auman dusted Terry Farrell and Jeff Sauder 4&3 in the afternoon quarterfinals, while Troutman and Ulp edged by Bill Schultz and Bill Allen, 2&1.

 Adding significance to the victories was the impending retirement of LCC head pro Mike Swisher, who's in his 42nd and final year of spearheading the popular local test. There is also the fact that Auman and Brown were the last local team to win the Sullivan, way back in 2001.

 "This is without a doubt the deepest field in the area," said Troutman. "Strength of player wise, teams from Jersey, Maryland, D.C. It's harder to win because there's more talent.

 "Absolutely, it would be extra special to win it from a local stand point. And it would be a bonus to do it in Swish's last year," he added.

 "If I had to put it in one sentence, Mike is the Arnold Palmer of local golf," said Auman.

 Auman and Brown will have a go at reigning Sullivan champs Devon Zendt-Jim Rattigan Sunday in the 8:24 a.m. semifinal match. Nine minutes later, Troutman and Ulp will test Larry Stork-Micky Abrams for the other final slot.

 Sunday's championship match is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

 "There's a lot of good golfers in Lebanon who can hold their own," said Brown, whose team defeated Stephen Walton-Marco Poccia 3-2 in its opener. "I always think there's a good contingent of local golfers in the championship flight"

 "If this tournament would be on tour, it would be The Masters or The Open," said Auman. "It's definitely in the top four in the area."

 Amazingly, neither Lebanon County contingent suffered a bogey at any point of a steamy Saturday.

 Brown and Auman took control of their afternoon tussle by winning three of six holes early on the back-nine, before Auman clinched it with a birdie at number 15.

 "Number 11 was the difference," said Brown. "Once we got two-up, they, I don't want to say pressed, but they kind of forced it."

 "We play a power game," said Auman. "We can make some birdies. So match play is suited to our game."

 Troutman and Ulp won numbers 11 and 12 to get a leg up, then Ulp gave his team a two-up advantage with a 12-foot birdie at 14.

 "There was a lot of action," reported Troutman, whose team beat Steve Allwein and Ryan Garland 5&4 Saturday morning. "We didn't make a bogey today and they made three. That was the difference. The birdies kind of evened out.

 "We played solid," Troutman added. "In this kind of heat, you make mistakes. Match play is funny. It's about who you run into and when you run into them."

 Zendt and Rattigan had to go to OT - one-up on the 20th hole - to dismiss Andy Beittel and Brody Goodling in their quarterfinal test. Stork and Abrams of Maryland fame took out Greg O'Connor and Rick Wortman 4&3.