By Mike Wynn
South Carolina Bureau Chief
Article dated Feb. 21, 1996

The road to the Atlanta Olympic Games begins in Flint, Mich., today for three Augusta residents.

Jim Butler, Amy Feng and Derek May will seek spots on the U.S. Olympic Table Tennis Team through Friday at the University of Michigan at Flint. They are among 21 male and 12 female players who will vie for three spots each on the men's and women's squads. Former Augusta resident Brian Pace is among the participants.

Making the team would be extra special for the players since the Games are being held in their home state - a fact that they haven't been allowed to forget.

``I have been talking about this for the last two years,'' Butler said. ``I'm just anxious to get this thing started.''

The men will compete in round-robin play of four groups, with the top three from each group moving to a final 12-person round robin. The winner and runnerup will play singles for the Olympic team. The third-place finisher will make the squad as a doubles partner with the overall winner.

The women will compete in a 12-person round robin, with the top three finishers making the squad. Like the men's team, the three players will compete in singles and doubles competition.

Each match at the Olympic Trials will be best three-of-five games.

Of the three male players, Butler is considered to have the best shot at making the squad. The 1992 Olympian has been the nation's top male player for most of the past three years, but a back injury and some recent surprising losses has dropped his ranking and nibbled at his confidence.

``With my not playing so well going in, I feel like a underdog,'' said Butler, now ranked number four in the U.S. ``But, since (not making the 1988 Olympic team), whether I felt confident or not, I was able to make the national team. Each time I went in I felt scared and nervous, but things always seemed to work out in the end.''

On the other end of the spectrum, May goes into the Trials brimming with confidence and a new game. He has become more aggressive to balance his normally defensive-style game and that has paid off with some good recent results, including a third place in singles at the U.S. National Championships in December.

``Right now, if I ever had a chance to make the team, this is it,'' said May, who is ranked 13th nationally and considered a strong darkhorse to make the squad. ``I'm at the peak of my game right now.''

The closest thing to a sure bet among the Augusta contingent is Feng. She has been the country's highest-ranked female player since moving to the United States in 1992 from China.

Feng became a U.S. citizen last month, barely beating the deadline for an invitation to the Trials. Feng is already sizing up the competitors she could face at the Games.

``The toughest for me is the Chinese girls,'' said Feng, now ranked 42nd in the world. ``If I play great, I may go for some medal. I feel like I have a chance.''

The United States has never won a medal in Olympic table tennis competition. The sport was added to the Games in 1988.

But, winning a medal is far from May's mind. He just wants to make the team.

``If I made the thing, it would be the greatest accomplishment I would ever have in table tennis,'' the Augusta native said. ``I'm ready to go (to Flint) and rumble.''