By Mike Wynn
South Carolina Bureau Chief
Article dated Feb. 24, 1996

FLINT, Mich. - Jim Butler and Amy Feng will have a chance to go for the gold this summer in Atlanta.

The two Augusta residents won spots on the U.S. Olympic Table Tennis Team on Friday, ending three days of competition among the nation's top players. The trials were held at the University of Michigan at Flint.

Joining Mr. Butler and Ms. Feng on the men's and women's squads are Todd Sweeris, Rockville, Md.; David Zhuang, North Brunswick, N.J.; Lily Yip, Metuchen, N.J.; and Wei Wang, Pasadena, Calif.

Ms. Feng was the heavy favorite among the women going into the tournament. She lost only two games in her first nine matches. She won one match in the best-of-five competition by forfeit.

The nation's top-ranked female is still awaiting a ruling on her Olympic eligibility by the International Olympic Committee. China has questioned Ms. Feng's eligibility because she played for a Chinese junior team at the 1985 Polish Open, saying it disqualified her from playing on another country's national team.

USA Table Tennis officials say the team she played on was not a national team and expect a favorable ruling from the IOC. For her part, the recently naturalized U.S. citizen says she is just happy to be able to represent her new country.

``I feel proud of myself, and I want to say thanks to America for giving me this chance,'' Ms. Feng said.

The chance to make the Olympic team a second time and play in his adopted state was the carrot in front of Mr. Butler.

"I've said all along that it would be incredible not only to play for my country, but also in my home state,'' said Mr. Butler, who moved to Augusta in 1993 from Iowa.

Making the team was not a foregone conclusion for the nation's former top-ranked player. He came into the Olympic Trials on the heels of several stinging defeats at the end of 1995 and was admittedly not in top form entering the three-day tournament.

His play, however, suggested anything but a confidence crisis. Going into Friday's all-important final round, he had lost only one game in 10 matches, but had played lower-ranked competition.

The sturdiness of his game was tested early Friday, paired against top-seeded and also undefeated Mr. Zhuang in a match that would virtually guarantee a spot on the team. A shaky Mr. Butler lost the first game, but overwhelmed Mr. Zhuang in the next three 21-18, 21-12, 21-1.

The match turned in the second game when down 1-4, Mr. Butler won the next five points on Mr. Zhuang's serve and never looked back. He then started dominating Mr. Zhuang with numerous blistering backhand drives, once causing the the nation's top-ranked player to kick the air in frustration.

``It's the best I've played with my backhand,'' Mr. Butler said. ``When someone plays me backhand to backhand, I usually win.''