FACES IN THE CROWD

Ronnie Hobson, 13, Newport News, Va. Boys' Clubber, U.S. and Canadian boys' table tennis champion, defeated Russian Open Champion Gennadi Averin 21-18, 21-23, 21-12 for only American win in U.S.-Soviet junior match held in New York City.

Laura Lou Golden of Lynch, Ky., 28-year-old market checker and wife of veteran basketball official, passed exams to become state's first female high school basketball referee. Said Mrs. Golden, who will work with her husband, "Now my only worry is what to wear."

Franklin Luke, end for Berrien County (Ga.) H.S. who lost his left hand in hay baler accident, caught his third pass in five tries, good for 35 yards and touchdown. Lamented Berrien coach: "I just wish we had a good passer to throw to him."

Candy Shaffer, 15, Miami Beach equestrienne about to retire, entered four divisions, rode off with eight blue ribbons (seven against adult competition) to become first eight-time junior winner at New York's National Horse Show.

George Lininger of Spring port, Mich., competitive plowman since age 13 and only American entered, plowed half-acre of stubble, half-acre of sod with painstaking care to finish 12th in World Plowing Tournament held on banks of Tiber near Rome.

Robert Lowe, Brown senior from Englewood, N.J. who runs about 80 miles each week, loped over rocky five-mile Bronx course in 25 minutes 59 seconds to outdistance 69 Ivy League rivals, win Heptagonal Games Association cross-country championship.

SIX PHOTOS