Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 15, 1995 TAG: 9504170065
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
Roanoker Billy King has taken care of his first order of business at the 56th PGA Seniors Championship.
Although he struggled to a 5-over-par 77 in Friday's second round at PGA National's Champions course, King easily survived the 36-hole cut and guaranteed himself of cashing a paycheck come Sunday.
``My first goal coming here was to make the cut,'' King said. ``Now, my second goal is get to double digits. I'm not talking about the scoreboard. I'm talking about the paycheck [meaning $10,000 or more].''
The longtime head professional at Roanoke's Blue Hills Golf Club has a two-round total of 5-over 149, which is 11 shots behind leader Jim Colbert. The cut number was 150. The low 70 and ties in the 144-player field survived.
Among those missing the cut were PGA Senior Tour star Dave Stockton (151) and longtime great Arnold Palmer (161).
King, who opened with an even-par 72 on Thursday, missed only one fairway Friday. Still, he could manage only one birdie and six bogeys.
``I probably played a little too conservative just trying to make the cut,'' said King, 51. ``I knew if I could stay away from a big number somewhere I was going to make it.
``Now that I've made the cut, I can let it loose [today]. I'm going to try to shoot a low number so I can [play late enough] to make the TV coverage on Sunday.''
Colbert turned in a bogey-free round and established a one-shot lead after completing a second consecutive 3-under-par 69 round.
Colbert is one shot in front of Isao Aoki of Japan, who also had a 69 and was at 139. Ray Floyd is only two off the pace at 140.
``I'm playing much better than I'm scoring,'' Floyd said after two rounds of 70. ``And the ironic part of it is that I'm putting the ball as well as I have in a long time. I'm putting it where I'm looking, but it just isn't going in.
``I just hope I can keep my patience and keep on doing what I'm doing.''
J.C. Snead of Hot Springs, DeWitt Weaver and Larry Gilbert were next at 141. Gilbert and Snead each had 70s on Friday and Weaver, one of three tied for the first-round lead, shot 73.
Jack Nicklaus, 55, earned a place among the leaders with the best round of the tournament. It was a 66 and also ranked as one of the most bizarre rounds of his career.
``I want to tell you, that was some round. Wow!'' Nicklaus said after an effort that included six birdies, two eagles, two bogeys and a double bogey.
He hit only six fairways and 10 greens, but used only 21 strokes on the greens. It left him completely confused.
``I don't know how to answer your next question and I don't even know what it's going to be,'' he said.
He was 6-over after only four holes and was looking at missing the cut. By the 15th, he was 3-under and looking at the lead.
The eagles came on a 210-yard 2-iron shot to two feet on the sixth hole that ``turned my round around,'' he said, and 25-foot putt after a 262-yard 3-wood shot on the 10th.
He also had a couple of shots in the water. His erratic card showed 10 3s and a 2, but also included four 5s and a 6.
``It was frustrating and it was fun,'' he said.
Palmer, 65, playing a few holes behind Nicklaus, had no fun at all, however. He shot the worst round of his 40-year professional career, an 86 that included 10 bogeys, a double bogey and a triple bogey.
Nicklaus' wild effort put him in a large group at 142, four off the pace. Defending champion Lee Trevino also was at 2-under after a 70.
Calvin Peete and Harry Toscano, who shared the first-round lead with Weaver, each shot 76 for 144.
by CNB