Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 30, 1995 TAG: 9506300053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BETHESDA, MD. LENGTH: Medium
Just ask Larry Ringer. One day after enjoying a practice round with his favorite golfer, Ringer shot a 4-under-par 68 to share the lead with J.C. Snead of Hot Springs, Va., after Thursday's opening round of the U.S. Senior Open.
Not faring as well was Roanoke golfer Billy King, the head professional at Blue Hills. He carded a 13-over-par 85, 17 strokes off the lead.
Regardless of how Ringer fares in the $1 million tournament, he never will forget this week. The thrills began Wednesday, when the former golf coach at the Naval Academy found himself in a foursome with Palmer.
``That made my day,'' Ringer said. ``It made my year.''
Just when he thought things couldn't get any better, Ringer had the round of his life Thursday. He didn't make a bogey, had 12 one-putt greens and twice drained putts of more than 30 feet.
``Yesterday I played with the king, and today I played like a king,'' he said.
Palmer, meanwhile, had a 72 despite a double bogey after three-putting on the 14th hole. That left him 2-over, but birdies on Nos.16 and 17 got him back to par.
``I'm pleased that I hit the ball solidly, but I'm not pleased with the score,'' Palmer said. ``To be pleased, I'd have to be at the top of the leader board.''
That distinction belonged to Ringer, a regular on the Senior Series, and Snead, who sank a 25-foot birdie putt on No.17 to move into a tie for the lead.
``I missed one fairway, and didn't miss a green. I can't do much better than that,'' said Snead, who had previously broken 70 only once in 16 rounds at the Senior Open.
His only bogey came on No.6, when he three-putted from 15 feet.
Bob Murphy, a three-time winner on the Senior Tour this year, was tied with Tom Weiskopf and four others at 69.
Raymond Floyd, Tommy Aaron and Isao Aoki were among several golfers who shot 70s on the damp, 6,945-yard Congressional Country Club course.
Jack Nicklaus had a 71, and Hale Irwin, Palmer and defending champion Simon Hobday were in a group at par. Lee Trevino and Gary Player had 73s.
Ringer got an indication it might be his day when hit a 5-wood to the center of the green on No.2 and sank a 33-foot birdie putt.
``That helped me get started because yesterday with the King, I double-bogeyed it,'' Ringer said.
He birdied Nos.6 and 8 and used a 45-foot birdie putt on 9 to go 4-under at the turn. Ringer then parred the final nine holes on a course he knows well.
``I've played it 60 times, maybe 70,'' said Ringer, the assistant pro at Congressional in 1973. He narrowly lost the Maryland State Open on the course last year.
by CNB