ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 25, 1997 golf TAG: 9701270104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
Steve Jones turned up the heat in the Phoenix Open on Friday with a 7-under-par 64 that helped him match a PGA Tour record and open a five-stroke lead with two rounds to go in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The 1996 U.S. Open champion's 36-hole total of 16-under 126 tied the PGA Tour record for the first 36 holes.
Tommy Bolt started a tournament with 126 in 1954, Paul Azinger matched that in 1989, and John Cook and Rick Fehr did the same last year. The 72-hole record for the 6,992-yard TPC of Scottsdale, which opened in 1987, is 21-under by Mark Calcavecchia in 1989.
Tommy Towles and David Duval share second place at 131.
Roanoke golfer Chip Sullivan, playing in his second Tour event, shot his second straight even-par 71 and missed the cut by one stroke.
nArnold Palmer faced cancer with the same bold, aggressive style that made him one of the most popular athletes of his time and - as he has so many times - it looks like he came up a winner.
Palmer, 67, said he will not be able to swing a golf club for another six weeks but that he plans to return to competitive golf.
``I have every intention of being at Augusta,'' Palmer said about the Masters. ``I plan to play.''
ETC. Islanders' Milbury steps down as coach
Mike Milbury resigned as coach of the New York Islanders, fulfilling the wishes of prospective team owner John Spano. Milbury will remain as general manager.
Earlier in the week, there were reports that Spano, whose purchase of the club awaits NHL approval, wanted Milbury off the bench and concentrating on the front office. His coaching job was handed over to assistant Rick Bowness.
Milbury had been the only general manager-coach in the NHL since the St. Louis Blues fired Mike Keenan earlier this year.
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