THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507140566
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON AND JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
They aren't as numerous and strong as Curtis' Strange Navy, but Carl Paulson's Pilgrims made their favorite player's first competitive round at the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic one of the most enjoyable of his rookie season.
About 50 or so members of his family and friends watched Paulson traverse Kingsmill with a one-under-par 70, five shots behind leaders Dick Zokol, Robin Freeman and Dudley Hart.
"It was fun," the Virginia Beach resident and Tour rookie said. "The crowd got a little rowdy out there at times. I liked it."
The crowd, which included his former coach Butch Liebler and his father, got rowdiest after each of Paulson's four birdies.
He turned the front nine in even par 36, balancing two birdies with a couple of bogeys. His nerves settled, Paulson played Kingsmill's back side in one-under 34.
He slapped a sand wedge within 12 feet at the 396-yard par-4 11th. The next hole, he knocked a pitching wedge to within six feet. His only glitch on the back side was a three-putt at No. 14.
"I wasn't real confident going off the first tee, but I settled down and started hitting it good," he said.
Paulson, who has made the cut in his last two events, at Hartford and Memphis, earning $5,086, put himself in good position to make it three in a row by withstanding Kingsmill's traditionally crusty, heat-baked afternoon greens.
"I get to tee off (today) in the morning," Paulson said. "The greens should be better and the course should be softer."
TWICE IS NOT NICE: Robin Freeman, one of the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic first-round co-leaders, has the distinction of being the only player ever to win the PGA Tour's qualifying school tournament twice. It's not something he's thrilled to be known for.
``I'm trying to erase that,'' said Freeman after his 65 Thursday. ``Tour school is such a grind. I feel as a player I'm past that.
``Most of the guys who win the Tour school their first time don't have to go back. Unfortunately I wasn't that good of a player.''
GOOD SHOT, WRONG DAY: Scott McCarron said he had never had a hole-in-one until earlier this year, when he had two in one round at a pro-am. His first one came on a hole where, the previous day, a hole-in-one was good for a new Mercedes.
His wife didn't realize that distinction, however.
``She's jumping up and down, `We won the Mercedes, we won the Mercedes,' '' McCarron said. ``I'm walking down the fairway consoling my wife saying `No, we didn't win the car.' ''
MISCELLANY: Larry Rinker aced the 195-yard 13th hole with a 4-iron. He shot 72. . . . Andrew Magee shot a 76 Thursday and withdrew. Jim Thorpe, bothered by back problems, pulled out after nine holes. . . . Duffy Waldorf and McCarron, both a shot back, were college teammates at UCLA. . . . Worst round of the day: Mike Hayes with an 82. The pro from Ford's Colony could have been in the 70s had he not triple-bogeyed No. 18. by CNB