THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507150513
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
Now that Corey Pavin has won the U.S. Open, shedding the label ``best to never win a major,'' the crown that rests uneasily needs a new home.
Jim Gallagher Jr. begged reporters Friday not to size his head.
Then he was reminded of the short reigns of the predecessors.
Fred Couples, Tom Kite and Nick Price all shook the monkey in 1992. Paul Azinger did it in 1993. Jose Maria Olazabal at last year's Masters. Then Pavin a month ago.
``You're right,'' Gallagher smiled. ``Go ahead. Tag me with that.''
While that label can be argued, the fact that Gallagher could become the first player on the PGA Tour this season to win three events cannot.
Winner at Greensboro and Memphis already this year, Gallagher shot 6-under-par 65 Friday to go with an opening-round 69 at blistering-hot Kingsmill Golf Club.
His 8-under total of 134 at the midway point of the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic - which he won two years ago - was good enough for a one-shot lead over Blaine McCallister and Jim Carter after two tours of the River Course.
Gallagher and McCallister will tee off in today's final third-round pairing at 3 p.m.
Gallagher's eagle at the 15th hole Friday, which vaulted him up Friday's leaderboard, brought back pleasant memories.
``I seem to remember eagling that before,'' Gallagher said, referring the final round of 1993. ``But I hit 5- or 6-iron then. This time, I had to hit 3-wood.''
Gallagher blistered a 3-wood from 252 yards away that landed in the front of the par-5 15th and rolled off the back, stopping in the intermediate rough. He then sank the 20-foot chip to get to 7-under.
A 12-footer at the par-4 18th got him to 8-under.
But it was a birdie at the par-4 14th that juiced him.
After making seven consecutive pars in the middle of his round, Gallagher hit a pitching wedge to within 8 feet and made the putt to end the birdie drought.
``I had to make that,'' Gallagher said. ``I'm staying (at one of the houses) on that hole. I wanted to see how loud they could yell.''
A win here would be worth $198,000 and would vault Gallagher into second on the PGA Tour earnings list behind Greg Norman's $1,102,180. Gallagher is sixth on the list with $832,038.
It would also vault him into fourth place on the Ryder Cup points list. He currently resides in 11th place; the top 10 automatically earn roster spots. Gallagher played well in the U.S. team's victory two years ago.
Gallagher left the 18th trailing Carter by two shots. He concluded his post-round interviews with a one-shot lead.
Carter, who had reached 10-under with a two-putt birdie at the 15th, faltered down the stretch, bogeying the last three holes.
Maybe the prospect of leading scared him off. He has yet to finish in the top 10 this season, but the 1983 NCAA champion has pocketed $100,212 by making cuts in 12 events. That's more than $40,000 more than he made in official PGA Tour money since 1989.
Carter's woes began at the 16th when he pushed his drive right of the fairway and needed a free drop from the cart path. He hit 7-iron onto the back of the green and three-putted from 75 feet.
Missed greens at the 17th and 18th holes led to 10-foot par putts Carter couldn't convert.
``It's discouraging,'' he said following his round of 69. ``But I'll try to learn from it and do better on the weekend. Maybe it's an investment.''
The righthanded hitting, lefthanded putting McCallister shot 67 Friday, birdieing the par-4 ninth to finish his round and climb into a tie for second.
A group of five resides at 6-under 136, including Jim McGovern (67 Friday), Ted Tryba (67), Steve Pate (66), Fred Funk (68) and Scott Hoch (69).
Thursday's overnight leaders at 6-under 65 all struggled. Richard Zokol shot 75 while Robin Freeman and Dudley Hart both carded 72s.
The cut came at even par, with 73 golfers making it, including Curtis Strange (72-70) and defending champion Mark McCumber (74-68) just getting in.
McGovern, a former Old Dominion University player, had a good chance to join Carter and McCallister at 7-under when he hit 9-iron to within 4 feet at the 18th. But his birdie attempt spun off the left lip.
``Probably the easiest putt of the day and I missed it,'' McGovern said. ``But they have a way of evening out.''
They did for McGovern, who one-putted the first four holes of the day from 15, 12, 25 and 20 feet - ``A world-record personal best'' - for three birdies and a par.
McGovern said he had more than enough incentive to play well this week.
``My wife's throwing a wedding shower with 50 women at our house,'' McGovern said. ``I'd just get in the way.''
Funk's incentive was even better. His wife Sharon is six months pregnant with their second child and trudged all 18 holes following Funk in heat that registered 100 degrees on the leaderboard's thermometer.
``She's out here watching me in the heat,'' Funk said. ``So I better keep my end of the bargain.'' ILLUSTRATION: LEADERS
[For a copy of the list, see microfilm for this date.]
[Color Photo]
PAUL AIKEN/Staff
Jim Gallagher Jr. raises his putter as he waits for his birdie putt
on No.18 to fall during Friday's second round. The putt dropped
Gallagher to 6 under par for the day and 8 underall.
MOTOYA NAKAMURA
Staff
Jim Carter was leading at 10-under when he began a three-bogey run
with this drive at No. 16.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kirk Triplett, left, checks a ball mark with Clark Dennis on the
18th hole Friday. Triplett putted from the wrong place on the green
and was assessed a two-stroke penalty.
by CNB