THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 16, 1995 TAG: 9507160170
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Carl Paulson conducted a brief post-round interview from an unusual venue Saturday at the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic - the first-aid trailer.
That's where the rookie from Virginia Beach and Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club went to cool down for about 30 minutes following a 3-over-par 74 that left him with a 54-hole score of even-par 213.
``I've been to school in Columbia, S.C., for five years and nothing like this ever happened,'' Paulson said ruefully. ``At least I didn't kill myself.''
Paulson told caddie Al Walker he wasn't feeling well three holes into his round. But he kept playing, despite a course high temperature of 98 and a heat index that soared to 118.
``Water was just pouring out of his arms,'' Walker said. ``We went through three gloves, three towels. We just couldn't keep the grips dry. It was just a struggle.''
When it was over, Paulson made for the first-aid trailer. There he drank plenty of fluids and was made to lie on a cot with a cold towel on his forehead.
``It was a struggle for him to concentrate out there, it was so hot,'' Walker said. ``But he's a young boy who has just made his third cut in a row. It's all part of the learning process.''
Former Williamsburg resident Mark Carnevale, who moved to Florida in December, raised what has become an almost annual issue at the A-B: players being allowed to wear shorts.
``It's almost unhealthy,'' he said, peeling off sweat-drenched clothing in the locker room. ``Look in the crowd; there aren't too many people out there who aren't in shorts. It's golf, not a fashion show.''
He smiled. He winked.
``Well, for some people it is.''
Ted Tryba, one shot behind leader Jim Carter, said he wasn't sure being able to don shorts would have made a difference Saturday.
``I didn't have much problem with my legs sweating,'' he said. ``You wipe your arms off and 10 seconds later, the sweat's back. You wipe your face down, 10 seconds later you wipe it again. It gets to the point where it's so hot, it doesn't matter what you have on.''
CURTIS TO BRITISH: Curtis Strange revealed Saturday that he will compete in the British Open ``the next four or five years.''
Strange, who in the past has made no secret of the fact that The Open, as it's called, is not his favorite tournament. The Kingsmill touring pro is leaving Monday for St. Andrews, site of this year's British Open and a course on which he holds the single-round record of 62.
``I'm exempt, I'm going to go,'' said Strange, who has not competed in the British Open since it was staged at Muirfield in 1992.
Strange said his recent decision to provide golf commentary for ABC Sports had nothing to do with his decision.
``I'm not going there to do TV and play a little golf on the side,'' he said. ``I'm going there to play golf and do some TV on the side. I want to get that straight right off.''
Strange said he thought the Busch Classic's possible date change away from the British Open could help him perform better there.
``I've gone over there early a couple of times and been able to get acclimated there better than if I go over Sunday or Monday,'' he said. ``I've always felt to play well at the British Open, you have to go early.
``It's not the game or the courses you need to acclimate to. It's the weather. If I go there Sunday or Monday and it's in the 50s or 60s, I'm going to be damn cold.''
SMORGASBOARD BACK NINE: Jay Haas' back nine Saturday read as follows: par, birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey, par and eagle. That all adds up to 2-under-par 33. Haas' eagle came when he knocked a 9-iron shot into the cup at 18 from 162 yards.
Speaking of eagles, former Anheuser-Busch champion Ronnie Black nearly had two of them during his front nine.
Black scored an eagle-2 by holing his pitching wedge from 116 yards. Two holes later, he missed an eagle-3 by six inches, the distance his pitching wedge stopped from the hole. ILLUSTRATION: BILL TIERNAN
Staff
Lennie Clements watches his iron shot at the par-3 13th. With quiet
rounds of 68-69-69, the 15-year veteran is within reach of his first
win.
by CNB