THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 13, 1996 TAG: 9607130304
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: 69 lines
When the PGA Tour comes to Kingsmill each year, Carl Paulson has a built-in gallery of close friends and relatives.
It was easy to pick them out Friday as they whooped it up during the Virginia Beach tour sophomore's 8-under-par 63 in the second round of the Michelob Championship.
The T-shirts didn't hurt the rooting section's visibility either.
Realizing at least two dozen or so close friends and relatives would follow Paulson's every shot this week, his father Ned went to a shop in Virginia Beach, and had 30 bright pink T-shirts made with ``Paulson's Pilgrims'' and a pilgrim's hat printed on the back.
``We had them make 30,'' Ned Paulson said. ``I think we'll get 300 more for the weekend.''
Why pink?
Dad wanted red, to signify sub-par, but was talked out of it.
``The guy told me it would be too hot up here in the heat and humidity to wear red,'' Ned Paulson said.
In knocking 10 shots off his opening round, Carl Paulson moved into contention, four shots off 36-hole leader Scott Hoch's pace.
``I've been playing well for a while but the scores haven't showed it,'' the 25-year-old Paulson said. ``My parents and my wife have been telling me lately that I have to be patient.''
Such patience paid huge dividends Friday as he shot his low round of the season. After making a pair of 4-foot putts to save par at the first two holes, Paulson made another 4-footer at the third, this time for birdie. He added birdie-3s at the fourth and sixth holes, draining a 12-footer and a 20-footer, then birdied the par-5 seventh, getting up and down from just shy of the green.
After a birdie-3 at the 10th - another 20-footer - Paulson bogeyed the par-3 13th when his chip shot from the fringe ran 10 feet past the hole and he missed the comeback putt, taking a little wind out of him.
His finish on the last five holes, however, had him breathing deep.
Paulson wedged to within 4 feet at the par-4 14th for birdie, then eagled the 15th hole after a 5-iron second shot nearly tore the side off the cup from 192 yards. The ball ran 25 feet past the hole, but Paulson made the putt.
``You need to stay at a central level of excitement out here,'' said Paulson, the touring pro for Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club in Virginia Beach. ``When things aren't going well, you can't let yourself get too down. But when things go well, you can't let yourself get too up either. I had to sit down at the 16th tee and take a couple deep breaths.''
After parring the 16th, Paulson birdied the par-3 17th, hitting a 6-iron to within 15 feet.
He scrambled for par at the 18th, sinking a 4-footer after hitting a wedge approach from a downhill lie short of the green and chipping up.
``I made all the putts today I'm supposed to make,'' said Paulson, who took 24 putts on his round, ``and a few extras.''
Kingmill's is only the fifth cut that Paulson has made in 19 tournaments entered and he's cashed checks for $17,269, ranking him 206th on the season's money list. A healthy payday Sunday could cause a significant push up the money list. To avoid a return to PGA Tour qualifying school in the fall, Paulson needs to finish in the top 125.
``The thing about Carl is he's a real strong player and he's young,'' Ned Paulson said. ``He has so much talent.
``Of course, I'm his father and I'm very objective.'' ILLUSTRATION: LAWRENCE JACKSON
THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Carl Paulson tees off on the 18th hole Friday, his 60th stroke of an
8-under-par round that put him four shots off the lead. by CNB