Golf Glance
Tuesday, June 30, 1998 | 9:33 a.m.
By JOHN NICHOLSON
Associated Press Writer
All Times EDT
UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION
U.S. Women's Open
Site: Kohler, Wis.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Blackwolf Run Resort (6,412 yards, par 71).
Purse: $1.5 million.
Winner's share: $267,500.
Television: ESPN (Thursday-Friday, 3-7 p.m.; Monday, if necessary, noon-playoff conclusion) and NBC (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m.).
Last year: England's Alison Nicholas won at North Plains, Ore., closing with a par 71 for a one-stroke victory over Nancy Lopez. Nicholas had a 10-under 274 total on Pumpkin Ridge's Witch Hollow course, breaking the tournament record for relation to par by a stroke.
Last week: Annika Sorenstam won the ShopRite Classic at Absecon, N.J., shooting 66-65-65 for a tournament-record 17-under 196 total. The Swedish star also won her previous start, the Michelob Light Classic on June 6. Juli Inkster finished second, four strokes back.
Notes: Sorenstam won the 1995 tournament at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., and successfully defended her title in 1996 at Pine Needles in Southern Pines, N.C. She missed the cut last year with rounds of 77 and 73. ... Pat Bradley, the 1991 winner at La Grange, Ill., is the only player with victories in the four current major championships. She also won the Dinah Shore in 1986, the LPGA Championship in 1986, and the du Maurier Classic in 1980, 1985 and 1986. ... Beth Daniel, a 32-time tour winner, needs a victory in a major tournament or three regular events to reach the Hall of Fame. ... The 1999 tournament will be played at Old Waverly in West Point, Miss. ... The USGA's Web site is www.usga.org.
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PGA TOUR
Greater Hartford Open
Site: Cromwell, Conn.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: TPC at River Highlands (6,820 yards, par 70).
Purse: $2 million.
Winner's share: $360,000.
Television: ESPN (Thursday, 1-3:30 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.) and CBS (Saturday-Sunday, 4-6 p.m.).
Last year: Stewart Cink won his first tour title, closing with a 4-under 66 for a one-stroke victory over Jeff Maggert, Brandel Chamblee and Tom Byrum. Cink had a 13-under 267 total.
Last week: Joe Durant won the Western Open for his first tour title, finishing with a 6-under 66 for a two-stroke victory over Fiji's Vijay Singh. Durant had a 17-under 271 total.
Notes: Casey Martin, allowed to use a cart in competition under a federal court ruling, is making his first PGA Tour start. He tied for 23rd two weeks ago in the U.S. Open. Martin, who has a circulatory disorder in his right leg, also has a sponsor exemption for next week's Quad City Classic. He won the Nike Tour's season-opening Lakeland Classic. ... Lanny Wadkins won the 1992 tournament for the last of his 21 PGA Tour titles. ... The British Open is July 16-19 at Royal Birkdale. ... The tour's Web site is www.pgatour.com.
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SENIOR PGA TOUR
State Farm Senior Classic
Site: Columbia, Md.
Schedule: Friday-Sunday.
Course: Hobbit's Glen Golf Club (6,756 yards, par 72).
Purse: $1.25 million.
Winner's share: $187,500.
Television: ESPN (Friday, 1-3 p.m.; Saturday, 2-4 p.m.; Sunday. 5:30-7 p.m.).
Last year: Inaugural event.
Last week: Bob Dickson won the Cadillac NFL Classic at Clifton, N.J., holing a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff with Jim Colbert and Larry Nelson. Dickson, a first-time senior winner, closed with a 2-under 70 to match Colbert and Nelson at 9-under 207.
Notes: Hale Irwin, a three-time winner this year, leads the money list with $1,264,250. He matched the tour record last year with nine victories and earned an all-tours record $2,343,364. ... Arnold Palmer finished the NFL Classic with consecutive 1-under 71s to end a string of 40 over-par rounds. ... The Ford Senior Players Championship is next week at Dearborn, Mich.
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PGA EUROPEAN TOUR
Irish Open
Site: Dublin, Ireland.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Druids Glen Golf Club (7,025 yards, par 71).
Purse: $1.64 million.
Winner's share: $273,322.
Television: The Golf Channel (Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.).
Last year: Scotland's Colin Montgomerie successfully defended his title, closing with a course-record 9-under 62 for a seven-stroke victory. He had a 15-under 269 total.
Last week: Scotland's Sam Torrance won the French Open, ending a three-year victory drought. Torrance, 44, a 21-time European tour winner, had a 12-under 276 total for a two-stroke victory over four players.
Notes: Nick Faldo is making his second European tour start of the year. The English star won in 1991 and 1992 at Killarney and 1993 at Mount Juliet. ... South Africa's Ernie Els also is in the field. ... The Standard Life Loch Lomond is next week at Glasgow, Scotland, followed by the British Open at Royal Birkdale. ... The tour's Web site is www.europeantour.com.
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NIKE TOUR
Hershey Open
Site: Hershey, Pa.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Country Club of Hershey, East Course (7,061 yards, par 71).
Purse: $225,000.
Winner's share: $40,500.
Television: None.
Last year: Barry Cheesman won the inaugural tournament, closing with a 5-under 66 for a one-stroke victory over Greg Lesher and Billy Downes. Cheesman had a 6-under 278 total.
Last week: Joe Ogilvie won the Greensboro Open to move within a victory of a "battlefield promotion" to the PGA Tour. Ogilvie, also the Monterrey Open winner, had a 14-under 266 total for a four-stroke victory.
Notes: Ogilvie, the only two-time winner this year, leads the money list with $114,927. The former Duke player had a double-eagle in the final round last week. He holed a 137-yard shot with a pitching wedge on the par-5 14th hole after a 352-yard drive with a 3-wood. ... Cheesman is playing in the PGA Tour's Greater Hartford Open. ... The tour is off next week. The St. Louis Golf Classic is July 16-19 at St. Charles, Mo.
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OTHER TOURNAMENTS
Japan PGA Tour: PGA Philanthropy, Thursday-Sunday, Shiromizu Golf Club, Kitagunmagun, Japan.
Canadian Tour: Alberta Open, Thursday-Sunday, Wolf Creek Golf Resort, Ponoka, Alberta.
PGA European Seniors Tour: Lawrence Batley Seniors, Friday-Saturday, Huddersfield Golf Club, Huddersfield, England.
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