The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 36

Picture: WAYNE LUOBCY TLM mm Senior, Mackay are capable the of rising to occasion ft US fS V--0 -y 1- Roger Macfeay and Peter Senior were afl smiles at yesterday's pro-am at Royal Melbourne today it's down the hopes of Australian golf followers in the World Cup. to business for both as they carry Americans 1 good! She served three double faults to fall behind 4-5 in the set but recovered to break back. The nerves then returned and she sprayed balls all over the court before handing Lindvist the match 6-2, 7-5 and giving Sweden the tie. "I got so nervous at times. I have never experienced that type of nervousness before in a match," McNeil said.

This year McNeil beat Navratilova at the US Open before losing to Graf in the semi-finals. "The semis at the open is nothing compared to this," she said. "I wasn't as nervous, not like this, because there you lose and you are out, and it is just you. It is not a Federation Cup deciding match where the team and the country is relying on you." Australia has the chance to push itself into the semi-finals when it takes on West Germany today, but the challenge is ahead for the host country. For the second round in succession Melbourne's Nicole Provis dropped a set and struggled against a lesser-ranked opponent She took some time before drawing clear of Italy's Laura Lap! 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

Anne Minter was again convincing, taking a straight-sets win over Italy's No. 1, Laura Garrone. But it may yet fall to the doubles combination to pull Australia through. Wendy Turnbull and Liz Smylie will have that responsibility if the singles results are split The Australian pair, bronze medallists at the Olympic Games, did as much as they had to against Garrone and Katy Caverzasio, winning 6-4, 6-2, and Smylie said she would enjoy the pressure of having to decide the West German tie. Underdogs Before that Provis will have to defeat Sylvia Hanika, or Minter will have to overcome Claudia Khode-Kilsch.

Despite Provis beating Hanika at the French Open and Minter's good form, both will go in as underdog. The Soviet Union plays Spain today, after a scare in its second-round match against Austria. Larissa Savchenko, No. 16 in the world, fell to an unexpected loss against unheralded Heidi Sprung 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, and it was left to Natalia Zvereva to get the Soviets back on to level terms, which she did with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Judith Wiesner. Zvereva and Savchenko then combined to send the Soviets through, with a 6-1, 6-1 doubles blitz of Wiesner and Sprung.

Spain should provide another tough test for the Soviets, with Arantxa Sanchez and Conchlta Martinez both playing well. The Spaniards secured a 3-0 second-round result over giantkiller Indonesia, which knocked out Great Britain in the first round. PAGE 34: Etoabeth Minter reports PAGE RmuKs By HARVEY SILVER Until yesterday it had been left tosthe Swedish men to chip away at the United States' dominance of world tennis, but on a windy outside court at the National Tennis Centre a couple of Swedish women decided on the sledgehammer method. Catarina Lindqvist and Maria Strandlund find it hard to live up to results of Swedish male players like world No. 1 Mats Wilander and Wimbledon champion Stefan Edberg, and their respective world rankings of 42 and 150 reflect that struggle.

But yesterday was a day of celebration as they both won their singles matches against highly fancied opponents and, in the process, sent the US out of the Federation Cup in only the second round. It was also a day in which the top-seeded Soviet Union had to recover from a 1-0 deficit before overcoming Austria, and one in which Australia set up a quarterfinal showdown with West Germany by virtue of a 3-0 win over Italy. Embarrassing A quarter-final loss in 1973 was America's previous poorest finish in the competition it has won 12 times in 25 years. In every year bar 1973 it made the semi-finals or better. it was fitting that it was Sweden that caused America's most embarrassing moment For years the Swedish women have been asked why they have not achieved the same success as their men.

Yesterday they made the breakthough. The US might have been without Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Pam Shriver, and then -suffered the loss of world No. 10 Barbara Potter because of a pulled thigh muscle, but it should still have proved itself superior. Patty Fendick has had a notable 1988 and went in against an opponent ranked 128 places below her on the computer whom she had defeated in a tournament only six weeks before But Strandlund showed her capabilities last week in Adelaide, where she reached the semi-finals of the Southern Cross Classic, and was an awkward customer for the net-rushing Fendick. The approach shots by the American fine, but the Swede just kept coming up with the passing shots.

And every so often, mainly on big points, Strandlund would surprise by taking net position herself and finishing with precise volleys. In the end the first rubber Belonged to Sweden 6-2r 7-6. America's new No. 1 player for the cup, Lori MCNell, was slow out of the blocks against Lindqvist, losing the first set 6-2, and then, as the second set became tight, was overtaken by nerves. Considering the vast number ef people who engage la ball games, or the ranalag, jomplag staadiig-still sperts, ealy a small amber achieve the distinction ef representing their ceoatry.

Net everyene would want to. It is aa awesome respeasfbllity that maay of as might prefer ta leave ta someone else, given the choice. Yet no aae that I kaow af ever shirked It la a large team It might be possible ta hide la the greap, bat in a pair there is ao escaping the full glare af publicity, especially on home ground. Sympathise, then, with the plight af Peter Sealer aad Roger Mackay, who wear Australia's colors la the World Cup starting at Royal Melbourne today. Bath earned their selection automatically by their ataadlag oa the Australian order af merit, which totals ap at the end af March.

Since then, all manner af things have happened, aad oa the faee of it we may sot have mances and they would rather be at Mackay's wife gave birth to their second child in Perth last Saturday and Senior's wife is due to have their first in Brisbane on Sunday. New Zealand can be given an outside chance because Frank Nobilo has been playing solidly in Australia and Europe this year and Greg Turner, despite a run of poor form, is capable of stringing together four rounds. The last of the top eight, at 33 1, is Wales, which won in Hawaii last year. The winning combination was Ian Woosnam and David Llewellyn, beating Scotland's Sam Torrance and Sandy Lyle on the 1 second play-off hole after finishing level on 574. Woosnam, who shot 274 to Llewellyn's 300.

is missing from the team this week and has been replaced by Mark Mouland. Both are good players but It is hard seeing them putting pressure on Crenshaw and McCumber on Sunday afternoon. NOfKUt two-piece baits. Rec retail S29S5 doz. Half pricey tor xmas at $1435 dot ftxjblefabnclrextra protection.

Snug fitting Jacketandpantsset normally $6955, for $4995. tr i 1 flay-goit urrsxeusnowsH Peter our hottest pair batting for as today. Yet had we beea called apea to nominate a pair after Royal Sydney, we might have beea influenced by the mast recent re-salts aad goae for Wayne Grady aad David Graham. After last Sunday, who would dare pick anyone bat Rodger Davis aad Brett Merit we go by weekly results; asewfJ have a different team each ffahe. Anyway, Sealer ana Mackay willbecanyisffceflsjaiidew hopes, for this- hV-the eek we can all be patrietieaad wear oar kangaroo pins, it is permissible to cheer them oa, encouraglag their drives nd ridlhg their putts.

I see no reaioa why- they should act do proud. Sealer has had a briSi-eai: especially in Europel 'ffaeeae oa oar players' doae better. He is bariaaOy aa aggressive golfer who cafe rise ta occasions like this Since It is a team event he caiJso play a big role la lifting Mackay's game, which has beea MwaoSf late. The Western Austral! aa Is capable of superb golf, astie saw at Kingston Heatla ISM, and playing for his eiuatry might be just the experience to bring oat his best They will have ta face the US pair of Bea Crenshaw aad Mark McCumber, who are ready aad willing, aad the Osaki brothers from Japan, among others. Twenty-nine years ago we were in a similar position.

Kel Nagle and I were up against the favorite US pair of Sait Saeajl aad Cary Middlecoff, with Canadians, South Africans, Firflhfr-mea, Scott aad Welsh to woray about No one gave us mnch of chance before we started, hit history shows who woa. We dhl by 10 strokes. Senior aad Mackay might do the same, VWfv 9 pWmj ID CnMT PAGE 34: World Cup facta figures av Great price foraoreat bag with wanted features, irtckiding hood. Boggy with Wet Six wheals $5955 extra. Uather uppers, leather ltned.spiksdsoie.

Ctnosetwaeorwhrk). WpyrrefcpocajurtSTS! duiablewnseli, enafnetfinish, superNght weiohLWas $3435, now $2435. eaeiiB anjsiaivvsBj i 1 ieeidles must medial Choosing between the two but not expecting them to trouble the Americans I have to go for the English. Lane is a big hitter who will find the wide Royal Melbourne fairways to his liking and he has had a good year, beating Sandy Lyle into second place in the Scottish Open at Gleneagles. James is also in form and had the wood on the Spaniards earlier in the year when he took out their Open title and beat Ballesteros into the bargain.

Peter Senior and Roger Mackay will be carrying a heavy load when they tee off at noon today. Apart from the controversy over their selection ahead of Greg Norman, the world No. 2 and Rodger Davis, who won $500,000 on this course last week they bring form and fitness worries and a certain amount of emotional turmoil into the tournament Both have been troubled by back injuries this year and have struggled to produce consistent perfor n.Tcr;j:.r.::D 15 JLJL- Five clubs ind 1 wood, 3 irons, putter. Great giftfor8-12yearold. Was $119.

now $9a ArKaomiclwaQCsiefl Thirty-two teams hit off in the World Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club today but even before the first blow is struck it is safe to say that 24 of them cannot win. In most sporting events, such a high percentage of also-rans would be disappointing, but this is one of the strengths of the World Cup. Teams from countries that traditionally are not strong in the game Finland, Venezuela, Thailand, Argentina, India and Italy, to name a few will do more than just make up the numbers. The philosophy of the tournament is "international goodwill through golf, and the fact that so many countries are represented is good in itself. The eight teams that can realistically be given a chance of winning the aggregate stroke-play tournament are the US, quoted by bookmakers as 72 favorite, Ireland and Japan (51), England and Spain (81), Australia (101), Magpie Daicos breaks wrist VFL summer training has claimed its first serious casualty Collingwood ruck-rover Peter Daicos.

Daicos, approaching his 11th season with the Magpies, has a broken wrist and will have the injury in plaster for six to eight weeks. Daicos said his wrist was broken in one place and chipped in another after a collision with Michael Christian at training last Thursday. "Luckily, it was my wrist and not my groin or my foot I'll be able to run all through summer and keep fit" he said. RON CARTER Shell WORLD CUP Z3 CasySporkMeen AjtertQidietGnd Bcfirnood Cricket Gnd AfcattCtfcWGnd CareySrxrblulaen OreySpcrlsBuleen CafsySporhBuleen CorevSpoibBulMn CasySpohBuleen OssySpoABulssn IklnwndQickBlGnd eICEOTENNIAL-B. EnriMvNwZfcnd AusfcxavMand DyOTolWlBllLIJI come from the Irish and the Japanese who have both sent teams close to full strength.

The Classic is the. yardstick by which the chances of the Ozaki brothers. Jumbo and Jet can be measured. On that showing, they will need to improve to threaten. The Irish are more difficult to assess.

They had not won the Dun-hill Cup until this year when the team of Eamon Darcy, Des Smyth and Ronan Rafferty beat Greg Norman, Rodger Davis and David Graham in the final. Ireland has not won a World Cup and the prospect of taking home the double as well as $100,000 each will be strong incentive for Smyth and Rafferty. England (Mark James and Barry Lane) and Spain (Jose Rivero and Manuel Pinero) have capable representatives but neither country is fielding its strongest team. No Spanish team would be complete without Seve Ballesteros, 1 and Nick Faldo is almost as big an omission. behindhand that emergency umpires continue to have the power to make reports and take the field to help break up fights.

Schwab said the 50-metre penalty for encroaching on the mark would be more strictly enforced next 1 The directors accepted the proposal mat a player carried from the ground on stretcher should be removed by the shortest route and still be eligible to return later as an mterchange player. Players will be penalised by a free kick under a new rule that stops them touching the ball once it is out of bounds. It was felt this would overcome the practice of players delaying the boundary throw-In to enable teammates to obtain a more desirable position. An order-off rule for the under 19s was rejected. The proposal for four 20-minute quarters, with automatic time-on once the ball was out of bounds, will be tried during the pre-season competition.

VFL commission chairman Ross Oakley said two groups were bidding to buy the Sydney Swans and he hoped a decision on the club's ownership would be made by Christmas. Oakley denied one of the bidders included Japanese interests, buthewouMnotniteoirttheposv sibility that overseas money was involved. Former VFL finance manager Ralph Lane, now club director; Fitxroy president LeoaWiegaxdaiidkwsHervtejSt KUda administrator: iaft Drake were made VFL life members. Former tribunal chairman Jack Ckfiney was made VFL Park life member and arttdtft Brace Comben was given the Jack Titos award for VFL administrators. Brendzn MoSonsy New Zealand (151) and defending champion Wales (331).

It is hard to see the American team of Ben Crenshaw and Mark McCumber being beaten this week. Neither knows how to put In a bad performance and they got a good look at the course last week in the Bicentennial Classic. They are both playing well and after winning more than $500,000 each on their home circuit the toughest in the world, this year they are stepping down in class. Add Crenshaw's fascination with Royal Melbourne (and his 15-under-par score last week) with McCumber's solidarity (he has missed one cut in the past two years) and the 72 seems luxurious. The main challenges should By RON CARTER The Brownlow Medal will continue to go to the fairest and best players, and VFL clubs are certain to tighten eligibility for football's highest award.

Club directors last night rejected a proposal that would have made the Brownlow a VFL champion player award by removing "fairest" as a criteria. VFL executive commissioner Alan Schwab said the clubs firmly supported the retention of "fairest and best" as the Brownlow description. "So tradition will remain," Schwab said. A proposal by the league's laws of the game review panel to allow suspended players to win the award was overturned; the clubs want to stamp out anomalies that still allow players, found guilty by the VFL Tribunal but reprimanded, fined or given a suspended sentence, to win the medal. Club directors will meet in February and render ineligible any player reported and found guilty in a match in which Brownlow votes are awarded.

The rules also will be tightened to include players found guilty in the reserves and under 19s, but players reported and found guilty of offences in pre-season, practice aad interstate matches will still be eligible to win. Strong protests had reached the VFL, including one from the grandchildren of Charles Brownlow, after whom the medal is named, against dropping "fairest" from the conditions. The directors discussed other rule changes and decided thai several, which had beea on trial this year, should be made. These iwed the 99etre penalty for deliberate time wasting by encroeaiing the mart; having take a Idck from a free Uck; having to kick the ball over the line from a kick-off after a Leagpe fairest stay ft OS skiing? AUSTRIA! $149.00 SKI PAN Ski fashions by BOGNER. KILLY, FUSALP PAUL SHARK at bargain prices.

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