Green Bay Press-Gazette from Green Bay, Wisconsin • Page 17

Green Bay Press-Gazette Monday, July 29, 1991 SPORTS C-i U.S. Senior Open down to two 'Earnhardt holds off Ford challengers for record Talladega win Jack, Chi Chi in 18-hole playoff; TV coverage: 3 p.m., Channel 5 By Tom Hlgglns Newepapart TALLADEGA, Ala. Dale ''Earnhardt prevailed in a furious finish in the 500-mile race at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday, and became the all-time victory leader at the track with five maybe make it work. "I decided to run really low through that corner and try to shake up the air (slipstream) so he'd have a tougher time. That got me away from him a tad, and from there we had a little too much for 'em.

It fuels great to hold NASCAR Winston Cup sSories triumphs on the circuit's fastest track. Driving the black No. 3 Chevrolet, Earnhardt stymied the aerodynamic slingshot passing moves Ford foes Bill Elliott, Mark Martin, Sterling and Davey Alii-son the last three laps on 'the 2.66-mile track. He won by a car length over 'Elliott. the Talladega record, be a piece of history." Said Elliott after finishing ahead of Martin: "There was just nothing I could do, 'cause I got caught in a couple bad situations.

Whenever Sterling and Davey dove to the bottom (on Lap 186, with Allison momentarily edging ahead of Earnhardt), I decided to go with them. But they By Harry Atkins Associated Press BIRMINGHAM, Mich. It could be golf. Or showtime. Or both.

Jack Nicklaus and Chi Chi Rodriguez will settle the U.S. Senior Open championship in an 18-hole playoff at Oakland Hills today. Nicklaus is big and blond, strong and long. He's the best golfer to ever play the game. The 132-pound Rodriguez grew up hitting tin cans with a guava-tree stick in Puerto Rico.

But they finished 72 holes tied at 2-over-par on the layout. Al Geiberger, victim of a heart-breaking bogey on the 18th hole, finished one shot back at 283. Lee Trevino, closing with a 4-over 74, tied with Jim Dent at 284. Rodriguez, winner of four senior tournaments already this year, promised the playoff would be exciting, no matter who wins. "To me, golf is show business," Rodriguez said.

"They come to be entertained, see a good show well staged. I give them a show. Jack gives them good golf." But the crowd-pleasing Chi Chi, who earned a spot in the playoff with a dramatic birdie on the final hole Sunday, made it clear his familiar sword-fighting routine has a serious side. "If the big bear goes to sleep, the little mouse from Puerto Rico will slip right in," he said. It is the first playoff in a senior event for Nicklaus, who is 13-10 in regular playoffs.

Rodriguez, who was 3-1 in playoffs on the tour, is 1-4 in senior playoffs. ft "You never know how a playoff-is going to go," said Nicklausv who has won four of the eight se-? nior tournaments he has entered since turning 50 last year. "Some-, times you get great golf. Some-j times you don't. I think we'll play differently than we did today." With Trevino effectively out of i the picture after a bogey on the par-3 17th, Nicklaus and Rodriguez both needed clutch birdies down the stretch to catch Gei; berger.

Nicklaus got his birdie at the 185-yard 17th by hitting a high iron that dropped softly five feet 1 from the pin. Rodriguez got his with a snap-hook 6-iron at No. 18 -that rolled to a stop two feet from the cup. "My caddy wanted me to hit a-j 5-iron, but I told him I'd hit a 6-iron and play it like a masse, like" a pool shot," Rodriguez said. "It looked like about 40 feet to ma" That was the longest little putt Ir ever saw in my life." Earnhardt Five wins at Talladega 5 'i v- VV 1 i Jet l.

got up there and sort of stopped, so I went outside with Earnhardt. It was a heck of a race." Martin, who charged into contention from 17th place with 20 laps to go, was angered that the Ford plan went awry: "It's the most frustrating day I've had on a race track. We had a great race car but nobody would go with me. It was terrible." Earnhardt has taken three of the past four 500-milers at Talladega, and was second the other time. Marlin conceded a strategy was concocted on pit road among the Ford teams to try and use the aero-, dynamic draft to beat Earnhardt as' the 188-lap event ended.

"We were 'supposed to work together, but the battle plan got lost somewhere," Marlin said. "It was a tough race, tough to 1 stay in front of those Fords," Earnhardt said. "I saw what Bill was go-' ing to do the last lap. He laid off a little bit down the backstretch to try and get a run at me off Turn 4. 1 knew Bill had the experience to AP LaserPhoto Take a bow: Chi Chi Rodriguez acknowledges the gallery after a birdie on the 18th hole in the- U.S.

Senior Open. Cubs' new star is no flame-thrower 'f it LOWEST PRICES change-up in the minor leagues "because when I got to Double-A, I knew I couldn't get by with only my fastball. I can throw a fastball, but I only throw it to spots and rely mainly on my other pitches." Does this mean when he goes around a second time opposing hitters will catch up to him and his off-speed pitches? Essian doesn't think so. "I think that business of the second time around is over-rated," Essian said. "After he gets to know the hitters, they'll have to make adjustments.

It's the power pitchers who run into trouble the second time." Castillo isn't that sure. "I know it's easier the first time because the hitters don't know a pitcher who changes speeds a lot, they're not ready. The second time will be tougher." He already has passed one phase of that test. Two of his victories have come against Houston: the other was against St. Louis.

If things do get tough, Castillo says it won't bother him. "I have a lot of confidence and it's part of my personal makeup," Castillo said. "I'm laid-back. That's my temperament. It takes a lot to get me worked up." Last Sunday he started at Houston and turned in a complete game for a 4-2 victory.

His parents and about 40 relatives attended the game. "It didn't bother me. I think it pumped me up a little, but I was able to focus and concentrate." Castillo also thinks that will help him in Wrigley Field, a tough park on pitchers. "I'd rather pitch in the Astrodome or Busch Stadium," he said. "All you have to do is throw strikes and let the defense take over.

Here, you have to keep everything down and concentrate on every pitch you throw. I know I can do that." Castillo's calling card is changing speeds By Joe Mooshil A Associated Press I CHICAGO Frank Castillo, a 22-year-old Chicago Cubs rookie, pitches like a veteran, 3 and his stuff matches his temperament soft and easy. jjj Relying mainly on curves and change-ups, Castillo established himself quickly with the Cubs by winning his first three decisions. They included two complete games, twice as many as 5 the entire staff had when Castillo joined the team June 27. "I didn't expect to come up here and get three I' wins right off the bat," Castillo said.

"But so jg far, so good. I only hope I can keep it up." Although Castillo expects some tough times "Everybody does and I imagine the hitters jr will adjust to my style" Manager Jim Essian and -pitching coach Billy. Connors aren't so sure. "I saw him briefly in Charlotte in '89 and had him at Iowa at the start of the season when he broke his thumb in his first game," Essian said. "I liked what I saw.

He has command of his pitches and throws to spots well. I was im-J5 pressed with his poise and businesslike ap-S proach. He has all the qualities that make for a major, league pitcher." Connors said: "He changes speeds like a vet-8 eran and has one of the best change-ups I've 3 ever seen. That's the toughest thing to teach 1 kids in the minors." 5 Castillo graduated from Eastwood High 5 School in El Paso in 1987 and was selected by the Cubs in the sixth round of the June draft that year. He made all the minor-league stops: 2 Geneva, Peoria, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and EXPLORER 400 ALL-SEASON STEEL-BELTED RADIAL Isolated elements and full depth shoulder grooves for a lifetime of all-season performance Aaaressive all-season tread P15S80R13 pulls you through any weather Two tough steel Deits Tor strength and stability Outline black serrated sidewall lettering AP LaserPhoto Good start: Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Frank Castillo has won his first three decisions.

finally Des Moines this spring. "I got hit by a line drive in the first game this year and broke my right thumb," the righthander said. "It's fine now. But I had problems." Those came when he had to go through spring training again. "I was pitching in a rookie league and got hit hard," Castillo said.

"I was concerned, but when I got back to triple-A, I bounced back again." Castillo said he developed the curve and $30.95 $35.95 $37.95 $39.95 $40.95 $42.95 $45.50 $46.95 $46.50 $48.95 $50.95 $54.50 P15580R13 P16580R13 P17580R13 P18580R13 P18575R14 P19575R14 P20575R14 P21575R14 P20575R15 P21575R15 P22575R15 P23575R15 I Castro says Cuba wouldn't make same Pan Am decision Press-Gazette subscription Green Bay Pre A good deal -jg on a ereai lire. QuaKy since 1834. payments made easy as 1990, we had advanced tremendously in building the facilities." And while Castro acknowledged Cuba's financial plight, he hinted that the communist country may be ready to host a future Olympics. Everything from milk to electric power is tightly rationed in Cuba, which Castro has ruled since over-' throwing President Fulgencio Batista in 1959. In his Revolution Day speech last Friday, Castro blasted capitalism as Cubans continued to wait in line for available food.

"Our present economic situation is very good." Castro said in the interview. "We still trade with the Soviet Union. But we do not have a single luxury item." 'i NEW YORK (AP) Fidel Cas-m tro says Cuba would not be the host of, the 1991 Pan American Games if his country's bleak eco- nomic situation had arisen earlier. The president of Cuba spoke on ABC-TV Sunday, in an interview with Jim McKay taped in June. "If we were to make the decision now, with respect to our expenditures on the games, of course we would not have made the deci-gj sion," Castro said of Cuba's status as host of the Pan Am Games.

"But this was a decision that was made five years ago. "Five years ago we started work-I ing along these lines. When our se- rious economic problems arose in CHARGER PERFORMANCE STEEL-BELTEO RADIAL If ALL-POSITION STEEL-BELTEO UGHT TRUCK RADIAL 73 $56 P17570SH13 HI) $61V. HI.41 pi7ossij mti P185.70SR14.. HVM P'ft'OSfl'4 N4.N PMS-OSP'4 N'tT K-i W'4 171 Jl i P22570SRM PIK numim mil P225'70SR1S 177 I Forfeit sends Ribbons into NBC final P19575S14 SL W.71 "fVja M7I -Arg Wats.

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