Longview News-Journal from Longview, Texas • Page 21

Sports Section Thursday, June 16, 1988 Foreign trio Headlines U.S. Open list BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) Australian Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros of Spain and Sandy Lyle of Scotland rank as the men to beat in the 88th United States vr ft A He counts four American national championships among his record collection of 18 major professional titles. "The last couple of weeks I've worked a lot on my game," Nicklaus said. "I'm hitting the ball really quite well.

I have no problem with the way I'm playing," he' said. But even be must take a secondary role to Norman, Ballesteros and Lyle. Norman said he is feeling great. "I'm enjoying my game more now than ever have done. I enjoy my life more now than ever have done.

I feel much more at peace with myself. I know my game is getting better. Everything is heading upwards," said the former British Open winner who has an unhappy history of losing major titles to miracle shots. "I feel like the momentum is just building now, like I'm just catching a big wave and starting to ride it." After an offseason last year, Norman rebounded with four foreign victories this year, plus a triumph in the Heritage Classic and two playoff losses in the United States. The low-key Lyle has been the outstanding player in the first half of the season.

He's the only three-time winner on the American tour and is the leading money-winner with $608,479. "I'm having a season like Woosnam had last year," he said. "Everything he did was golden." Ballesteros, winner of two British Opens and as many Masters, ended a slump with a playoff victory in the Westchester Classic last Sunday. "It is tremendously important," the moody Spaniard said. "It puts my confidence at a high level, and confidence is very important to me." Other major foreign figures include British Open champ Nick Faldo of En- gland and David Frost of South Africa.

Langer, however, is bothered by back problems, and Woosnam, winner of eight international titles and more than SI million last year, suffered a wrist injury at his home and was forced to withdraw. "Curtis (Strange) and Lanny (Wadkins) probably are the best of ours," said Nicklaus, 48, who will set an Open record of 32 consecutive appearances in the American national championship when he plays off the first tee at The Country Club. The record of 31 consecutive appearances is shared by Gene Sarazen and Arnold Palmer. Nicklaus, now a part-time performer and easing into a role as an elder statesman, also has a chance to become the first man to go over SS million in career earnings. He needs $2,450 to reach that mark and, with SI million in total prize money available, needs only to qualify for the final two rounds to surpass that figure.

i Open golf championship. I "Greg, Seve and Sandy, coming off the -Masters, are the first three that come to mind," Jack Nicklaus said in a pre-tourna- ment appraisal of the 156-man field that begins play Thursday. "It's part of a cycle," Nicklaus said of the high-riding foreign players. "It will change. But right now, the dominant players in the world are not American players.

We have some good players, players who are working very hard to be great players. And they'll get there. "But right now, the dominant players are foreign." He added former Masters champion Bernhard Langer of West Germany and Ian Woosnam of Wales to his list. Norman i If '2 'V i A -fs 14 Game Five is final contest in "-Silverddme PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) The there.

I'm beyond upset and Detroit Pistons will be playing irritated. I'm disgusted with the their last game at the Silver- way we played." dome Thursday night and it Riley and Johnson said the will be their last chance to gain three championship series bean edge in the NBA champion- tween the Lakers and Boston ship series. taught them how to play a phys- The Pistons, who will move to ical game, the Palace at Auburn Hills, "We wouldn't have won four next season, must beat championships in the last eight the Los Angeles Lakers in Game years if we didn't know how to 5 or be faced with having to respond to a physical game," win two games at the Forum Riley said, next Sunday and Tuesday. Pistons guard Isiah Thomas, "If we lose Thursday, I still who missed practice Monday have to tell the players we can and Tuesday because of an in-win it, but I don't know if they Jured back, played well in Tues-would believe me," Pistons day night's game, but was coach Chuck Daly said Wednes- absent from practice again day. "The Lakers have so much Wednesday, talent at every position that Thomas had difficulty jump-every game in the series Is a lng, but he had 10 points, 12 must-win for us.

We're looking assists and a team-high nine at our vacation if we lose rebounds in Game 4. Thursday." "He's the catalyst, the core of "We have to win Thursday this team," guard Joe Dumars and that's all there is to it," said of Thomas. "He runs the forward Adrian Dantley said, show, on and off the court, and "We have to go back to L.A. he showed how much heart he with a lead." has the way he played." "When they say they can't In the fourth quarter Tuesday, realistically win two games in with the outcome of the game Los Angeles, they are stating decided, Johnson slammed the obvious," Lakers coach Pat Thomas, a close friend, to the Riley said. "But both teams feel floor on a layup attempt.

Thorn-they have to win Game 5." as got up with fire in his eyes, The Pistons defeated the Lak- but was restrained by teammate ers 111-86 Tuesday night to even Dennis Rodman, the best-of-seven series 2-2. De- Both players said afterwards troit shot 46 free throws, 34 that the play was Just part of more than in Game 3, and Los the game and wouldn't affect Angeles shot 37 as the series their friendship once the series moved up several notches in is over. intensity. Both sides said Wednesday The Lakers were still upset that it's not surprising that the with themselves Wednesday be- series has taken a physical cause of the way Detroit pushed turn. them around.

"It's been a long season and a "The war came io us and we long playoff season," Detroit's retreated," Magic Johnson said. Bill Laimbeer said. "Once you "We were soft. We're not mad play a team three or four times, at Detroit. They did what they you learn how you have to play had to do.

them and you tend to get more "If they think they have to be physical." ferocious, then we have to be "When you play a team seven ferocious as well." games, everyone starts to get a "The word motivation didn't little testy," Daly said. "It's al-mean much to us Tuesday," Ril- most automatic that games will py said "The dezliG wasa-'t gat more-physical." NkSfe A Nl a AP LoMrftwto Men In middle: Pistons' Bill Lalmbeer, left, and Lakers' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar battle for position. Singletary set for first Open shot By JOHN INMAN Sports Editor. Former Kilgore High School star Robert Singletary gets his initial taste of major golf in a big way today. Singletary will add some East Texas flavoring to the prestigious U.S.

Open, teeing off at 11:33 this morning. "Playing in an Open is, of course, like a dream come true. I'm Just a club pro trying to play with the big guys, and it's my first major (tournament). It's already been a great experience," said Singletary from Brookeline, Mass. Wednesday night.

The 1976 Kilgore grad will be joined by his older brother, Lee, who will serve as caddie. Not only will this be Robert's first stab at playing in a major tournament, today is also his fourth wedding anniversary. "My wife (Kristy) called me Tuesday and ask me if I knew what day Thursday was, and I said, 'Yes, it's the first day of the U.S. he laughed. All kidding aside, however, Robert said he has no fancy ideas of placing high and walking off with a big paycheck.

He approaches the task ahead realistically. "At this point, it would be just to make the cut and play on Saturday and Sunday. Naturally, I plan to play as good as I can, but if I get past the cut, I can have fun the last two days." He added, "There's always pressure in a golf tournament, and I'm sure there will be some nervousness, but that's part of the game. I wouldn't be here if I couldn't handle it to some degree. "I'm going out with the attitude that I have everything to gain and nothing to lose." Lee, also a Kilgore High product who is now a golf course designer, noted, "Robert is hitting the ball as good as any of these guys up here.

He really is, it's just a matter of getting the experience. That's what this is all about, anyway. Robert's game is geared to this type of golf and this type of course, but he lacks the experience." Lee and Robert both garnered Ail-American honors during their collegiate days at Sam Houston State and led the Bearkats to an NAIA national title in the late 1970s. Robert is the pro at Colony Creek in Victoria after serving at Cimmaron CC in Mission and Waterwood outside Huntsville. He qualified by firing a 72-68141 at San Antonio CC last month and a 68-69137 at Champions in Houston two weeks ago.

He was the low qualifier in San Antonio and second-low qualifer in Houston. "The. course here is rough. The conditions are pretty severe. It's a VS.

Open type course. The greens are hard and fast. "But the fairways are wider than most course, they've given us more room to drve. the hall. That will help," said Rnherl Junior Olympics Softball tourney set Henderson product signs with Yankees was tired of waiting.

It was kind of a surprise when they told me who it was, but all I want to do is play baseball." After graduating from Hen "This is only our second year and already our district is the third largest in the Texas ASA (Amateur Softball Association)." Valenta noted. The top five finishers in the By RANDY CHOTE The Henderson Daily News HENDERSON (AP) "Just give me a team to play for." That was the plea of Henderson's Jason Bridges before major league baseball's amateur derson, Bridges played for two years at McLennan County Ju- 9-and-undpr age grop will qiinl- 4rtk(l her 1 JllWB li ify iur tiits blole tournament, From Staff Reports DAINGERFIELD The summer is usually a good time for athletic tournaments, especially Softball tournaments. East Texas always supports Softball players and coaches and this weekend a t'ig crqwd Is tupeneiJ lieig fur a girls softball tourney. Over 500 girls softball players will invade the youth baseball complex Thursday for the Northeast Texas ASA Junior Olympics softball district tournament. The action will be seen on four diamonds.

Tourney play will last through Sunday. Spokesman Bob Valenta of Atlanta said that 14 teams for the 9-and-under age group will compete while 24 are slated for the 12-and-under division. The tournament format is double elimination. A total of 75 games will be played. The finals are set for 7.30 m.

Sunday. -il I I. V-. in mimr CalK'ge Wuiu, ylujid Arizona State his junior season, then transferred to Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide in hitting home runs (12) and runs batted in (52). This is the fourth time Bridges has been drafted by the pros.

He was drafted twice by the Pittsburgh Pirates and once by the Philadelphia Phillies. The Oakland As and the Minnesota Twins had shown the most interest lately, with the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles also having been in touch along with a couple of other teams. "The A's had really shown the most interest," Bridges said. It was a day later before Bridges' phone rang. It was the New York Yankees informing the 1984 Henderson High School graduate that he was their 25th round choice.

"I'm ready to go play ball," an elated Bridges said. "That's all I wanted to do anyway. It's a low round, but I don't care about that." Bridges agreed quickly to terms and was told to report five days later to the Yankees' rookie team in Oneonta, N.Y. Surprisingly, although several teams had contacted Bridges, the Yankees weren't among them, he said. "Hey, I dont care," he said.

"I which will be held in Tyler, July 8-10. The top seven finishers from 12-and-under will also gain berths in the state tourney. Teams from these East Texas communities will be competing: Atlanta, Pittsburg, Naples. Gilmer, Redwater, Daingerfield, Hooks. Hughes Springs, Omaha.

Gladewater, Linden, New Boston and DeKalb. Texas ASA is a part of the international softball association which is among the world's largest. "It's a group that offers softball programs for youth on up to adults," said Valenta. Pirates' Rafael Belliard rams into second base as Cubs' Shawon Dunston awaits throw during 7-4 Pittsburgh win Wednesday. See page 4-C..