Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 19

Austin American-Statesman Sports Monday, June 28, 1999 C3 Seniors hail Irwin after runaway victor Associated Press DEARBORN, Mich. Three wins in his last five starts. Looks like Hale Irwin has found his game. That could be bad news for the rest of the Senior PGA Tour. Irwin, the senior circuit's player of the year the last two years, was at his overpowering best Sunday.

He closed with a 7-under 65 for a 21-under 267 total, winning the Senior Players Championship by seven shots over Graham Marsh. "I hardly know what to say. The last two rounds were exceptional," said Irwin, who played the final 36 holes in 15 under. "I just I A -J blitzed Marsh started the day four strokes off the pace .1 ill. 4' fit' and shot a 68.

John Jacobs bogeyed the final two holes for a 67 and finished third at 275. "It was an awesome display of touch, control, aggression," Marsh said. "I mean, you name it Hale did just about everything he wanted to do over the last two days." Irwin started the final round at 14 under and quickly left everyone behind with birdies at Nos. 1 and 3. He made the turn at 17 under with a birdie at No.

9 starting an incredible string of five holes he would play in 5 under. He needed an 8-foot putt to save par at No. 10, then Irwin put his game in overdrive. He holed a 9-iron from 134 yards to eagle 11, rolled home a 35-foot birdie putt at 12 and two-putted from about 45 feet to birdie 13. Just like that Irwin was 21 under matching the course record set last year by Gil Morgan at the TPC of Michigan, designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Jacobs, playing in the threesome just ahead of Irwin, eagled the par-5 13th to get to 14 under, but that still left him seven strokes behind Irwin at that point. Irwin was getting ready to tee off on No. 17 when rain halted play. When play resumed 57 minutes later, Irwin finished with two pars. The victory in the senior major earned Irwin $300,000 of the $2 million purse.

Waldorf notches win at Buick Classic HARRISON, N.Y. Duffy Waldorf arrived at the tee of the first playoff hole Sunday to find Dennis Paulson, an old childhood pal, waiting to pla; for the title of the Buick Classic. One hole later, Waldorf got reacquainted with another long-lost friend a PGA Tour victory. For only the second time in his 13-year career, Waldorf won a tournament And he did it in an unusual way for someone so unaccustomed to winning by staying relaxed and patient but aggressive. Everything seemed to be in Waldorf comfort zone at the end, even his playoff opponent.

"It was fun. We were both happy to be there," said Waldorf, who birdied the last two holes of regulation to force the playoff. Waldorf and Paulson have known each other since they started playing the same amateur events in Steven SenneAP Mexico defender Paty Perez, left, and Italian de- their match Sunday. Italy won 2-0, but neither team fender Damiana Deiana battle for the ball during advanced to the Women's World Cup quarterfinals. Germany gives up late goal, will now face U.S.

earlier Carlos OsorioAP Hale Irwin plays the final 36 holes at the Senior Players Championship in 15 under par. Southern California starting when they were 13 or 1J They also competed against each other in college Waldorf at UCLA and Paulson at San Diego State. It was no surprise, then, to see Waldorf and Paulson strolling down the fairway of the par-5 18th, the firsf playoff hole at the Westchester Country Club, chat-1 ting away even though $180,000 was at stake. That's-the difference between the $450,000 first prize and the: $270,000 second prize. But it was Waldorf who had the last word.

Paulson1 pushed his second shot from the fairway into trees on the right, needed two chips from the rough to get within 25 feet and missed his par putt. Waldorf, meantime, hit driver-driver to a greenside bunker and blasted out to 15 feet. Needing only a two-putt for the title, Waldorf rolled the ball in for his third straight birdie and the biggest payday of his Paulson, who closed with a4-under 67, and who had a 71, finished regulation tied at 8-under 276. Chris Perry was one stroke back after a 70, while Scoi Hoch was alone in fourth at 278 after a 69. Elsewhere.

Jody Niemann's victory drought ended with a stretch run of solid golf that gave her a 1-up victory' over Sue Billek-Nyus in the finals of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. Niemann, 22, who graduated last month from Arizona State, captured her first individual title since high school with a par on the 409-yard, par-4 finishing hole at the Santa Ana Golf Club. In Newcastle, England, David Park of Wales sank-a short putt on the 18th hole to win the European' Grand Prix by one stroke, his first victory on the European tour. Associated Press LANDO VER, Md.

Germany gave up a goal on the last play of the game Sunday. As penance, it now has to play the United States. In the fourth minute of second-half injury time, Maicon drove home a 12-footer after a twice-headed free kick to lift Brazil into a 3-3 tie with Germany and first place in Group in the Women's World Cup. The result means Brazil will play Nigeria, the second- NIGERIA 2, DENMARK 0: In Landover, Nigeria became the first African team to ever advance to the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup with a victory over Denmark. Mercy Akide scored in the 25th minute and Nkiru Okosieme in the 81st as the Super Falcons finished Group A with a 2-1 record.

MEN'S HAIRPIECES Akide, taking a lead pass from Patience Avre, put the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Dorthe Larsen to give Nigeria the first-half lead. Okosieme sealed the victory with a 17-yard blast after defender Jeanne Axelsen mishandled the ball at the edge of the penalty box. In between, Denmark had a goal disallowed and missed two late chances on a humid day before a crowd of 22,109 at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. The Danes, missing injured players Marlene Kristensen and Karina Christensen, needed to win to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive, and they moved most of their players forward in the second half in a failed comeback For The Avid Tennis Player! place team from Group in the Quarterfinals, while Group runner-up Germany will face khe tournament favorite U.S. Jteam on Thursday at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium.

"We always seem to have something like this happen to us," Germany goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg said. "We are no more afraid of the Americans than they are of us. We don't want to hide from the Americans, we just didn't want to have to book any early flight home." Brazil now avoids the United States until the semifinals. "Inevitably we have to play the U.S.," Brazil Coach Wilson De Oliveira Rica said. "But Ms -Ik if man Custom Hair Pmcs Com so our NEW Cybr hair hairpieces Bring In This Coupon For Doug MillsAP Nkiru Okosieme, left, and Patience Avre lift Nigeria into the quarterfinals, a first for an African country.

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Denmark went 0-3 in the tournament, scoring just one goal. ITALY 2, MEXICO 0: In Foxboro, With nothing to gain, Italy and Mexico played a spirited match, with the Italians taking a victory. In oppressive heat before a crowd eagerly awaiting the game between the United States and North Korea, the Italians and Mexicans ignored the fact both could not advance to the quarterfinals. With Mexico (0-3) playing long ball and Italy using a more precise buildup, both teams threatened as much as could be expected in muggy 92-degree weather. Italy (1-1-1) got goals from Patrizia Panico in the 37th minute and Paola Zanni in the 51st, both on shots goalkeeper Lenny Quinones misplayed.

Panico scored with a brilliant move on which she put the ball between defenders. But her shot was low, right at Quinones' hands, and it sneaked through into the net The second goal was a 20-yard lob off Zanni's left foot that sailed over the outstretched hands of Quinones. down the road is much better." The result also eliminated Italy from contention for a quarterfinal berth. The Germans, though exhausted in the heat and humidity, had limited Brazil to one shot on goal in the second half until the final push in injury time when Tina Wunderlich fouled Maicon to the right of the penalty box. Sissii who earlier scored her tournament-high sixth goal, took the kick and chipped the ball into the box.

It was headed once by a teammate and once by Germany defender Sandra Minnert and fell to the left foot of second-half substitute Maicon, who drove the shot past Rottenberg. "It was stupid to make a foul," Germany defender Steffi Jones said. "We were not clever enough to take the 3-2 home." Down 2-1 at halftime, Germany regained the lead early in the second half on goals from Bettina Wiegmann and Jones, Said Brazil's De Oliveira Rica: "We were patient enough and lucky enough to keep our heads together and get a score at the end. In Brazil, there's a saying jthat God is Brazilian. This proves it once more." r.lcrcodos-Bcnz C-Class f.l-CIass Available for nprt PM AT IPF WErW SI; Ji Lj uuL Uliu LL UiiiiUu 99 C230 COMPRESSOR YOUR E-3QE jWhat's hiding in Wimbledon's grass? Tournament enters second week with several surprising story lines LJ Mo.

no iiiii ion Steve Wilstejn ciated Press 77 iiiL-gw STANDARD WITH ONLY WIMBLEDON, England Boris Becker's em i 4 UIV1 1 a. i I i ())) phatic return, Jim Courier's emotional revival and Selena Dokic's extraordinary rout of Martina Hingis Eet up a Super Monday of matches starting week two Wimbledon. If rain doesn't intrude on the sunniest Wimbledon In years, Centre Court will be a showcase of impas sioned clashes beginning with Britain's Tim Henman trying to avenge a Davis Cup loss to Courier. TOTAL DOWN 35 prmv or $499 mo, WAC, Wat ufont $3500. Deals include TTiL Final pmt.

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Becker, the 31-year-old three-time champion back for his last hurrah, then takes on Patrick Rafter, the two-time U.S. Open champion, in a duel of classic serve-and-volleyers. "I'm not here to play halfway," Becker said. "It's all or nothing. That's the way I've been playing all my career." One of the other themes of the first week the record run of five qualifiers into the round of 16 will be played out in the Court One stadium, where former champion Andre Agassi starts off against the so-far unbreakable serves of Australian journeyman Wayne Arthurs.

Arthurs has faced only six break points against his serve in three matches, and brushed them all away. Seven-time women's champ Steffi Graf follows against another qualifier, Kim Clysters of Belgium, before an ace-a-thon between Greg Rusedski and Mark Philippoussis. Court 2, the dreaded "Graveyard of Champions" where Richard Krajicek was buried by qualifier Lorenzo Manta on Saturday, gets a shot at five-time and defending champ Pete Sampras when he meets Canada's Daniel Nestor. Court 2 should also be packed for the duel between Dokic and Mary Pierce, after an opening match pitting No3 Lindsay Davenport against Barbara Schett John McEnroe caught the mood of that much- cr'' anticipated match and fanned some flames by accusing Henman and his teammates of choking kgainst Courier in the Davis Cup two months ago on bn indoor court in England. Henman said he desperately" wants to beat Courier, and the Amer ican said he's eager to feed off the energy of a crowd (hat will be against him from the start Courier was hospitalized and given an intravenous (Etmimetttai (Ears 6757 AIRPORT BLVD.

454-6821 1-800-230-1680 www.continentalcars.com Visit Our Air Conditioned Showroom firip for dehydration after his five-setter Friday. He aid he's completely recovered. Venus Williams and Anna Kournikova, the two most photographed and followed women in the tournament will be up next on Centre Court "Tell Anna that I like grass," Williams said after if.