Citizens' Voice from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 60

91 nofficioi' judges but favor Hagler By WALLACE MATTHEWS Newsdoy Hagler-Leonard. There was plenty of differing with the split-decision verdict, in which Sugar Ray Leonard was awarded scores of 115-113 and 118-110 on two judges' cards. Hagler won, 115-113, on the third. But the unofficial judges the fighters, trainers and boxing media seated at ringside were split LAS VEGAS, Nev. They say that difference of opinion is what makes horse racing interesting.

So it is for boxing matches, especially one as close and as hotly contested as Witt 5-hits Mariners in opener nearly down the middle over who really won the fight. A poll of 25 ringside observers turned up 12 who thought Hagler had won the fight. Leonard got 10 votes, and three called the bout a draw. Among those who supported Hagler were former lightweight champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini; veteran trainer Eddie Futch; CBS sportscaster Tim Ryan; Barney Nagler; sports columnist for the Daily Racing Form and president of the Boxing Writers Association, and Ed Schuyler, the Associated Press' boxing writer. Leonard's supporters included former welterweight champion Donald Curry; middleweight contender Michael Olajide Jr; CBS boxing analyst Gil Clancy, and New York Post columnist Dick Young.

And many of the experts were less than rock-solid on their verdicts. "I think Hagler could have had the edge because he's the champion," Futch said. "But it was very evident that Hagler has gone back quite a distance. I don't think he could do as well if there was a rematch. Leonard can only get better." Interestingly, the fighters polled seemed to favor the contestant who fought closest to his own style.

Olajide and Curry, both stylish boxers, favored Leonard. Mancini, a blue-collar brawler, favored Hagler. "Hagler definitely won the fight," Mancini said. "Doesn't body punching count for anything anymore? Leonard wasn't doing anything in there but showboating." co i TO 0- TO CD i 05 CO 6 ANAHEIM, Calif. (UPI) The ace of the staff threw a five-hitter, the rookie second baseman got the game-winning RBI and the new designated hitter drove in three runs.

California Angels Manager Gene Mauch could not have asked for anything more on Opening Day Mike Witt hurled a five-hitter, Mark McLemore snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with his first major-league hit and Brian Downing had a pair of run-producing doubles as the AL West champions opened defense of their title with a 7-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners. "I'm just tickled to death," Mauch said. "My pitcher was superb. I could watch Brian Downing bat 40 times a day and enjoy every one of them. And it was an especially fun day nia for the fourth straight time.

A crowd of 37,097 at Anaheim Stadium watched the clubs begin their 1987 seasons on a cloudless afternoon with the temperature near 80 degrees. With the score 1-1 in the sixth, Dick Schofield walked with one out and moved to second on the second of three Gary Pettis' hits. McLemore, a second baseman who is replacing 1 the retired Bobby Grich, then drove a single to left to give California the lead. "When I stood on the field and they announced my name, I knew I belonged," said McLemore, who played five games with the Angels last year. "This was a nice beginning." Downing, now the team's fulltime designated hitter after a colorful career as a left fielder, lashed the next pitch into the right-center field gap for a two-run double that made it 4-1.

mm AiirnirtAii i runnr HMCnibHN LCHUUC Hrbek rescues Twins in 1 Oth BfQ V6S from page 50 MINNEAPOLIS (UPI) Kent Hrbek delivered a bases-, loaded single in the bottom of the tenth inning Tuesday night to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 54 victory over the Oakland A's in the season opener for both teams. In the 10th, Steve Lombardozzi singled and Kirby Puckett blooped a double putting runners on second and third. Hrbek followed an intentional walk to Gary Gaetti with his single to left-center off loser Bill Krueger. Hrbek had three RBI in the game. George Frazier pitched two innings, allowing one hit and striking out one, to pick up the victory.

Krueger went 2 1-3 innings in taking the loss. Alfredo Griffin belted a two-run home run in the fifth to give the A's a 4-3 lead. Dwayne Murphy walked off starter BertBlyleven. The Twins tied the score 4-4 in the eighth. Puckett led off with a single off reliever Gene Nelson.

Gaetti followed with a single, moving Puckett to third. Puckett scored on a groundout by Hrbek. for McLemore. He's got to feel as good as a young man can feel." The Mariners, who had a streak of five consecutive Opening Day victories snapped, didn't feel so well after committing three errors, walking six batters and giving up McLemore's tie-breaking hit on an 0-2 pitch. "I wasn't disappointed but I hate to lose," said Seattle Manager Dick Williams.

"Anytime we are unable to execute it will be difficult to win. We gave them a few extra outs, a hit batter and six walks those things will hurt you." Witt, an 18-game winner last year, hurt Seattle the most, surrendering just five singles and four walks while striking out eight. Seattle's Mark Langston, a southpaw who led the American League in strikeouts last season, fanned just four and walked all six including Doug DeCinces four times in six innings. He also permitted five hits in losing to Califor- wasn't worried about the unknown. "I can't explain it but every time he pitches (this season), I'm putting April 7th by his locker," Tanner said.

Philadelphia Manager John Felske said Mahler registered a "heck of a pitched game. "He made some great pitches. He had such great command of his fastball. He moved the ball in and out good. Many times, (Atlanta catcher) Ozzie (Virgil) never moved the glove.

The ball just went right in there. "(Mahler) seems to do it every time on opening night," Felske said. "We didn't have too many opportunities. That's for sure." Atlanta took a 2-0 lead in the sixth off Philadelphia starter and loser Shane Rawley. Gary Roenicke and Dale Murphy led off with singles.

Ken Griffey forced Roenicke at third with Murphy moving to second. After Virgil walked, Oberkf ell followed with a two-run double to left. Nicka us: Augusta has changed dramatically (par-4, 360 yards). The first couple By DAVID MOFFIT UPI Sports Writer Hni.tm dm mnun'tM un.timv tL. 1 Wi i t- 1 i i -i 1 I fi placements remains to be seen." As for himself, Nicklaus says he came to Augusta with a different attitude than a year ago.

"Last year, it had been six years since I had won a major cham-pionship and I came in frustrated," Nicklaus said. "I didn't want to have my golf career wind down on that sort of note. "Winning the Masters again changed that. This year, I'm relaxed, not concerned about how I play. If I do well this week, great.

If I don't, I'll be disappointed, but it won't be the end of the world." "Last year's win put a lot of things at rest," he said. "During the '60s and '70s, I expected to win when I came into the major championships and was disappointed when I didn't. But when I hadn't won in sue years, winning the Masters was a pretty special thing, the most special." As for his chances this year, Nicklaus said, "No one realistically expects me to win the Masters at 47. But, then, no one expected me to win it at 46." "Some say last year was your last hurrah," said an interviewer. "Can you have two hurrahs?" of years I played in the Masters there were no trees down the right side.

You could really let it out because if you strayed, you'd still be in the fairway. "But they got around to planting trees there in the early '60s and now they are very much a factor." Because of the changes in the Augusta National, Nicklaus feels the 7-under-par 65 he shot in last year's closing round was more impressive than the third-round 64 he shot in 1965 while en route to a Masters-record 17-under 271 total. "And that 63 Nick Price (of South Africa) shot (in the third round) last year a great round," Nicklaus said. "When you consider how much tougher this course is playing than it was a couple of decades ago, it was amazing." Nicklaus doesn't expect any record scores this week, either in individual rounds or for the tournament as a whole. "The course is as good as I've ever seen it," said Nicklaus, who likes his courses tough.

"The greens are fast, firmer than they have been for years. What they do with them regarding speed and pin AUGUSTA, Ga. Jack Nicklaus, who has had more success on the Augusta National than any other golfer, says the Masters course has changed "dramatically" since he first played it back in 1959. "This course has gone, in the time I've been playing here, from a wide open golf course to a very tight course because of the trees," said Nicklaus, who won his sixth Masters championship last year at age 46. "The biggest problem is the trees are growing so much.

"Someday, they're going to have to address this problem. I can't see them ever cutting down those beautiful trees. But they probably will move the tees to give the golfers the same sort of path they used to have." "Hole after hole, you run into this problem," Nicklaus said. "In many places the trees have grown out so far over the fairways that an entirely different type of drive is required. "But nowhere is the change more noticeable than at No.

7 1 Si Jsck Nicklaus Jr. shows what he thinks of dad's putt.