The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 27

SPORTS MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1999 C3 Sidelines Ahem cracks winner's circle THE OTTAWA CITIZEN (ft Phoenix golfer beats Irwin in playoff to land Canada Senior Open crown Bronze for Canada in dragon boats Canada's men's and women's dragon boat teams won bronze medals yesterday in the world championships at Nottingham, England. The Canadian men, whose crew included Ottawa brothers Mark and Scott Seaby, finished the 500-metre final behind England and Germany. China won the women's race, followed by Engand. Pepper holds off Kuehne for win Dottie Pepper rattled in a 35-foot Ahern birdied the final two holes in regulation on the Rouville course, sinking a snaking 30-footer from the back fringe on the par-4 18th, en route to a 4-under-par 68 to tie Irwin at 16-under 272. Irwin shot 69 in the final round.

Back on the 430-yard 18th for the playoff for the first time, both made par, so they headed back to the 18th tee once again. Irwin, who pulled his tee shot near the trees on the left side of the fairway the first time, pushed his second drive into the trees on the right, and his approach shot landed in a greenside bunker. Irwin, who didn't play the final hole well all week, couldn't hole his bunker shot and missed a six-foot par putt for a bogey. Ahern, who had ripped another 3-wood down the fairway, hit a 7-iron approach shot on the second go-around, stroked a par putt from five feet and leaped into the air as the ball hit the bottom of the cup. "I believe in myself, I really do," Ahern said.

"You just never know what's going to happea" Last week, Irwin lost a two-hole playoff to winner Tom McGinnis in the BankBoston Classic. Special to The Citizen 1 on the firial hole yesterday to nail uuwu a iwu-sirunc victory over neme ish being a tie for ninth in the Quad Cities Open. "To beat somebody like Hale Irwin, who I'm sure feels bad, well, he's the best we've got out here, and to beat the best is a very special feeling," said Ahern, who pocketed $202,500, one of the largest first-place purses on the Senior PGA Tour, and became the seventh qualifier to win a tour event. The last to do so was Dana Quigley in the 1997 Northville Long Island Classic. "When I played on the regular PGA Tour years ago, I was not very good.

I didn't know where the ball was going. I'd set up left to kill it and pull hook it," Ahern joked. "I mean the only place for me was off the Tour. I lost my card. I knew I didn't belong there.

"But now, I've come a long way. I'm a lot better player. I can play." Ahern captured his first Senior PGA Tour title in his seventh start since he turned 50 in February, and he's the ninth first-time winner this season. He also received earned a full exemption on the tour for one calender year. By randy Phillips SAINTE-JULIE, Que.

Jim Ahem won the most important golf tournament of his life and more money than he ever imagined yesterday. More than that, he proved dreams could come true. The 50-year-old Phoenix golfer, who only earned a spot in the tournament by winning a qualifying event on Monday, overcame a two-shot deficit on the final two holes of regulation play and then defeated favourite Hale Irwin on the second hole of a playoff to win the Canada Senior Open at Richelieu Valley. "There just aren't words right now that can explain this; it's the greatest feeling. You just dream about days like this," Ahern said as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.

"I'm sure, for Hale Irwin, (winning) is old hat. But it's a new hat for me, I'll tell you. "This has never happened to me at this kinda level," said Ahern, who played 60 events on the PGA Tour between 1972 and 1975, with his best fin RYAN REMIORZ, THE CANADIAN PRESS Kuehne in the Oldsmobile Classic, an LPGA Tour event at East Lansing, Michigan. Pepper shot a 2-under 70 for an 18-under 270 total. Kuehne started the day in a five-way tie for second, five shots back, but finished alone in second after shooting a 67.

First Canadian win for Morland David Morland of Aurora, fired a l-under-par 71 yesterday to win the McDonald's P.E.I. Challenge by two shots. The victory was the first on the Canadian Tour for the eight-year pro, who finished with a 72-hole total of 14-under 274 at Montague, P.E.I. He earned $22,500. Americans Ken Duke and Manny Zerman tied for second at Jim Ahern lines up a putt during the final round of the Senior Canadian Open yesterday.

Ahern collected his first Tour win in his seventh start as a Senior. -12-under and earned $10,000 each. Canadian Tour's best move up The top three players on the Canadian Tour money list have received berths in this week's Air Canada "onship and next week's Canadian Onpn PTfn DnVp nf fh TnifpH taffQ '3k 4 if-1 Rav Stewart of Abbotsford, B.C., and Ken Staton of the U.S. Ian Leggatt of Cambridge, Darren Griff of Nanaimo, B.C., and David Morland of Aurora, also have exemptions into the Air Canada event, while Leggatt and Griff will join Duke, Stewart and Staton in the Canadian Open. The top three players and the next two highest Canadians on the Canadian Tour's McDonald's Order of Merit were given exemptions.

However, Leggatt was previously exempted into the ACC, because he made the cut in 1998, so Morland grabbed the fifth spot. Woods a tiger under pressure NEC Invitational winner turns back final-round charge by Mickelson AKRON, Ohio No matter how much he has changed his game, no matter what kind of prize is at stake, one thing about Tiger Woods never seems to change: Put him under the gun, especially on the 17th hole, and he finds ways to win. Woods lost another big lead, but revived his putter just in time to make a 20-foot birdie putt yesterday to secure a one-stroke victory in the NEC Invitational. "Winning never gets old," said Woods, who finished with a l-over 71 to hold off Phil Mickelson. No, but this business of big putts on the 17th hole is getting routine.

Woods won the first of three straight U.S. Amateur titles by making a birdie on the famed island green on No. 17 at the TPC at Sawgrass in 1996. He won his second major title, the PGA Championship, two weeks ago by making a pressure-packed eight-footer for par on the 17th hole at the Medinah Country Club. And there he was again at Firestone Country Club, clinging to a one-stroke lead as he stood over a 20-foot birdie putt straight down the slope.

Woods knelt and pumped his right arm four times when the putt crept in the hole, sensing how critical it was. He had to two-putt from 60 feet for bogey on the final hole to finish at 10-under 270, one stroke ahead of Mickelson, who bogeyed two of the last three holes, but still shot 65 yesterday. "There's something about having to make one on 17," Woods said. "I stay focused; that doesn't change. It's just that the ball seems to go in." Right now, everything is going his way.

The triumph against a field of Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players was his fifth in his past eight events and earned him $1 million U.S., the largest payday of an already lucrative career. At 23, he becomes the youngest player to win five times in one season since Jack Nicklaus won the Sahara Invitational in 1963 at the exact same age. He is also the first player since Nick Price in 1994 to win five times in a year. "I've always teed it up to try to win," said Woods, who won for the ninth consecutive time when leading after three rounds. Mickelson earned $510,000 for the largest paycheque of his career, but he is running out of time to extend his streak to seven years with at least one PGA Tour victory.

He can blame this opportunity on two bad shots: a layup that found the rough on the par-5 16th, and a drive into the rough on the closing hole. Both led to bogeys. The Associated Press 1 r- Jr, r- Rioting mars Libya-Iraq match Police fired tear gas and beat Libyan fans with clubs yesterday after violence broke out with Libya on the verge of losing a soccer match to Iraq in the Arab Games at Amman, Jordan. With five minutes left in the match, fans ripped out seats and threw them on the field. About 45 people, including some policemen, received minor injuries.

After 10 minutes, the referee blew the final whistle and awarded the match to Iraq with the score at 3-1. Nepean team in Ontario final again The Nepean United Spirits women's team crushed the Mississauga Falcons 7-0 in Ontario Cup semifinals at Markham yesterday. Eva Melamed led the way with three goals, while Amanda Shaw scored two. Tarda Singfield recorded the shutout. The Spirits will vie for their third Ontario crown on Sept.

12 in the final against the St. Catharines Jets in Toronto. The Gloucester Hornets under-16 girls team lost 2-0 to the Burlington Impact, while the under-16 Tier 2 Ottawa Blue Lightning boys beat the North York Cosmos 2-1, and the under-15 Tier 2 Ottawa St. Anthony boys defeated the Tecumseh Warriors, also 2-1. Phillips becomes top scorer Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips scored from the edge of the box to equalize 1-1 with Coventry at the Stadium of Light and go to the top of the goal scorers' standings in the English Premier League.

Phillips' goal- was his fifth in six league games. PATRICK DOYLE, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Masked ball Former Detroit Tigers pitcher John Warden JetForm Park yesterday. The Legends played a local dons a hockey goaltender's mask while catch- team, the Law Enforcement All-Stars and Bad News ing for the touring All-Star Legends of Baseball, Bears, with proceeds from the game going to the Big who showcased their talents in a charity game at Brothers Association of Ottawa-Carleton. Expos relish spoiler role Red Barons' quick start in early innings traps Lynx Reds lose ground in Central Division race Red Barons 5, Lynx 1 3 Expos 8, Reds 6 Sosa three up in homer derby 1 Outfielder Sammy Sosa hit his major-league-leading 54th home run last night in the Chicago Cubs' 6-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sosa has a three-homer lead over St Louis first baseman Mark McGwire, who failed to connect in the Cardinas' 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves last night.

Brewers interview Jays' Stewart The Milwaukee Brewers have interviewed Toronto Blue Jays assistant general manager Dave Stewart as part of a search to replace former general manager Sal Bando, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported. Bando was reassigned Aug. 12. nati Reds, that's something we can tuck away and remember for next time." The Expos, who also had an 8-6 comeback win on Saturday, earned a split in the four-game series. Trailing 6-5 with runners on first and second and two outs, Blum tripled to put the Expos ahead and chase starter Pete Harnisch, who was trying for his 100th career victory.

"It's been a while since I've been in that situation, to be able to put the team ahead like that with runners on base," Blum said. "That's probably one of the first times I haven't chased a bad pitch and gotten myself out." The Reds got to Expos starter Javier Vazquez early, scoring four runs on five hits in the first inning. Harnisch entered the fifth inning with a no-hitter and a 5-0 lead, but the Expos tied the game with five runs on five hits, including a home run by Orlando Merced and a two-run triple by Ryan McGuire, who was pinch-hitting for Vazquez. The Canadian Press drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw by Duran. After pitcher Robert Dodd struck out, Magee doubled to score Finn for a 2-0 lead for the Red Barons, who improved to 72-26 on the season.

In the third, a leadoff walk to McMillon and a single by Torey Lovullo ignited another rally, which was capped by Steve Carver's three-run home run, his 10th of the campaign and his second in as many games against Ottawa. Starter Robert Dodd (3-0) went the distance for the Red Barons. He struck out four, walked one, and allowed five hits. One of those five hits was Fernando Seguignol's solo home run with one out in the top of the fourth inning. The homer was his 19th of the season.

The loss dropped the Lynx to 55-81 this year, just five losses short of the franchise mark for defeats in a season, 86 set in 1997. Ottawa's Trace Coquillette went o-for-4 and had an eight-game hitting streak snapped. By Steve Bennett MOOSIC, Pennsylvania The ScrantonWilkes-Barre Red Barons scored five runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Lynx in an International League game yesterday afternoon at Lackawanna County Stadium. Roberto Duran (0-1), normally a reliever, made his first start of the season for the Lynx and gave up five hits and five runs in three innings while striking out six batters and walking four. Duran's troubles began when he walked leadoff hitter Wendell Magee Jr.

in the bottom of the first inning, then gave up a single to Darren Burton and a double to Billy McMillon to score Magee. Duran escaped that inning without further damage, though, by striking out the next three batters. The Ottawa hurler ran into more difficulty in the second, when John Finn MONTREAL The Montreal Expos may be out of the playoff race, but they haven't lost their spirit. Geoff Blum hit a triple in the sixth inning yesterday to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs and the Montreal Expos, for the second straight game, rallied to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 8-6. "We want to be in that kind of situation," Blum said of the come-from-be-hind win.

"Nobody on our team gets down, and we can see it in each others' eyes. "It's like when you're in little league, or in the front yard as a kid. It's two out, you're down, and it's up to you." The loss dropped the Reds 1V2 games behind the Houston Astros in the NL Central Division race. "We're not in the pennant race, but we could be the spoiler," Blum said. "And coming back against the Cincin 7 56ers thump Twins Brad Underwood had three hits and Adam Smith and Brian Harvey two each as the Stittsville 56ers beat the P.E.I.

Summerside Twins 16-8 yesterday in the Canadian senior men's fast-pitch finals at St. Thomas, Ont. Ninth loss in row at SkyDome extends Jays home woes Rangers 4, Blue Jays 2 1977. Toronto is now four games behind the Boston Red Sox, who defeated Anaheim 7-4 yesterday, in the American League wild-card race. Palmeiro singled home Juan Gonzalez in the fourth for his 39th RBI in August, breaking Gonzalez's mark of 38, set in July 1996.

Todd Zeile then cranked his 18th home run of the season off Jays starter Roy Halladay (8-6) for a 3-1 Texas lead. art extended his hitting streak to 26 games with a leadoff single in the first, tying John Olerud (1993) for the second-longest streak in club history. Earlier this season, Shawn Green set the record when he hit safely in 28 consecutive games. Despite loading the bases with none out in the first inning, the Jays came away with just one run when Stewart scored on Carlos Delgado's RBI single. struck out Tony Batista for the first out and got Willie Greene to hit into a double play.

Halladay went 6V3 innings, scattering eight hits. He walked five and had five strikeouts. Burkett had three strikeouts in 6v3 innings, and allowed seven hits and a walk. Rangers closer John Wetteland recorded his 36th save. The Canadian Press Cowboys owner arrested Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was arrested yesterday after he drove away with his family before a police officer had finished writing a speeding ticket.

Jones was charged with fleeing the scene, a misdemeanour punishable by a fine of as much as $2,000 U.S. and six months in jail. Citizen staff and news services TORONTO Texas first baseman Rafael Palmeiro set a club record for RBI in a month as the Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-2 victory at SkyDome yesterday afternoon. The Jays lost their ninth consecutive home game, and are two losses away from tying the team record of 11, set during the club's expansion season in I Blue Jays left-fielder Shannon Stew- Rangers starter John Burkett (5-7).