THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507140150
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
Ah, tradition. Golf is steeped in it.
The Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic has its traditions as well. One is the weather. Dig through a few old PGA Tour media guides, and ``hot and humid every day'' pops up with regularity in the recaps of previous tournaments. Thursday actually wasn't bad, but just wait, it's coming.
Another A-B tradition is a first-round leaderboard with names so anonymous to the casual golf fan that it could just as easily pass for your local club championship as a PGA event.
Atop the board after the first day at Kingsmill's River Course are Dudley Hart, Richard Zokol and Robin Freeman at 6-under 65. Throw in Judge Smalls from the movie ``Caddyshack'' and make it a foursome. Ever heard of one of them (besides Smalls, of course)?
That's OK, you're not alone. And neither are they when it comes to first-round obscurity here. Blasts from A-Bs past of early frontrunners in the 1990s include the likes of John Flannery, Trevor Dodds, Ed Dougherty, Ed Humenik, Frank Conner and Greg Hickman. Household names they aren't . . . except to members of their own households.
Four other players are a shot back at 66 - Kirk Triplett, Scott McCarron, Duffy Waldorf and Jim Carter. The lucky seven atop the leaderboard have combined for one official career win.
McCarron, a 30-year-old tour rookie, captured the essence of this not-so-illustrious group when talking about his effect on the galleries.
``I'm kind of in the hot dog group,'' McCarron said. ``Someone sees my name and says `McCarron, Rymer . . . let's go get a hot dog.' ''
Based on the leaderboard, chances are they're still tallying Thursday's concession-stand receipts.
The big dogs in the field had mixed results. Jim Gallagher Jr. was the best of notables at 69. Payne Stewart shot a 70, Curtis Strange and Lanny Wadkins posted 72s. Defending champion Mark McCumber - who recorded four sub-70 rounds last year - skied to a 74.
Rookie Carl Paulson of Virginia Beach shot a 70, Williamsburg native Mark Carnevale was at 1-over 72 and Old Dominion graduate Jim McGovern fired a 69.
McCarron, for one, is having fun seeing his name on the leaderboard.
``It's been on there a few times on Thursdays and Fridays,'' he said. ``But I'm kind of the Stealth on Saturdays and Sundays - I'm invisible to media and leaderboards.''
He might be better off if the leaderboards were invisible. McCarron first noticed his name on one at No. 2, which was his 11th hole of the day.
``That was the first time I actually looked up at the leaderboard and saw I was actually leading,'' McCarron said. ``Being a rookie, you don't get to see your name up there very often. I was like, `Oh my God, I'm actually leading this tournament.' Sure enough, I made bogey that hole.''
McCarron had three bogeys offset by eight birdies. He said it reminded him of the roller coasters he rode at Busch Gardens Wednesday.
Zokol could tell you a thing or two about the roller-coaster life of a PGA Tour player. He was doing fine a few years ago, finishing among the top 100 on the money list five out of seven years.
But he slumped to a career-worst 169th on the list last year, losing his tour card. He wrote to tournaments seeking sponsor's exemptions, and the Anheuser-Busch was one of the first ones he heard back from.
This is just the fifth PGA Tour event of the year for Zokol, who has won $7,281, good for 223rd on the money list.
``Once you think you've got golf figured out is the day before you fall on your face,'' said Zokol, who has played some Canadian Tour events this year. ``Not that I ever thought I had it figured out.''
Triplett probably has it figured out this year as well as he ever has. He has tied for second twice - at the Canon Greater Hartford Open and Buick Invitational of California - and has already earned $333,140, good for 30th on the money list. He appears well on his way to his best year.
``I've always had good luck here,'' said Triplett. ``I finished 15th or so my first year and I was tied for the lead with nine holes to go in '93.''
Triplett said he stumbled in with a 40 or 41 on the final nine that year to finish tied for 25th.
``I'm looking to make up for that,'' Triplett said.
Freeman tied for second this year at the GTE Byron Nelson Classic and was third at the Kemper, where he led after 70 holes. The former club pro said the secret to his success is he's having fun and has learned not to berate himself for bad play.
``I've taken myself a lot less serious this year,'' Freeman said.
Right now, it's hard to take this leaderboard seriously. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by Paul Aiken
Left, Dudley Hart chips onto the green at No.9 to save par and hold
on to a share of the lead.
Color staff photos by Bill Tiernan
Above, Richard Zokol acknowledges the gallery after finishing the
first round with a 6-under 65.
Right, Robin Freeman can't believe his eyes after missing an eagle
putt on No.15, which could have given him the lead by himself.
by CNB