Lw2l jLffi foaJfi 2P Page6A COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN, Sunday, July 16, 1978 H8M0B B MM Mmii ' ' Nicklaus silences critics with win in British Open By Neil Amdur vived prequalifying, heightened the in a long birdie putt at the 15th and went Crenshaw was in and out of the race, N.Y. Times Service drama and seemed to ignite the com- on to a one-stro- ke victory. Here we go first losing three strokes on the first 10 petitive fires in Nicklaus. again, Nicklaus thought. holes and then rallying with birdies on ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - It was a Owen finished with a final round 71 "I didn't think he knew the course as the last three to finish with a 71 . "horse race," just as Tom Watson had and 283. bunched with Ray Floyd, Tom well as I did," continued Nicklaus, who Neither Kite nor Floyd was satisfied figured. Except that the two golfers Kite and Ben Crenshaw. had two-putt- ed the 10th, 13th and 15th with his final round. Kite shot 70 but who wound up going head-to-he-ad for Ten golfers started the final 18 holes and shook his head in frustration when could not muster a birdie over the last the 107th British Open championship only two strokes apart. But the focus a 25-fo-ot birdie putt lipped the 11th hole. seven holes. Birdie putts flowed from Saturday were Jack Nicklaus and shifted to Nicklaus and Owen, who were "My mind flashed back to last year, Floyd on the back nine on the 10th, Simon Owen. Yes, Simon Owen. playing as the next-to-la-st twosome, and I said, 'he's going to have to earn 11th, 14th, 15th and a 12-foo- ter at 18 that Proving once again that he could when Nicklaus took a one-stro- ke lead on it.'" brought h m home with a 31, yet totally respond to a pressure situation, the field with a five-fo- ot birdie putt at Owen, who has played only two pro frustrated. Where were the putts in the Nicklaus won his third title and second the 12th hole. tournaments in the United States, is a first three rounds, he wondered? "I over the Old Course of the Royal and However, Owen seemed to draw long hitter. Seemingly energized by his can't find an adjective to really Ancient Golf Club, with a three-under-p- ar inspiration from the large gallery and string of birdies, he outdrove Nicklaus describe the way I have putted," Floyd final round of 69 and a 72-ho- le total perhaps from watching Nicklaus by 30 yards at the 16th but played his said despite a 68 for the day. of 281. seven under par. His margin of analyze a course, affectionately dubbed second shot, an iron, too aggressively, Oosterhuis, without a victory in four victory was two strokes. "The Old Lady," that he had" courted overhit the green and took a bogey. years and seeking to become only the 9-ir- and conquered eight years ago. In Nicklaus used a 3-w-ood off the tee, a on second Briton in 172 years to win the championship This tournament amazing fashion, using a driver off to within six feet of the flag and national championship, shot a 73 to should silence suggestions that golf's almost every tee and putting then sunk a birdie putt that put him finish sixth at 284. One stroke farther leading career money winner, without a aggressively, Owen strung together back in front for good. back were Japan's Isao Aoki, who held major title to his credit over the last birdie putts of 18 feet on the 9th hole, 10 or shared the lead for the first two three years, had been losing his golden "He didn't back off the Old Course." feet on the 10th and three feet on the rounds; American John Scroeder; touch. It was the best he had played Nicklaus said, in tribute to Owen, who 12th. Briton Nick Faldo; and Australian Bob to stroke to Nicklaus from tee green in a big tournament, also lost another Shearer. 38-year-- old Nicklaus af- When he chipped in from 50 feet on with a bogey the 17th hole. "He the said at Nicklaus was prouder of the way he the 15th, to roaring applause, Owen way. nothing terward. charged it all the There's played Saturday than of the ?25,000 "first suddenly found himself one stroke wrong got to get with that, but you've prize. Although he won the Inverrary "I feel like I'm a better player now of Nicklaus. Who was Simon ahead burned sooner or later." Classic and Tournament Players than I've ever been," he added. The Owen anyway? spectators wondered as week-lon- g strewn Championship with lower scores earlier preparations that Nicklaus gathered up periscopes and Ashes of frustration were they their this year, Saturday's victory was made for this championship, adjusting sweaters and rushed for better viewing about the Old Course like heather mostly by Watson. The achieved with a combination of solid Jack Nicklaus hugs "The Open Championship Trophy" a to variations in wind, pin placements positions at the 16th hole. Saturday, after and the countless hidden bunkers, were defending champion, who had started drives and superb irons. blazing finish powered him to first place in the 107th British Open. crucial during Saturday's stretch drive. Nicklaus, who hadn't met Owen until the day tied for the lead with Peter "I won this tournament without a The win was Nicklaus' first major victory in the last years. No. putter for most of he three The surprisingly strong performance they shook hands at the first tee, was Oosterhuis, allowed bogeys at holes the tournament," three-under-p- ar He shot a 69 to finish at seven-und- er 283. 27-year-- Four by the old Owen, an unknown asking himself other questions, like last 4, 5, 6 and 7 to shatter his concentration. said, alluding to his second round of 72 two-putt- ed golfers two New Zealander who had barely sur-- year at Turnberry when Watson rolled He finished with a 76 and 287. when he every green. tied for second, shots back. ffl H University jM f , f ) nearing deal 13 '-- -- '- -,- - -- .. ?V:--1- - Rogelio V. wasn't worried about -- By Solis "I because - ,. ; -1 c. -: 'Vjj "i . , . ".; " ? 4v. ,wl'i1 ' ': Missourian sports writer I played that hole so lousy all week I broadcasts long. But on 14 1 was disappointed that j on Barbara Berkmeyer had just lost to I missed the putt. I thought that was j By Kelly Xiamen Lynn Ralston Saturday in the the turning point of the match for me j and Dave Bukovich semifinals of the Women's Missouri because I thought if I could make that j . :.;.:ir?w;-'Jtroii:;:!:iri.S- ;. 'i-.-J- Z:,. :.:?.-'- -- ',-- Missourian sports writers s v:awwv?v-":-;sJi1r&!iA- r a -- & .. ' Golf Association Amateur Tour- putt I could get the drive going. j nament at the Country Club of "My putting was failing me," she j Missouri Athletic Director Dave Hart Missouri, but she didn't seem too said. "I knew I had to go to an is close to reaching an agreement on a disappointed. alternate plan and it didn't pan out." broadcast contract that would create "I played well," she said. "I think Asked what the plan was, Berk- additional revenue for the Athletic t - - Tm'iJZ NtbO --I - - J'"" " - T - - iw.. .r i I i . i .- - y Vi C ' ,,'3r -- - V jw 1 there's always a sense that you want meyer laughed and said "survival Department and expand coverage of to continue showing people ycu can do and I didn't survive." basketball games. it, but I have nothing to be ashamed The four-tim- e winner praised her Hart said Saturday that broadcast of. I played three good days of golf. opponent by saying Ralston played "exeptionally coverage of Missouri football and ,- ... feel badly. I played a well" and calling her -.- have -- "I don't :.V.-..r- . ' .-- --- V ' ' Y -.: is "not what a university of f4Tl. ,w. 1 lot worse won. not really the favorite in the finals. basketball '-.- ij ,? and I'm that " : -- y - .'-?--.- ' " - - " : .'.--- A S-."-- V:-'- '" . - ""-- this size and stature should be capable 'V ' , ?..' ". .rs.,'.''f - . .' " :" disappointed at all," a tired Berk- Ralston, a junior at Stephens -f- College of getting." - . -- :: - &; - meyer said. from Marceline, appeared v-- "J.i-r-- ;.. , .. .1 Previously, the University received vJz? "v ,...- Berkmeyer, who was defeated by nervous and irritable throughout the 1-- up, match. no compensation from St. Louis -- !' - .- - .- Ralston said it was the difficulty radio .-- ;' - V- - I -A--:. .:,:'- g f . - - J station KMOX for broadcasting rights 4'Si''-- '; ' of her previous matches that brought "I was very nervous about playing to M.U. football games. In Hart's about her defeat. Barbara Berkmeyer. She's a very opinion, the station also failed to "I think the key to it was that I've good player and I was uptight. My promote the broadcasts vigorously had two rough matches before this swing was very fast. I just scuffed them," Ralston enough. "" """ one and I've really been working very said. "We're looking for a total package, -l- illtev---"::""" hard the last two days to hit the ball Looking forward to her opposition in including money to the University and well," Berkmeyer said. "It's pretty the finals (Joyce Mahoney of improving the football and basketball hard to do it three days in a row." Springfield, a winner over Linda coverage," he said.