Golf Roundup : Sutton Answers Nicklaus’ Charge

Hal Sutton heard Jack Nicklaus coming. “I’m familiar with those roars,” Sutton said.

He knew that Nicklaus was on the move, reeling six straight birdies in a Masters-like charge on the back nine.

But Sutton birdied holes 10, 11 and 12 on his way to a final-round 68 Sunday and won the Memorial Tournament at Dublin, Ohio, with a record-breaking 271 total, 17 under par--nine shots better than the tournament scoring record held by Nicklaus, David Graham and Andy Bean.

Nicklaus bogeyed the par-3 16th hole, finished with a 69 and ended up tied for fifth at 277.

“I’d made up my mind that Jack would get hot sometime during the round,” Sutton said. “I’d thought it out the night before. I knew he’d get hot and I was prepared to answer him.”

The four-stroke victory was the seventh of Sutton’s five-year PGA career and second this season. It was worth $100,000 from the purse of about $577,000 and pushed his earnings to $318,500 for the year.

It also enabled him to join Fuzzy Zoeller, Calvin Peete and Bean as the only multiple winners this season.

“I figured if I was going to win, I had to be aggressive today, had to have birdies,” Sutton said. “Fortunately, I got them.”

Don Pooley took second with a 69 and a 275 total. One stroke back at 276 were Johnny Miller (68) and Mark O’Meara (63).

Laurie Rinker sank an 80-foot chip shot for an eagle and birdied two holes on the back nine to charge past Beth Daniel and win a $250,000 tournament at Corning, N.Y.

Rinker, who started the day tied for fourth, fired a six-under-par 66 to pass Daniel. Rinker’s 10-under 278 was good for her second LPGA victory in five years on the tour.

Daniel, the leader through the first three rounds, made the turn at 11 under, good for a one-stroke lead over Pat Bradley. Daniel double bogeyed No. 15, then bogeyed Nos. 16 and 18 to drop into a second-place tie with Bradley at 281. Daniel shot a final-round 74 and Bradley had a 72.

Lee Elder shot a final-round, one-under-par 71 to finish at 15-under-par and win by six strokes in the PGA Senior tour’s $230,000 Coca Cola Grand Slam Championship at Narita, Japan.

Elder finished with a four-round total of 273 to earn the $50,000 first prize.

Miller Barber, won won the tournament last year, came in second at 279 after shooting a final round of 70. He earned $32,000.

Third place was shared by Don January and Gene Littler at 281. January finished with a 69 and Littler a 70.