GOLF ROUNDUP : Rodriguez Gets Teed Off and Wins by Seven Strokes

Chi Chi Rodriguez made an adjustment on his tee shots, then made fast work of a $500,000 senior tournament Sunday at Acme, Mich.

Rodriguez, starting the day one stroke behind second-round leader Don January, eagled the third and sixth holes--both par fives--and won the tournament by seven strokes.

He shot a 66 to finish at 203, 13-under-par on the 6,679-yard, Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear course considered by many to be the most difficult in Michigan.

“Last night, I started thinking about something Byron Nelson told me in 1973,” Rodriguez said. “He told me I was the best iron player he ever saw but I teed the ball too high to ever be a good driver.

“Last night, I practiced off the short tee. Then, this morning, I read a column in the Traverse City paper by Chick Harbert. The truth never hurt you.”

Harbert, the 1954 PGA champion and two-time member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, is a consultant at a nearby golf course. He wrote a guest column during the senior tournament and his Sunday piece said that Rodriguez was getting into trouble off the tee.

“So, I practiced with the ball teed low again this morning,” Rodriguez said. “As a result, I drove the ball longer and straighter today than I ever did in my life.”

Rodriguez’s 15th victory on the Senior PGA Tour was worth $75,000. His other victory this year was in the Las Vegas tournament in May.

Archer, who won two weeks ago, tied Al Kelley for second at 210. Archer shot 71 and Kelley 70.

Brothers Mike and Dave Hill, who shot 70 and 72, respectively, joined Gordon Jones and Phil Rodgers at 211. Jones had a 72 and Rodgers a 67.

January, with a final-round 76, finished at 212 along with Don Massengale, who shot 70.

January started the final round of the 54-hole tournament at eight-under, one ahead of Rodriguez. But only six holes into the round, Rodriguez was 12 under and seven ahead of January.

Rodriguez slipped to 11-under with a bogey at the 11th, but got that back with birdie at No. 13, just before a steady rain rolled in off Lake Michigan. He sank a 20-foot putt for a birdie on 16 to reach 13 under.

Rodriguez increased his earnings for the year to $392,796. The three players ahead of him on the money list--Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player--competed this week in the British Open.

Beth Daniel struggled through heavy rains and held par for five holes, maintaining a two-stroke lead until play was suspended during the final round of a $400,000 LPGA tournament at Vienna, Ohio.

The round will resume this morning, weather permitting. If the course is not playable, Daniel would be declared the winner because she led by two strokes after the first two rounds of the 54-hole event.

Balls on the course were marked when play stopped, and players will return to those spots today.