GOLF SENIOR TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS : After Trevino Pulls Out, Crampton Takes Lead

Lee Trevino, in severe pain from a pulled muscle in his back, withdrew Friday before the second round of the senior division of the Infiniti Tournament of Champions at La Costa.

It was the first time that Trevino, who led all professional golfers in earnings last year, had withdrawn in the middle of a tournament.

Trevino, after shooting a one-under-par 71 in the first round Thursday, underwent treatment at the Centinela Hospital Fitness Center. He had another treatment Friday morning and went out in a light rain to hit some golf balls. In obvious pain, he turned to caddy Herman Mitchell and said, “I can’t go.”

In the absence of Trevino and with the help of a collapse by first-round leader Frank Beard, Bruce Crampton took charge at the halfway point.

Getting birdies on the last two holes, Crampton shot a 69 for a 139 total and a five-shot lead over Beard. Beard, after missing a four-foot birdie putt on No. 8 that would have put him six under par, bogeyed the first five holes on the back nine to drop out of the lead. He shot a 75 and was at 144.

Defending champion George Archer was at 147 after a 71. Eight shots might be too much to make up even if the weather improves.

With the loss of Trevino, the senior division has lost much of its glamour. His presence figured to overcome the absence of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Bob Charles and Arnold Palmer. The first three qualified but chose not to attend. Palmer failed to win a tournament.

An hour before he was scheduled to tee off, Trevino thought he would be able to play. At the fitness center, he was fit with a heat pack. As he prepared to hit some practice shots, he said he felt pretty good. After five or six easy shots with a lofted iron, he said: “I’m loosening up. I flinched on the first couple, but it feels good now.”

After a half dozen more with a different iron, he began to grimace and tried to loosen his back. He shook his head and after three more swings, knew he couldn’t make it.

“I should have done something when I first hurt it seven or eight days ago in Palm Springs, but I was playing so well, I didn’t,” he said. “I guess the weather affected it. It only hurts when I swing a club.”

As he turned to leave the practice area, he said to Crampton, who was close by, “Go get ‘em, Brucie.”

The way Beard was playing, it didn’t appear that Crampton could. After birdies on Nos. 2 and 6, Beard was three shots in front. The putt he blew on No. 8 would have made it four.

“I just lost my concentration,” Beard said. “It’s something that happens to us older guys.”

All of a sudden, Beard, who had been straight down the fairway and making putts from everywhere, lost it. He was hooking his drives and missing putts.

Crampton, despite going one over par on the first five holes of the back side, found himself two shots in front and pulling away. When he birdied three of the last four holes, he took command.

“I was always told,” he said, “that you should go to the front and improve your position. I like my position going into the last two rounds.”

By progression, Crampton should win. This is his fifth appearance as a senior in this tournament. He finished sixth twice, third in 1989 and second last year. He almost always plays well here.

When asked if the withdrawal of Trevino made it easier for him, Crampton said facetiously: “Oh, didn’t Lee play?

“Seriously, it’s better for all of us if Lee takes care of himself and gets well. We all owe him. We have been told that senior attendance was up one-third last year. Lee is responsible for most of it. We want him to get well in a hurry. We need him out there.

“As for myself, I was ready to play. I was relaxed, I felt confident, healthy and rested. I played a solid round. I’ve always liked this course, but since they have so many new greens, it is different. The new ones are faster and break more. They will become more difficult if it dries out in the next two days.”

Although the seniors play shorter distances on nine of the holes for a total of 207 yards, only Crampton was under par after 36 holes.

One shot behind Beard was Charles Coody at 146. Mike Hill was tied with Archer at 147.