GOLF SENIORS AT OJAI : Crampton’s 65 Leads Quick-Starting Field

Gary Player, a horse-breeder in South Africa, said that in a 36-hole tournament you have to come out of the gate like a quarter horse.

Player came out fast Saturday in the delayed opening round of the rain-shortened $450,000 GTE West senior tournament at the Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club.

On the par-70, 6,190-yard course, put in surprisingly good condition after six inches of rain in three days, Player shot a four-under-par 66.

Only Bruce Crampton, who seems to love Southern California courses, came out of the chute faster. Crampton shot a 65 to take a one-shot lead over a tightly bunched field.

There are 16 players within three shots of the lead, including Arnold Palmer and leading money-winner Lee Trevino. Chi Chi Rodriguez--after spending two days in bed because of flu--and defending champion Walt Zembriski are tied with Player at 66. In the same group are two non-winners on the 50-and-older tour, Dick Hendrickson and Dick Ryan.

Palmer, who drew a majority of the estimated 10,000 fans, is at 67 and Trevino is at 68.

Trevino had not practiced on the course but was ecstatic about it.

“This is a great course,” he said. “These are the best greens in the world. But it’s a course you have to play a couple of times to get used to.”

Palmer, who has not won since 1988, was encouraged by his round. He is, surprisingly, satisfied with his putting.

“As you know, Lee (Trevino) helped me with my putting more than a year ago,” Palmer said. “The more I’ve worked with it, the better it feels. I think from now on, instead of changing often, I’ll stick with this style.”

Until he drilled a 25-foot putt on the 17th green, Crampton’s longest putt was seven feet. He survived some poor shots, too. On the ninth hole, a short par-five, he flubbed a short chip and had to scramble for a par. On 15, he pulled his drive into the rough and barely saved par on the 359-yard, par-four hole. And on 16, he missed a two-foot putt.

The golfers had different feelings about the layoff because of the rain. Rodriguez would have withdrawn if they had played Friday. “The rain was holy water to me,” he said. “I’m tired and I’m going to go lie down.”

Crampton thought he benefited more than most because his swing is in a groove.

“You have to prepare differently for a 36-hole tournament,” he said. “I’m satisfied to be where I am, and I’m glad they are paying the full purse. We all appreciate that.”

Crampton, in his previous appearance in the region, won the Tournament of Champions at La Costa.

“I had only played this course once (Tuesday),” he said. “When I win, a course becomes my favorite. I hope to make this my favorite.”

Zembriski thought the shortened tournament helped him because it made him concentrate on being ready at the start.

“I practiced putting in my room for three days,” he said. Saturday, he made putts of 10, 15, 12, 16 and seven feet.

Palmer said he came prepared to play and didn’t think not playing Friday helped him.

“Maybe some of the old guys needed the rest,” said Palmer, who is 61.

Player said he found the rest helpful: “I really had not had a day off for 60 days. I felt great this morning. I knew I had to get out fast, and I feel good about the round.”

Trevino said he was eager to start playing.

“I was gathering mildew, spending so much time in my room,” he said.

Twenty-seven golfers broke par, including Roberto DeVincenzo and Gene Littler, who shot 69s to tie for the lead in the super seniors division for those over 60. Palmer is eligible but does not compete in the division.