A Sub-Par Streak Brings Lancaster Into Limelight

Neal Lancaster, a 29-year-old pro who has never had a golf lesson, shot his age Thursday on the back nine at Indian Wells.

His 29, coupled with a 37 on the front nine, gave him a 66 for a 133 total and a share of the lead with Steve Elkington after 36 holes of the 90-hole Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Elkington, who won the opening PGA Tour event, the Tournament of Champions, also shot a 66 at Indian Wells, regarded as the easiest of the four courses in the tournament.

Lancaster, who hasn’t won on the tour since getting his card in 1990, said he played “terrible” golf on the front nine.

Then the former club pro got rolling, even though he said he didn’t think he was playing that well.

From the 12th through the 17th holes, Lancaster had five birdies and an eagle, then missed a 12-foot putt on No. 18 that would have given him a 28.

Lancaster said that he once worked 94 hours a week for $167 while an assistant pro at Southern Wayne Country Club in Mt. Olive, N.C.

“I only had $23 in my pocket when I went on the mini-tours in 1988,” he said. “Then, I won $2,400 for my first tournament in Myrtle Beach (S.C), and that got me started.”

Lancaster’s goal this week is to shoot in the 60s every day, even if he finishes in 15th place.

“Of course, I’d like to win a tournament,” he said. “Everybody out here can win a tournament. But you’ve got these guys they call the ‘seasoned veterans.’

“It’s a little more different for me. You’ve got the top 25 on the tour, a guy who has made $4 million in his career and I’ve made $220,000. What’s he got to be nervous about?

“He’s going to get all the endorsements, and I’m not going to get any. But they deserve the endorsements. They have no reason to be nervous. I have a reason to be nervous.”

Lancaster, who used travel to tournaments in a van with his wife, Lou Ann, now flies after three top-10 finishes last year and winding up 90th on the money-winning list with $180,037.

He said he was fourth in driving statistics in his first year on the tour, then fell to 10th.

“This year, I’d love not to be in the top 10 in driving,” he said. “I can hit the ball a long way, but I’m trying to get more control. I usually make a lot of birdies. I think I finished eighth last year in birdies and 11th in eagles.”

Asked if he is in John Daly’s range off the tee, Lancaster replied: “No one is in Daly’s range.”

Lancaster said he played a lot of mini-tour tournaments with Daly.

“I knew of John before you (reporters) or any tour players ever heard of him,” Lancaster said. “For example, I was playing in a tournament with him at his home course in Dardanelle, Ark., and the first hole was 363 yards. His drive hit on the front fringe of the green.

“He’s two clubs longer than anyone. I know he gets a lot of publicity for how long he hits the ball, but he’s got to cut his distance down.

“He could be a superstar, because he has got the game.”

Daly’s game has been in remission since the start of the year. He finished 21st at La Costa and has had rounds of 70-74 here, his 144 leaving him 11 strokes behind the leaders.

Golf Notes

Arnold Palmer, who had a 66 Wednesday when he was two strokes behind the leaders, couldn’t maintain his pace. He shot a 74 at La Quinta. Palmer hasn’t made the cut in the Hope tournament since 1982. . . . Neal Lancaster said his nine-hole score of 29 is the lowest he’s had since joining the tour. . . . Brian Claar didn’t like the feel of his putter Wednesday, so he got a new one. Then he noticed that his new putter had three degrees of loft that bothered him. He couldn’t find anyone to bend it for him, so he had to play with it as it was. The result Thursday: seven birdies and an eagle in his round of 63 at Bermuda Dunes, which gave him a 134 total. “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” Claar said philosophically. . . . Claar is tied for third with Nolan Henke, Gene Sauers and Kenny Perry. . . . Indian Wells has yielded 52 sub-par rounds after 36 holes, compared to 29 for the Palmer course at PGA West and 48 and 49 for Quinta and Bermuda Dunes, respectively.

The Commercial Appeal, Memphis’ morning newspaper, reported that Daly’s former girl friend, Bettye Fulford, 39, had retained Marvin Mitchelson as her attorney. Mitchelson said that Fulford is pregnant and is seeking a settlement from Daly, 25, with whom she no longer lives. “. . . If we don’t get (one) we’re going to have to file an action next week, probably for palimony and paternity as well,” Mitchelson said. Daly would not comment, according to the Associated Press.