Elkington in His Morning Glory

The safest place when a gentle morning breeze turned into an annoying afternoon wind in the Players Championship was in the clubhouse--exactly where leader Steve Elkington was.

By the time Elkington finished at nine-under-par 135, shots that plopped close to the pin early Friday were finding bogey-making rough on the Stadium Course of the TPC in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Taking advantage of ideal playing conditions early, Elkington made five birdie putts all from 20 feet or less and shot a 69 to finish 36 holes one stroke ahead of Larry Mize and two better than Tommy Tolles and David Edwards.

“Obviously, teeing off early this morning, the conditions of the course were perfect,” Elkington said.

Mize and Tolles also took advantage of the soft course and morning breeze, Mize shooting a 68 and Tolles a 67. Edwards survived the breezy afternoon with a 70.

British Open champion Tom Lehman, one of the few others to handle the afternoon wind, was at 138 along with Craig Parry, Brian Watts and Davis Love III, who shot a 66. Ernie Els and Fuzzy Zoeller were in a group at 139.

Masters champion Nick Faldo and Greg Norman were at 143. Tiger Woods was at 144 after shooting a 73, only his second above-par score in 21 rounds this year. Defending champion Fred Couples was at 145. All four played in the windy afternoon.

The morning players shot a cumulative 61 strokes over par, the afternoon players were 114 over par--a 53-stroke difference.

*

Graham Marsh had a hole in one on the 17th hole, helping him to a five-under 67 and a first-round tie with John Jacobs in the Southwestern Bell Dominion Seniors tournament in San Antonio.

Marsh had as much trouble as everyone else trying to figure out the greens. But he found a way around that problem on the 17th, hitting an eight-iron for his first ace in four years.

“I made my share [of putts] today,” Marsh said. “I rattled a few in. I didn’t make any long ones other than the 150-yarder.”

Marsh’s ace put him ahead of Larry Gilbert, Rocky Thompson and David Graham, who were already in the clubhouse at four under.

Chi Chi Rodriguez, a former champion, was one of eight players who were two strokes back at 69.