A Sight for Murphy’s Eyes: First-Round Senior Lead

Senior golfer Bob Murphy’s biggest adjustment was made at his eye doctor’s office, not on the putting green, and it helped him to a six-under-par 66 and the first-round lead Thursday in the Senior Tour Championship at Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Murphy birdied the final two holes and led Hubert Green by a shot. Hale Irwin, chasing a record 10th Senior PGA Tour victory, was next with a comfortable 68, tied with Bruce Summerhays at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

When Murphy went to the optometrist last week, he was told his vision had changed so much in a year’s time that he couldn’t correctly line up putts. A week ago, a new prescription cleared his vision and restored his putting stroke.

Murphy rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 2, a 25-footer to save par on No. 6 then sank birdie putts of eight and six feet on Nos. 7 and 8. His final two birdies, both from inside six feet, closed his best round in five tournaments.

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Scotland’s Sam Torrance posted a four-under 68 for a one-stroke lead in the rain-delayed opening round of the $2-million Sarazen World Open tournament at Braselton, Ga.

PGA Tour regulars Scott Hoch and Vijay Singh were next at 69 over the 6,993-yard, par-72 Legends at Chateau Elan.

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The United States Golf Assn. pledged to spend $50 million over the next 10 years to increase participation in the game by minorities, youth and players with disabilities. The program, to be administrated by the USGA Foundation, will try to make courses more affordable and more accessible.

Tennis

Magnus Larsson, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Stockholm Open by defeating countryman Thomas Enqvist, 6-1, 6-2. Four-time Stockholm Open champion Boris Becker lost to Jan Siemerink of the Netherlands, 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3.

Second-seeded Petr Korda of the Czech Republic beat Alex O’Brien of the United States, 7-5, 6-3, and advanced to the semifinals of the $1,125,000 Kremlin Cup at Moscow. Korda will face former USC standout Wayne Black of Zimbabwe, who defeated Daniel Vacek of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-2, in Thursday’s other quarterfinal match.

Jurisprudence

Albert Belle has reached a settlement in the case of a young Halloween prankster who claimed the Chicago White Sox outfielder hit him with his truck in Ohio in 1995, Belle’s lawyer, Jose Feliciano said. The terms of the deal were not released.

Jose Canseco was arrested in Miami and charged with battery for hitting his wife, Jessica Canseco, during an argument in a friend’s car in Miami at 2:30 a.m.

Canseco, 33, an Oakland Athletics’ outfielder, was released from the Dade County jail after posting a $2,000 bond. Five years ago, Canseco was charged with beating his former wife.

Rafer Alston has been suspended for Fresno State’s basketball opener because of an altercation with an ex-girlfriend.

Athletic Director Al Bohl said that Alston had been suspended for two exhibition games next week and the official opener Nov. 17 against Florida A&M.;

Gilbert Brown, a 350-pound nose tackle for the Green Bay Packers who admitted striking his live-in girlfriend last summer, was sentenced to a year’s probation today.

Brown County Circuit Judge Sue Bischel also ordered Brown to perform 20 hours of community service, undergo counseling and pay $130 in court costs.

Two Iowa State football players are accused of looting dormitory rooms after the building was evacuated because of a fire.

Jamel Joyner, 18, a freshman wide receiver from Mastic Beach, N.Y., and Shaka Jones, a sophomore linebacker from Peoria, Ill., were charged with burglary. Both have been suspended from the team.

Miscellany

Mike Haynes, former Raider and New England Patriot who was inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame last summer, will be honored today by his former high school, John Marshall, where the Mike Haynes Hall of Fame mural will be unveiled. Haynes will address the students there after similar visits to his other schools, Lockwood Elementary and King Middle School.

Thomas Ravelli, the 38-year Swede who holds the record for national team goalkeeper appearances with 147, agreed Thursday to a multiyear contract with Major League Soccer.

The University of Cincinnati has asked the NCAA to restore basketball player Ruben Patterson’s eligibility. Patterson averaged 13.7 points a game and 5.6 rebounds last season.