Masters Champion Gets Ovations, but Not Lead

The Masters was last week. That’s what champion Vijay Singh and the rest of the Augusta National contenders discovered Thursday in the MCI Classic at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Singh, applauded at every grandstand he passed, finished with a one-under-par 70, four strokes behind leader Dan Forsman, who spent last weekend watching the Masters on TV.

Almost none of those who chased Singh at Augusta could handle the windy, cold conditions at Harbour Town Golf Links.

Ernie Els, second in the Masters, had an eagle and birdie through his first five holes, but couldn’t gain any more strokes and ended at 68.

Davis Love III, a Harbour master with four MCI victories, was tied with Forsman on the 18th hole. However, he sailed his approach into the marsh bordering the green and took a double-bogey six to drop into a tie with Els.

Things were just as unkind to others who fought for the green jacket a week ago. Tom Lehman took double bogey on his final hole for a 70. Loren Roberts and Carlos Franco shot 73s.

“It was difficult out there, no question about it,” Singh said. “But I was happy with the way I hit the ball, kept myself focused.”

Edward Fryatt, who earlier this year made eight consecutive birdies in the Doral-Ryder Open, and Sean Murphy were a stroke behind Forsman at 67.

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Japan’s Seiji Ebihara shot a four-under 68 to take the lead during the suspended first round of the PGA Seniors’ Championship at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Fifty-two players were unable to complete the round because of darkness after the threat of lightning interrupted play twice for a total of 2 hours 57 minutes. When play resumed, there was a steady drizzle for much of the rest of the afternoon.

Doug Tewell, playing his first full season on the Senior PGA Tour, was four under through 15 holes on PGA National’s Champion course.

Hubert Green, the 1977 U.S. Open winner and 1985 PGA champion, was a stroke back along with Gibby Gilbert and Dana Quigley.

Ireland’s Christy O’Connor Jr., was three under through 12.

Hale Irwin, seeking his fourth victory in the tournament in five years, and Larry Nelson, the 1987 PGA winner at PGA National, topped a six-player group at 70.

Tom Watson and Lee Trevino shot 72s, Lanny Wadkins and Gary Player shot 75s and Bruce Fleisher had a 77.

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Taking advantage of agreeable morning conditions, Cindy Figg-Currier and Rachel Hetherington shot six-under 66s and were tied for the first-round lead at the LPGA Longs Drugs Challenge.

One shot behind the leaders at Lincoln, Calif., was Michelle Bell, who had to take the last three years off because of a serious problem with her immune system.