Irwin Takes Command Again at Senior Players

It doesn’t just seem as if Hale Irwin always plays well at the Senior Players Championship. He does.

Irwin set nine-hole and first-round records Thursday in taking a two-shot lead in the Senior Players Championship at the TPC of Michigan in Dearborn, Mich.

Irwin, who birdied six of the first seven holes, shot a seven-under-par 29 on the front nine and finished with an eight-under 64 to continue his trend of playing well at the fourth and final major on the Senior PGA Tour.

He won here in 1999 and has finished second twice and has tied for fourth or better five of the last six years.

Irwin has shot in the 60s in 18 of 29 rounds and owns the tournament record with a 68.86 scoring average.

“This may sound stupid, but I think it’s kind of a tough course,” Irwin said. “I think because of that, I play it very carefully. I think it makes me more aware of being a little more focused. Maybe being a little more intent upon the right shot, rather than just sort of pulling a club and hitting it.”

Stewart Ginn was alone in second with a 66. Mark McCumber, who took Jack Nicklaus’ place after he withdrew Wednesday because of muscle spasms, shot a 67 as did Tom Jenkins, who won last week’s Canadian Senior Open.

Three others were four strokes behind Irwin.

Irwin’s 64 fell one short of the course record, which Jim Colbert set in 1995.

The previous nine-hole record at the Senior Players Championship was 30, set by five players, including Irwin three years ago.

Tom Wargo aced the 192-yard fourth on his way to a 71.

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Bo Van Pelt, whose best finish is a tie for 20th at the 1999 Canadian Open, shot a seven-under 64, one shot behind leader Tommy Armour III in the opening round of the Greater Milwaukee Open.

Also at 64 were Kenny Perry, Deane Pappas and Jeff Sluman.

Defending champion Shigeki Maruyama was two shots off the lead at 65 along with Steve Stricker, Bryce Molder and Kelly Gibson.

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Justin Rose got off to a fast start while others dodged the rain to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Scottish Open at Luss, Scotland.

Rose, winner of four tournaments this year, was five under at the turn and, after bogeys at Nos. 11 and 12, added three more birdies for six-under 65.

Former Masters and British Open champion Sandy Lyle had a four-under 67 to tie for fourth and two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els was in a group at 68 that also included Americans Brad Faxon and Dean Wilson, along with European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance.

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On a day when everyone else struggled with the wind, Rachel Teske strung together four birdies to shoot a 67 and grab the first-round lead in the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic at Sylvania, Ohio.

Defending champion and three-time Farr winner Se Ri Pak stumbled to a 72, her first round over par at the tournament since 1997.

Nancy Lopez, making her LPGA farewell tour, received a warm reception from the large galleries that followed her around Highland Meadows Golf Course. She shot a 74.

Tennis

Taylor Dent and Robby Ginepri advanced to the semifinals of the Hall of Fame Championships at Newport, R.I.

Dent defeated fifth-seeded Alexander Popp, 6-3, 6-2, in 58 minutes. Ginepri was even faster, ousting 2001 finalist Martin Lee, 6-3, 6-1, in only 45 minutes. Both players advanced to their first semifinals.

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Second-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero was upset by fellow Spaniard David Sanchez, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, in the second round of the Swiss Open at Gstaad, Switzerland.... Two-time champion Magnus Norman of Sweden rallied to defeat Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Swedish Open.... Top-seeded Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario cruised into the quarterfinals of the French Community Championships at Brussels with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Gala Leon Garcia.

Hockey

Lorne Henning and Paul MacLean have been hired as assistant coaches for the Mighty Ducks. Henning, who won two Stanley Cups while playing the New York Islanders, was previously the coach of the Minnesota North Stars (1985-87) and Islanders (1994-95). He also was an assistant for the Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks.

MacLean, who played 11 seasons in the NHL, spent the last 10 seasons as a minor league coach, the last two as coach of the Quad City Mallards of the United Hockey League.

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Former New Jersey forward Bobby Carpenter, part of two Devil Stanley Cup championship teams, is returning to New Jersey as an assistant under Pat Burns.

Basketball

First-round draft choice Juan Dixon, who led Maryland to the NCAA championship, signed with the Washington Wizards. Dixon, the 17th overall selection in last month’s NBA draft, approved a deal that will pay him $3.15 million over three years under the collective bargaining agreement.

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The Houston Rockets signed their second first-round draft pick, Slovenian forward Bostjan Nachbar, to a multimillion dollar contract.... The Atlanta Hawks signed point guard Dan Dickau.

Miscellany

Fred Edelstein, the publisher of a newsletter covering the NFL, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison in Philadelphia. Edelstein’s scheme conned investors, including former Eagle linebacker Bill Bergey, out of nearly $600,000.

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New York-New Jersey MetroStars midfielder Tab Ramos will be sidelined for up to six weeks because of a mild tear of his left hamstring. Clint Mathis will also go on the injured-reserve list. He will be sidelined for three to five weeks and will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

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Long Beach State will play host to the 2003 NCAA men’s volleyball national championship on May 1 and 3 at The Pyramid.