Richardson Shooting for a Share of History

Golfer Kemp Richardson is chasing a share of history in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship beginning today at Bel-Air Country Club.

Richardson, the defending champion, is seeking his third senior amateur title, which would match the record held by Lewis Oehmig, who won in 1972, ’76 and ’85.

He would also join Merrill Carlsmith, who won in ’62 and ‘63; Curtis Person, ’68 and ‘69, and William Campbell, ’79 and ‘80, as the only players to win consecutive championships.

Last year, Richardson, 58, of Laguna Niguel, won two of the last three holes to square the final match against Frank Abbott of Napa, then won on the first extra hole. It was the first time since 1989 that the final match had gone extra holes.

Richardson, who also won the title in 2001, will complete a rare double for the second time if he wins. Earlier this summer, he won the British Amateur championship, a title he also won in 2001.

He and his father John, the 1987 senior amateur champion, are the only father-son combination to have won USGA national championships.

After stroke-play rounds today and Sunday, the 156-player field will be cut to 64 for single-elimination match play, beginning Monday. The 18-hole final match is scheduled Thursday.

Other past champions in the field are Bill Ploeger of Columbus, Ga., the 1999 winner; Greg Reynolds of Grand Blanc, Mich., 2002 champion, and Bill Shean Jr. of Hinsdale, Ill., who won in 1998 and 2000.

Recently crowned Southern California Amateur champion Steve Bogan of Placentia is among the 11 Southern Californians vying for the title.

The 1986 U.S. Amateur, won by Bill Sander, was the only other USGA event played at Bel-Air, a 6,491-yard, par-70 course.

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J.L. Lewis shot a nine-under-par 63 to take the lead at 14-under 130 midway through the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas. He has a one-shot lead over Chez Reavie (64), Olin Browne (64) and Alex Cejka (65). Lewis, who had a round that included an eagle, six birdies and no bogeys, hit 15 greens and took only 25 putts to take the lead.... Liselotte Neumann shot her second straight four-under 68 for a share of the second-round lead with Donna Andrews and Becky Morgan at eight-under 136 in the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship at North Augusta, S.C. Andrews also had a 68, and Morgan shot a 69. Cristie Kerr (68), Laura Davies (69) and Jeong Jang (67) are two strokes behind .... Wayne Levi and Walter Hall shot eight-under 64s to share the first-round lead in the Administaff Small Business Classic at Spring, Texas.... David Howell has a one-stroke lead over Ryder Cup teammate Luke Donald after two rounds of the Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews, Scotland. Howell and Donald shot seven-under 65s on the Old Course. Howell is at 14-under 130.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.