Page 16-Friday, August 11 1978-The Michigan Daily
LEADS MICHIGAN OPEN BY FOUR
Mengert burns 'U' course with 65
By ALAN FANGER
Al Mengert has won 14 state opens in his career
but he's never laid claim to a title in Michigan.
So when the 49-year-old Oakland Hills Country
Club professional found himself four shots ahead of
the field after the first round of the Michigan Open,
he was obviously ecstatic.
AND WITH GOOD reason. Mengert methodically
mastered a 6 under par 65 over a testing University
Golf Course yesterday, one shot shy of the course
record 64.
"This is a much better round thanI thought would
be shot on this course," admitted Mengert. "It's a
great score considering how tight this course
plays."
NOT ONLY WAS Mengert's performance
remarkable in itself, it was one of the few respec-
table scores among the 172 pro and amateur
linksters competing in the 59thannual event.
The former PGA tour member reeled off six bir-
dies while bogeying but one hole, the 9th. And if he
hadn't three-putted from 20 feet away there,
Mengert would have earned himself a spot in the
record books.
Four shots bridged Mengert from his closest pur-
suers, Knollwood Country Club assistant Glenn
Hall, and home town product Doug Davis, each of
whom carded 2 under 69's. Davis thus far has the
low amateur total.
Seven players, including former Wolverine star
and currently PGA touring pro Randy Erskine,
were deadlocked at 1 under 70. Erskine, however,
was not disappointed by his round and remained op-
timistic about his chances.
"I DIDN'T PLAY bladly at all," he commented,
citing the difficulty. "You have to hit those greens in
the right place or end up with a rolling, hilly putt.
"I think that if I shoot in the 60's a couple of
rounds, I'll have a good chance."
While Erskine and a few others have a shot at
catching Mengert, several big names were far
down in the pack, having fallen victim to those
ferocious contours and tall spruces which dominate
the 6,865 yard tract.
DEFENDING CHAMPION Tom Deaton of
Franklin Hills was nowhere to be seen among the
leaders, as he struggled to a miserable 77, 12 shots
off the pace. Lynn Janson, who nosed out Mengert in
a five-man playoff to win the 1974 title, managed a
74 despite shocking the gallery at 18 with an ap-
proach shot that nearly bounded onto Stadium Blvd.
Deaton will have to tote a hot putter in order to
make the cut, which will hover between 150 and 152.
Other favorites facing possible elimination include
Flint's Larry Mancour (77), Ypsilanti's Jim Ap-
plegate (76) and Tom Simon (76), the host
professional.
ALTHOUGH HIS lead is far from insurmountalbe
with 54 holes yet to be played, Mengert thought a
fast start would keep him on top for a healthy length
of time.
"I've always been a good starter. I like to win
tournaments early, because I'd rather have
someone chasing me than me chasing them."
With Mengert in the driver's seat, it may take a
heated charge to catch his machine.
BASEBALL ROUNDUP
Yanks pour it on Brewers, 9-0
By The Associated Press
NEW YORK - Lefthander Ron
Guildry pitched a brilliant three-hitter
for his 16th victory in 18 decisions as the
New York Yankees routed the
Milwaukee Brewers 9-0 last night.
Chris Chambliss drove in four runs
with a single and double as the Yankees
won their fifth straight game and han-
ded the Brewers their fifth consecutive
loss.
Guidry, the major league's earned
run average leader, retired the first 12
batters he faced, striking out the first
four. He finished with nine strikeouts
for the game, running his season total
to182.
* * *
Tribe tripped
BOSTON-Rick Burleson singled
home pinch runner Gary Hancock to
cap a two-run rally in the bottom of the
13th inning yesterday, lifting the Boston
Red Sox to a 6-5 victory over the
Cleveland Indians.
Birds best KC
BALTIMORE-Lee May, hitless in
his last 10 trips, rapped a two-out single
in the eighth inning to give Baltimore a
3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals
last night, ending the Oroles' five-game
losing streak.
* * *
OAKLAND-Lyman Bostock slam-
med a bases-loaded triple and Don
Baylor collected two doubles and a
single and also drove in three runs as
the California Angels crushed the
Oakland A's 16-5 yesterday.
* * *
Bucs bopped
PHILADELPHIA - Dick Ruthven
pitched his fifth consecutive victory,
tripled home the tying run and scored
the winner as the Philadelphia Phillies
beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 last
night.
I7 ft(j$ League Skcdi~g&
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST
W L Pct.
Boston ........................ 71 41 .634
New York ..................... 64 49 .566
Milwaukee ...................61 49 .555
Detroit ........................ 61 50 .550
Baltimore .................... 61 52 .540
Cleveland ..................... 52 59 .468
Toro.to.. . . ....... 44 69 .389
WEST
Kansas City ...................62 49 .559
California-.....................63 53 .543
Oakland-.......................60 56 .517
Texas ....................... 53 57 682
Minnesota ..............,...47 64 .423
Chicago ...................... 46 66 411
Seattle ........................ 42 73 .365
Yesterday'sGames .
Boston 6, Cleveland 5,13innings
California16, Oakland 5
Toroqto 7, Chicago 3
.Baltimore3.KansasCity2
New York 9, Milwaukee 0
.Onlygames scheduled
GB
7
9
9%
10
1n8
27%
1%
4%
9%
15
16%
22
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST
W L
Philadelphia .................. 61 50
Chicago .......................58 54
Montreal ......................54 61
Pittsburgh ....................51 59
New York ..................... 48 68
St..Lo.is.... . 45 69
Pet.
.550
.518
.470
.464
.421
.395
GB
3%
9
14%
17%
1
10
13%
14
WEST
San Francisco .................67 47 .588
Cincinnati ..................... 66 47 .584
Los Angeles ...................066 48 .579
San Diego ..................... 57 57 .500
Atlanta ...................... 53 60 .469
Houston ....................... 52 60 464
Lategamesnotincluded
AP Phoo
Leapfrog
Yesterday's Games
Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh l
Cincinnaat tSanDiego, n
San Francisco at sngeles.n
bolt gaine'schedlied
The "frog" is actaally,!Mwaakep;, k6 s qb gynnt s yys doing his
darndest to complete *45t1bna;a.n 'gitfs $; 4 4 k BI rs Croaked
$-4 UoNe'W YotL".X *''4/4E 94