FRIDAY, 10.30AM:
ERNIE ELS carded a pedestrian five-over-par 75 after the first day’s play at the US Open on Thursday, putting him nine shots behind the leader, Payne Stewart, who closed with three straight birdies to finish on a four-under 66.
Qualifier Mark Carnevale, playing in only his second US Open, was one stroke behind Stewart after conquering mid-round nerves to hang on to his three-under 67. Unknown Joe Durant followed on 68, after showing early promise with a five-under charge after 13 holes, but he blew it with a double bogey on the 14th.
John Daly, Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik and Jeff Maggert posted one-under 69s, with Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, Masters champion Mark O’Meara, Andrew Magee, Tom Kite, David Ogrin and US Amateur Champion Matt Kuchar a further stroke back on 70.
Olympic lived up to its reputation as a course hostile to favorites — British Open champion Justin Leonard had a relatively benign one-over 71, joining a group that included Italian Costantino Rocca. European tour sensation Lee Westwood finished with a two-over 72. Tiger Woods struggled on the greens and found himself eight adrift, on four-over 74. Disabled Casey Martin also finished four-over, after bogeys at the last two holes.
SPORT BRIEFS
12TH MAN HAS SA CONNECTION
A SOUTH African-born player, Ben Hutton, has been named by England as the 12th man for the Test match at Lords. Both Hutton’s father and grandfather played for England. Richard Hutton played for Transvaal when he was based in Johannesburg in the 1970s.
NEW U21S NAMED
THE South African selectors have named eight new under-21 players to attend training in a group of 30 at Stellenbosch in late June. The training is in preparation for the 1998 SANZAR/UAR Under 21 tournament, which will include sides from Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, France and England. Among the eight are Natal No 8 Shaun Sowerby, Blue Bulls lock Victor Matfield, Boland centre Wayne Julies, Western Province centre Wemar Raats, Natal lock Trevor Boynton and Free State’s Victor Zeilinga.
JO’BURG BIG WALK THE
Big Walk takes place at the Johannesburg Zoo on Sunday. Organisers are expecting a turnout of 8&000 to participate in the 42.2km marathon and 21.1km half-marathon, as well as 8km events. The marathon starts at 6.30am, the half-marathon at 9am and the 8km walk at 10am. Entries will be taken at the zoo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.