The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 21

The Dks Moines Register Monday, ArcrsT 12, 1996 Golf i First Iowa Golfer to Win 14 Major Titles blazes new trail with third Sani victory No. 1 5, then added a cushion with a 20-foot birdie putt at No. 16. Rohde had a chance to put some heat on McCoy, but left a 6-foot" birdie putt short on No. 17 and just missed a 15-foot birdie putt ori-'v; No.

18. McCoy, who started his week by-' i nnAnn v. D.11.-' Golfers who have won the mostmajor titles in Iowa: Mike McCoy, 1983- 14 Tom Chapman 1967-75 13 Joe Brown, 1938-66 13 Bob Leahy, 1953-77 11 J.D.Turner, 1965-83 10 John Jacobs, 1939-51 10 A.M. Bartlett, 1914-29 9 Brad Schuchat, 1969-80 9 John Liechty, 1960-73 8 where he also missed his only green in regulation. Shortly after, Horton saved par at No.

18 to finish with a final-round 67. An assistant pro at Brooks in Okoboji who was playing three groups ahead of McCoy's pairing, Horton posted a three-under-par 213 target score. Rohde, formerly of Marshall-town and now playing out of Spokane, got to 3-under with an eagle at the par-5 1 1th. He bogeyed No. 13, but a birdie at No.

15 made it a three-way tie. "I knew I had to make at least one more birdie," McCoy said. "I knew I couldn't Just par in and win." McCoy, playing one pairing behind Rohde, grabbed the lead for good with a 10-foot birdie putt at complishment in the history of golf in the state. "This is a milestone I wanted to get," said McCoy, 33, who shot a final-round 70 to finish two shots in front of pros Jay Horton and Mark Rohde. A victory in the 1995 Iowa Amateur had been the 13th of McCoy's career, tying him with Tom Chapman and the late Joe Brown.

McCoy, whose best finish in a major this summer had been a tie for second at both the Iowa Open and Lake Creek Amateur last month, said he began to wonder if he'd ever get to 14. "You don't know if it's ever going to happen again," McCoy said. His quest for No. 14 even became a burden. 13 years.

McCoy was one of six players tied for the Sani lead after two days of qualifying with 2-under-par 70s. McCoy took the lead in Sunday morning's second round, shooting 7 1 and never gave it up. He got to four under for the tournament when he rolled in a devilish downhill 25-footer for birdie at the par-5 sixth hole. "I was looking at a three-putt, and wondering how I was going to stop the ball around the hole," McCoy said. "As I stood over the ball I thought that if I made it, that would stop it.

I barely touched it and it wobbled all the way to the cup." McCoy made his only bogey of the final round at the par-4 12th, "It was there," McCoy said of the added pressure he felt at every tournament this summer. But Sunday, be broke through. His victories have come in a span of PGA to return to Louisville don't think III ever forget three shots I hit on the 18th Steve Spray TX 7 7 I ownership of Valhalla. The PGA plans to purchase the course from founder Dwight Gahm, who built it and sold part of it already to the golf organization. Players all week lauded the tournament, saying it would be wise for the PGA to come back.

"As far as the support, people came out here and that's what we're looking for is support. They have it here," said Jim Gallagher who finished tied for 52nd. Critical error Kenny Perry said he should have gone to the driving range instead of the television tower on the 18th hole after he finished his -LANE S- 3200 DELAWARE PROBLEMS WITH BOWLING Smart ball guarantees a good weighted ball. Find the right McCoy By RICK BROWN Register Staff Writer Johnston, la. Mike McCoy -walked onto unchartered territory Sunday.

The Des Moines amateur won his third Herman Sani Invitational golf title by two shots at the Hyperion Field Club. More importantly, it was the 14th major Iowa championship of McCoy's McCoy A milestone career. That's an unprecedented ac- Sani revives memories for Spray Indianola native Steve Spray recalls his victory in the 1969 San Francisco Open. By RICK BROWN Register Staff Writer Johnston, la. It's been 27 years since Steve Spray walked to the 18th tee at Harding Park Golf Club in San Francisco.

has not tarnished the "I don't think I'll ever forget the three shots I hit on the 18th hole," Spray said. On Oct 26, 1969, Spray was living in his home town of Indianola and playing the PGA Tour. He was 28 years old and in position to win the tour's San Francisco Open, Spray was tied with Chi Chi Rodriguez at 14-under par when he got to the final hole. Rodriguez, playing one group in front of Spray, had missed a 10-foot birdie putt. "I'd have bet my house I was going to make it," Rodriguez told reporters afterwards.

"I must have misread the green. Maybe I read it in Spanish and putted it in English." Spray, who had parred the first 17 holes of the final round, remembers the 18th hole as if it were the last one he played. "The 18th was a dogleg left, with a big bunker and a canyon on the left," Spray said. "You could not hit the ball left. I stood there and said, 'Hit it any place, just don't go Spray ripped a perfect tee shot.

Witnesses said it was the longest drive of the day on that hole by 25 yards. you what adrenaline will do," Spray said. "I had 105 yards to the green, and hit a wedge seven feet from the hole." Just 7 feet stood between Spray and a birdie and his first victory on the PGA Tour. Fate was in his hands. He'd made hundreds of 7-footers, but none to win a tour title.

"I had been so calm," Spray said. "But as soon as I put the putter down behind the ball, I was shaking so bad. I can't believe it went in. My best friend told me he had never seen me look so calm. Hah! My heart was 1 1 i i.

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Men-Tyes. 9a.m.Fri. 6:30 p.m. Juniors: Sat. 10a.m.12:30 p.rrvj.

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Mc-. Coy will be one of the favorites taJ i a 1 win me lowa iuai.t-ui wiui.ii, starts Thursday at Finkbine Iowa City "You always wonder if you're going to win again, because the cuvs are fiettine better and McCoy said. "Maybe the next victc-; ry won't come so hard." LEADERS on Page4S final round Sunday. Perry lost on the first hole of playoff to Mark Brooks. Perry sat with CBS commentators Jim Nantz and Ken Venturi watching Brooks' play the last two holes in "I probably stayed up in the tower too long," Perry said.

"I probably should have gone down and hit a few balls to stay loose. Maybe I let hfy1 mind wander. I was caught up in the moment with all the people." -ne Chip Shots The PGA Championship went to a playoff for tlie third time in four years. Last year Steve Elkington beat Colin Montgort)." erie on the first hole of sudden death; to win. In 1993, Paul Azinger needed two holes to beat Greg Norman.

Your Family Entertainment Complex! 262-9374 p.m., Sat. 6 p.m., Sun 5:45 ou onimQTea grapnics. 7 rsr a 1996 Post Time 6:10 p.m. married to fellow jockey Vicki David and fellow jockey Monday Simulcast Schedule Saratoga 12:00 p.m. Arlington 1:00 p.m.

Del Mar 4:00 p.m. Delaware Park 4:00 p.m. http:www.pralrlemeadow8.com town Coach's Playoff Luncheon Younkers Tea Room downtown, 5th floor Tuesday, August 13 $7.95 buffet starts at 11:45 amf information call 282-3596 Monday, August 12, Meet David Essman Register Filf.I'iioto After sinking a 7-foot putt on the 18th hole to win the 1969 San Francisco Open, Steve Spray started celebrating by tossing his putter. David Essman It one ol the few jockeys at Praihe Meadows to have ridden here every live racing season. Originally Irom Salt lake City, Utah, David has ridden professionally for 13 years.

Dunng the rest of the year. David rides at various tracks through out the Midweet and Florida David is Warhol and the couple have one daughter, Teddi Jean. David loves -(' From Register Wire Services Louisville, Ky. The PGA Championship will be coming back to Louisville in 2000. Jim Awtrey, the PGA of America's chief executive officer, made the announcement on the 18th green Sunday after Mark Brooks beat Kenny Perry in a one-hole playoff to win the tournament.

The PGA cited the condition of the golf course, the enthusiasm of the fans and the support of business and city leaders. "This week, Valhalla Golf Club and Louisville provided one of the most successful settings ever for major championship golf," Awtrey said. Awtrey said the PGA intends to exercise its option to increase its Brooks wins PGA in playoff PGA Continuedmm Page IS bogeyingNo. 18. Defending champion bteve Llking- ton was at 10-under-par and missed a putt on No.

18 that would have elevated him into the playoff. "I had my chances; it just didn go in, tikington saia. Don oi a numo feeling at the moment. Others, like Nick Price, Phil Mick- elson and Tom Watson, made runs, then just as quickly fell back. So two less-than-household names stole the spotlight.

It was Brooks, 34, from Fort Worth, who came through, hitting solid drives on No. 18 both times around. In the playoff, his second shot, a 4-wood, sailed over a sand trap and onto the green. He two-putted for birdie, and as his final putt fell, Brooks thrust his hand in the air, accepted congratulations from Perry and hugged his wife and children. Then he accepted the champion trophy, stared at it admiringly as he held it over his head and brought it down for a gentle kiss.

"It was kind of a week of streaks for me," said Brooks, who made six birdies in a row Thursday, four in a row Friday and three in a row Sunday. "I felt really lucky to stand on the 17th tee and know I still had an opportunity. My caddie informed me that 1 1 -under was then leading and I guess it gave me a little bit of life. I hit my two best drives of the week (on No. 18), in regulation and in the playoff." Brooks shot a solid 70 in the final round while Perry leaped past such big names as Greg Norman, Elking-ton, Price and Mickelson with a 68 to get to 277.

Perry was carried all day by a wildly supportive gallery. When he missed the 12-foot par putt that would have given him a more comfortable cushion on No. 18, he waved his hat and walked an aisle of high-fives from delirious fans. But it was way too early to celebrate and Perry knew it "It's a tough way to end the day when you've played so well," Perry said. "I had that putt to win but I played it too high.

I had a fabulous round for 17 holes. "It would've been the ultimate to win a major championship here in Kentucky," he said. "I gave it a valiant effort, but it just came down to that one poor shot on 18. That's golf, but that one shot is going to stick in my mind for a long time." Brooks, meanwhile, dominated No. 18 all week, making four birdies in five tries, including the playoff.

"It was just a week of comebacks," Brooks said. "I was over par every day and came back. The end was just kind of a fairy tale." It was the second consecutive year the PGA was decided in a playoff. Last year Elkington defeated Colin Montgomerie, also with a birdie on the first playoff hole. fishing, family and "lowa Gerry Winters are the designers of tear-away jockey goggles.

A patent Is pending and the product is soon to hit the market. I -V ir I ii 7 inn ukjiiiuii jiiiiiu in i i iiiiijjimiii. im pounding." Tha trWnnr and thA S2fl 000 first- SATURDAY August 17 7:00 pm at On Iowa Courses WHAT'S AHEAD lowa men's amateur Two events in one, since the state's most prestigious amateur title is on the line as well as Iowa's amateur of the year award for 1996. This is the final point-event tournament of the season. Finkbine in lowa City will host the championship for the first time since 1982.

The tournament starts Thursday and ends Saturday. DID YOU KNOW? Tommy Tolles, who has won more than $770,000 on the PGA Tour this year and tied for third in the PGA Sunday, tied for fourth at the 1992 Nike Hawkeye Open in lowa City. His appearance in this year's Sani was his first since 1972, when he won the championship by four shots over John Liechty. That was also the last tournament he played as an Iowan. He moved to Albuquerque, N.M., the following month.

"I've been back since then, but this is the first tournament (in Iowa) I've played in," Spray said. In 1959, when Sani Scholarships were presented for the second time, Spray was the recipient. Last Friday, Spray was the banquet speaker when Sani Scholarships were awarded to Shannon Hoekstra of Pella, Steven Jermier of Cedar Falls, Kate Johnson of Mar-shalltown and Cory McKim of Oska-loosa. Spray found the Hyperion course much different from the way he left it in 1972. "Back then they didn't have watered fairways and the ball ran all over the place, said Spray, who finished eighth with rounds of 73-72-72.

"It used to play much shorter. It's perfect now." Vets Auditorium "The Barn" How do I get playoff tickets? 1. C-encral Public On sale beginning Wednesday, August 14 at 9:30 ami Go to Vets Ticket Office, any TickctMastcr outlet, or charge by phone at 243-1888 beginning Wednesday morning! 2. Season Ticket Holders You have 1 st rights to playoffs tickets! Go to Vets Ticket Office or charge by phone at 1-800-755-5903 before 4:30 pm, Tuesday, August 13! 3. 3-Pak Se awn Ticket Holders You also have 1 st rights to retain your scats or similar ones for the playoff game.

Go to Vets Ticket Office or call 515-245-5488 before 4:30 pm Tuesday, August 13! 1 5. V. 1 Register Fiij. I'iioto Before his dramatic finish on the final hole, Steve Spray watched his birdie putt hang on the edge of the cup on the 17th hole. Hyperion may be different, but the 18th hole at Harding Park Golf Club in San Francisco will never change.

place check, was the highlight of Spray's 10 years on tour. It was his only victory, but a victory that will forever be linked to his name. "That would be my highlight," said Spray. Now 65 years old and the head pro at the St. Louis Country Club, Spray will also be forever linked to the Herman Sani Invitational golf tournament at the Hyperion Field Club.

The late Herman Sani befriended Spray at a young age. Sani, the longtime director of the Iowa Golf Association, was also instrumental in the building of Hyperion. "I think Mr. Sani and this tournament were very instrumental in my career," Spray said. Spray grew up playing a nine-hole course in Indianola.

But he took lessons from Jack Hall, then the pro at Hyperion. "If I had a problem, Jack Hall was there to help," Spray said. In 1953, as a 12-year-old, Spray played in the Herman Sani Invitational and shot 53-51104. "Mr. Sani invited me, and I played in my first tournament here," Spray said.

"I don't know if I ever missed another one all the way through college." Spray joined the tour after graduating from Eastern New Mexico in Cockpit $55 VIP $35 Sideline Prime $22 Cornerview $19 Barnyard $14 Family Fun Zone $14 -14 under $12 Get your playoff game apparel at the Barnstormer Team Shop Kaliedoscope Mall downtown! For 1997 season ticket 'L 1965..