Brandie Burton

Brandie Burton won all there was to win in national junior girls' golf this summer and very nearly did the same on the women's tour. Now she is turning her attention to college golf. The Rialto girl, the Junior World and United States Junior Girls' champion, will enroll Monday at Arizona State but she won't have to wait long before resuming her golfing career. The Sun Devils open the collegiate season Sept. 25 in the University of Oregon Invitational.

Brandie Burton and Betsy King mastered the wind, the rain and a demanding links course Thursday to take the lead in the Women's British Open with the only sub-par rounds of the day. They shot one-under 71s in conditions that left players such as Se Ri Pak, Laura Davies, Liselotte Neumann and defending champion Karrie Webb in the high 70s at the Royal Lytham course in Lytham St. Anne's, England.

This time last year, Brandie Burton was an 18-year-old freshman at Arizona State, and Michelle Estill was a 27-year-old ASU assistant golf coach. This weekend, they are settling the issue of which one will be the LPGA rookie of the year. Burton, a long driver whose biggest problem on the tour is finding a company that will rent a car to a 19-year-old, has made a straight shot for the upper levels of the game. After one season at ASU, she was ranked the No.

The doubt that first crept into Brandie Burton's head two years ago, when she wondered if she would ever win again on the LPGA Tour, returned at the worst possible time Sunday at Windsor, Canada. She stood over an unpredictable lie in the rough, 75 feet from the hole on the par-five 17th, knowing she had to get up and down for birdie to hold off Annika Sorenstam in the final round of the du Maurier Classic.

Even on an off-day, California teen-ager Brandie Burton was able to tie the three-round record in the PGA Junior Championship Thursday. Burton's 74, although her highest round of the tournament, gave her a total of 215 and a five-stroke lead over Kimberly Cayce of Potomac, Md. Burton, 16, of Rialto, needs a 70 today to beat the 72-hole tournament mark of 286 set in 1982 by Heather Farr of Phoenix.

Brandie Burton and Betsy King mastered the wind, the rain and a demanding links course Thursday to take the lead in the Women's British Open with the only sub-par rounds of the day. They shot one-under 71s in conditions that left players such as Se Ri Pak, Laura Davies, Liselotte Neumann and defending champion Karrie Webb in the high 70s at the Royal Lytham course in Lytham St. Anne's, England.

A month ago, Brandie Burton pulled out videotapes of her 1993 victory at the du Maurier Classic, trying to recapture the swing that brought her so much success at such a young age. She was rookie of the year at 19 and had her first major championship two years later. But that's ancient history on an LPGA Tour that now belongs to Se Ri Pak, Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam.

The doubt that first crept into Brandie Burton's head two years ago, when she wondered if she would ever win again on the LPGA Tour, returned at the worst possible time Sunday at Windsor, Canada. She stood over an unpredictable lie in the rough, 75 feet from the hole on the par-five 17th, knowing she had to get up and down for birdie to hold off Annika Sorenstam in the final round of the du Maurier Classic.

A month ago, Brandie Burton pulled out videotapes of her 1993 victory at the du Maurier Classic, trying to recapture the swing that brought her so much success at such a young age. She was rookie of the year at 19 and had her first major championship two years later. But that's ancient history on an LPGA Tour that now belongs to Se Ri Pak, Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam.

Patty Sheehan has changed the shafts of her golf clubs so many times this year, the glue never had a chance to dry. Brandie Burton has changed her swing, her stance, her posture, her putting stroke, her mental outlook and just about everything else she sees around the house. Her dog probably isn't feeling too comfortable right now.

As a rookie on the LPGA tour last year, Brandie Burton was so young she had trouble renting a car to get to the tournaments. Once she got there, though, she played well beyond her years. At 19, she won $176,412 and rookie-of-the-year honors, justifying her decision to turn professional after one year at Arizona State. This season, Burton, of Rialto, is even more successful. She has won a tournament (the Ping-Welch at Tucson) and had four other top-10 finishes.

This time last year, Brandie Burton was an 18-year-old freshman at Arizona State, and Michelle Estill was a 27-year-old ASU assistant golf coach. This weekend, they are settling the issue of which one will be the LPGA rookie of the year. Burton, a long driver whose biggest problem on the tour is finding a company that will rent a car to a 19-year-old, has made a straight shot for the upper levels of the game. After one season at ASU, she was ranked the No.

Brandie Burton won all there was to win in national junior girls' golf this summer and very nearly did the same on the women's tour. Now she is turning her attention to college golf. The Rialto girl, the Junior World and United States Junior Girls' champion, will enroll Monday at Arizona State but she won't have to wait long before resuming her golfing career. The Sun Devils open the collegiate season Sept. 25 in the University of Oregon Invitational.

Patty Sheehan has changed the shafts of her golf clubs so many times this year, the glue never had a chance to dry. Brandie Burton has changed her swing, her stance, her posture, her putting stroke, her mental outlook and just about everything else she sees around the house. Her dog probably isn't feeling too comfortable right now.

As a rookie on the LPGA tour last year, Brandie Burton was so young she had trouble renting a car to get to the tournaments. Once she got there, though, she played well beyond her years. At 19, she won $176,412 and rookie-of-the-year honors, justifying her decision to turn professional after one year at Arizona State. This season, Burton, of Rialto, is even more successful. She has won a tournament (the Ping-Welch at Tucson) and had four other top-10 finishes.

Even on an off-day, California teen-ager Brandie Burton was able to tie the three-round record in the PGA Junior Championship Thursday. Burton's 74, although her highest round of the tournament, gave her a total of 215 and a five-stroke lead over Kimberly Cayce of Potomac, Md. Burton, 16, of Rialto, needs a 70 today to beat the 72-hole tournament mark of 286 set in 1982 by Heather Farr of Phoenix.