Bruce Crampton

Some players on the Senior PGA Tour feel they are being treated like second-class golfers this week in the MONY Tournament of Champions. The event is the only one in which the old-timers play concurrently with the regular PGA Tour. The seniors' major complaint is getting up before dawn to play in the early morning. There is also the matter of the tee markers. Some players, including defending champion Miller Barber, don't think they should be playing from the same tees as the "juniors."

You will pardon Bruce Crampton if he thinks the Senior PGA Tour season really starts here. Actually, the GTE West Classic, the $500,000, 54-hole tournament that starts today at picturesque Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club, is the fifth event on this year's schedule. But here, Crampton is more than the defending champion. He is almost always the man to beat.

Walt Zembriski made a hole in one on the par-three 16th hole Friday en route to a seven-under-par 65 and a three-stroke lead in the Senior Invitational at Ko Olina Resort at Honolulu. "I hit the ball with my four-iron, but I didn't know it had gone in until I got halfway down the fairway," said Zembriski of his shot on the 193-yard hole. Jim O'Hern, Bruce Crampton, Jim Ferree and Gay Brewer were tied for second at 68.

Walt Zembriski made a hole in one on the par-three 16th hole Friday en route to a seven-under-par 65 and a three-stroke lead in the Senior Invitational at Ko Olina Resort at Honolulu. "I hit the ball with my four-iron, but I didn't know it had gone in until I got halfway down the fairway," said Zembriski of his shot on the 193-yard hole. Jim O'Hern, Bruce Crampton, Jim Ferree and Gay Brewer were tied for second at 68.

Australian Bruce Crampton came to the United States in 1957 to play a little golf. He never really left. Considering his experiences as a 21-year-old on his first trip away from home, it's a wonder he stayed around. That's when he began building his reputation as Bad Bruce Crampton. He is an intense competitor who rarely smiles while playing. Otherwise, he is friendly, talkative and funny. He can look back and laugh at his early tribulations.

Neither wind, thunder nor lightning could knock Chi Chi Rodriguez off his perch Saturday, but Bruce Crampton almost did. Rodriguez posted a four-under-par 66 at Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club and a record 36-hole total of 128 in the GTE West Senior PGA Classic to withstand Crampton's 63 round and 129 total--barely.

You will pardon Bruce Crampton if he thinks the Senior PGA Tour season really starts here. Actually, the GTE West Classic, the $500,000, 54-hole tournament that starts today at picturesque Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club, is the fifth event on this year's schedule. But here, Crampton is more than the defending champion. He is almost always the man to beat.

Thirty years have passed since the DC-7 rolled to a halt on the runway in Houston, its 8 1/2-hour flight from San Francisco finally over. For one of its occupants, a brash 21-year-old with a sweet golf swing, it marked the end of a much longer journey. After all, it had taken Bruce Crampton 32 hours simply to reach San Francisco from Sydney, Australia.

The Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club dried out Sunday and Chi Chi Rodriguez lost his control of the course. Bruce Crampton shot a steady 66 to overtake Rodriguez and win the $450,000 GTE West Classic with a 54-hole total of 195. Rodriguez, showing little of his usual flamboyance, struggled to an even-par 70 and 198 after going into the final round with a one-stroke lead. Al Geiberger, with a final-round 66, finished third at 201. Dick Hendrickson was next at 202.

Gary Player, a horse-breeder in South Africa, said that in a 36-hole tournament you have to come out of the gate like a quarter horse. Player came out fast Saturday in the delayed opening round of the rain-shortened $450,000 GTE West senior tournament at the Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club. On the par-70, 6,190-yard course, put in surprisingly good condition after six inches of rain in three days, Player shot a four-under-par 66.

The Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club dried out Sunday and Chi Chi Rodriguez lost his control of the course. Bruce Crampton shot a steady 66 to overtake Rodriguez and win the $450,000 GTE West Classic with a 54-hole total of 195. Rodriguez, showing little of his usual flamboyance, struggled to an even-par 70 and 198 after going into the final round with a one-stroke lead. Al Geiberger, with a final-round 66, finished third at 201. Dick Hendrickson was next at 202.

Neither wind, thunder nor lightning could knock Chi Chi Rodriguez off his perch Saturday, but Bruce Crampton almost did. Rodriguez posted a four-under-par 66 at Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club and a record 36-hole total of 128 in the GTE West Senior PGA Classic to withstand Crampton's 63 round and 129 total--barely.

Gary Player, a horse-breeder in South Africa, said that in a 36-hole tournament you have to come out of the gate like a quarter horse. Player came out fast Saturday in the delayed opening round of the rain-shortened $450,000 GTE West senior tournament at the Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club. On the par-70, 6,190-yard course, put in surprisingly good condition after six inches of rain in three days, Player shot a four-under-par 66.

Australian Bruce Crampton came to the United States in 1957 to play a little golf. He never really left. Considering his experiences as a 21-year-old on his first trip away from home, it's a wonder he stayed around. That's when he began building his reputation as Bad Bruce Crampton. He is an intense competitor who rarely smiles while playing. Otherwise, he is friendly, talkative and funny. He can look back and laugh at his early tribulations.

Bruce Crampton maintained his four-stroke margin Sunday to win the senior division of the Infiniti Tournament of Champions--but it wasn't all that easy. Before clinching $80,000, the biggest prize in his career, and setting a tournament record with a nine-under-par 279 at La Costa, there were anxious moments. Beginning with the second hole, Frank Beard started applying the pressure. Beard had cut a four-shot lead to one and had a good chance to pull even on the 512-yard, par-five ninth hole.

Bruce Crampton proved to be a relentless leader Saturday at La Costa. Crampton shot his second consecutive three-under-par 69 in the third round of the senior division of the Infiniti Tournament of Champions for a 54-hole total of 208 and a four-shot lead over Frank Beard. Beard, in another unusual day, shot a 68 to cut one shot from Crampton's imposing lead. But each time Beard moved close, Crampton fired a birdie and kept his hold on the lead.

Bruce Crampton proved to be a relentless leader Saturday at La Costa. Crampton shot his second consecutive three-under-par 69 in the third round of the senior division of the Infiniti Tournament of Champions for a 54-hole total of 208 and a four-shot lead over Frank Beard. Beard, in another unusual day, shot a 68 to cut one shot from Crampton's imposing lead. But each time Beard moved close, Crampton fired a birdie and kept his hold on the lead.

Some players on the Senior PGA Tour feel they are being treated like second-class golfers this week in the MONY Tournament of Champions. The event is the only one in which the old-timers play concurrently with the regular PGA Tour. The seniors' major complaint is getting up before dawn to play in the early morning. There is also the matter of the tee markers. Some players, including defending champion Miller Barber, don't think they should be playing from the same tees as the "juniors."