Debbie Massey

Debbie Massey shot a five-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead over four players in the first round of the LPGA Championship Thursday at the Jack Nicklaus Sports Center in Mason, Ohio. Amy Alcott, seeking her second major title of the year, and non-winners Lisa Walters, Sherrin Smyers and Nina Foust were the closest to Massey, a two-time winner in her 12 years on the tour.

Debbie Massey won the $550,000 Mazda Japan Classic, the final tournament on the LPGA Tour, when the last round was canceled because of rain Sunday at Hanno, Japan. Massey, who shot a course-record 64 on Saturday, won by three strokes for her first victory in 11 years and the third of her career. She won $82,500, giving her more than $1 million in lifetime earnings. Massey started the Saturday's round three shots behind first-round leader Nancy Brown, birdied the first three holes.

Debbie Massey, winless on the LPGA Tour since 1979, birdied four of her last six holes for a four-under-par 68 Thursday and a one-shot lead in the first round of the $200,000 Elizabeth Arden golf tournament. Massey, beginning her 10th year on the tour, had a chance for a fifth birdie on her last hole but missed a six-foot putt. "I really wanted that birdie," Massey said. "I got a little aggressive on the putt, and I didn't get the break I needed."

Debbie Massey shot a five-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead over four players in the first round of the LPGA Championship Thursday at the Jack Nicklaus Sports Center in Mason, Ohio. Amy Alcott, seeking her second major title of the year, and non-winners Lisa Walters, Sherrin Smyers and Nina Foust were the closest to Massey, a two-time winner in her 12 years on the tour.

Debbie Massey's six-under-par 66 vaulted her into the second-round lead in the $250,000 LPGA Lady Keystone Open golf tournament Saturday at Hershey, Pa. Massey had seven birdies and one bogey on the 6,348-yard West Course of the Hershey Country Club. She had a 36-hole total of 138, one stroke better than Nancy Scranton and Sherri Turner. Scranton also shot a 66. Turner, who had started the round tied for second with Kathy Baker behind Cindy Rarick, had a 70.

Debbie Massey won the $550,000 Mazda Japan Classic, the final tournament on the LPGA Tour, when the last round was canceled because of rain Sunday at Hanno, Japan. Massey, who shot a course-record 64 on Saturday, won by three strokes for her first victory in 11 years and the third of her career. She won $82,500, giving her more than $1 million in lifetime earnings. Massey started the Saturday's round three shots behind first-round leader Nancy Brown, birdied the first three holes.

Robin Walton held off several challengers Saturday in search of her first LPGA victory, shooting a four-under-par 68 for a 205 total after three rounds of the $230,000 Henredon golf tournament at High Point, N.C. Walton, 30, an eight-year veteran of the LPGA Tour, finished the day two strokes in front of Betsy King, who shot a 70. JoAnne Carner and Debbie Massey were at 208.

Jane Blalock came from behind with a spectacular eight-under-par 64 Sunday to win the $300,000 Mazda Japan women's golf tournament by two strokes over Taiwan's Tu Ai Yu. Tu, Taiwan's No. 1 woman pro, who held at least a share of the lead for the first two rounds, shot a 70 and finished second with a 208 total. Blalock, who started the final round four strokes off the pace, quickly birdied the first two holes and added birdies on holes No. 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 16.

Rolf Benirschke, Hank Bauer and Ed White of the San Diego Chargers are among the athletes scheduled to compete in today's Yashica Pro-Am at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. The Pro-Am precedes the LPGA's $175,000 Kyocera Inamori tournament, which begins Thursday and runs through Sunday at Fairbanks Ranch. Pro-Am pairings: No. 1 Tee: (Time--Pro, Celebrities) 7:30 a.m.

Fred Couples, admitting his attitude isn't very good and threatening not to play again until 1987 if he wins, shot a 68 Friday and moved into a tie for the second-round lead in the $500,000 Western Open golf tournament at Oakbrook, Ill. "If I win, I'll quit for the year. I won't play another round this year," Couples said after posting his 138 total for two trips over the Butler National Golf Club course. He was tied with Bobby Wadkins, who had a second-round 69.

Robin Walton held off several challengers Saturday in search of her first LPGA victory, shooting a four-under-par 68 for a 205 total after three rounds of the $230,000 Henredon golf tournament at High Point, N.C. Walton, 30, an eight-year veteran of the LPGA Tour, finished the day two strokes in front of Betsy King, who shot a 70. JoAnne Carner and Debbie Massey were at 208.

Fred Couples, admitting his attitude isn't very good and threatening not to play again until 1987 if he wins, shot a 68 Friday and moved into a tie for the second-round lead in the $500,000 Western Open golf tournament at Oakbrook, Ill. "If I win, I'll quit for the year. I won't play another round this year," Couples said after posting his 138 total for two trips over the Butler National Golf Club course. He was tied with Bobby Wadkins, who had a second-round 69.

Debbie Massey's six-under-par 66 vaulted her into the second-round lead in the $250,000 LPGA Lady Keystone Open golf tournament Saturday at Hershey, Pa. Massey had seven birdies and one bogey on the 6,348-yard West Course of the Hershey Country Club. She had a 36-hole total of 138, one stroke better than Nancy Scranton and Sherri Turner. Scranton also shot a 66. Turner, who had started the round tied for second with Kathy Baker behind Cindy Rarick, had a 70.

Debbie Massey, winless on the LPGA Tour since 1979, birdied four of her last six holes for a four-under-par 68 Thursday and a one-shot lead in the first round of the $200,000 Elizabeth Arden golf tournament. Massey, beginning her 10th year on the tour, had a chance for a fifth birdie on her last hole but missed a six-foot putt. "I really wanted that birdie," Massey said. "I got a little aggressive on the putt, and I didn't get the break I needed."

Jane Blalock came from behind with a spectacular eight-under-par 64 Sunday to win the $300,000 Mazda Japan women's golf tournament by two strokes over Taiwan's Tu Ai Yu. Tu, Taiwan's No. 1 woman pro, who held at least a share of the lead for the first two rounds, shot a 70 and finished second with a 208 total. Blalock, who started the final round four strokes off the pace, quickly birdied the first two holes and added birdies on holes No. 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 16.

Rolf Benirschke, Hank Bauer and Ed White of the San Diego Chargers are among the athletes scheduled to compete in today's Yashica Pro-Am at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. The Pro-Am precedes the LPGA's $175,000 Kyocera Inamori tournament, which begins Thursday and runs through Sunday at Fairbanks Ranch. Pro-Am pairings: No. 1 Tee: (Time--Pro, Celebrities) 7:30 a.m.

From the way the players of the Ladies Professional Golf Assn. have been talking all week, the U.S. Golf Assn. should bring the U.S. Women's Open to Oakmont. And that doesn't mean historic old Oakmont on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, either. It means historic old Oakmont Country Club on the outskirts of Glendale. The USGA's idea of a perfect Open course is one that does not yield a sub-par score for 72 holes. Or, if it does, by only a stroke or two.

Jane Blalock bogied her final hole Thursday to drop into a tie with Cathy Morse at five-under-par 67 after one round in the $200,000 LPGA Elizabeth Arden golf tournament at Turnberry Isle Country Club. Blalock, who started on the back nine of the 6,092-yard South Course, could have been alone in first heading into the second round if she had made a four-foot putt on the final hole.

From the way the players of the Ladies Professional Golf Assn. have been talking all week, the U.S. Golf Assn. should bring the U.S. Women's Open to Oakmont. And that doesn't mean historic old Oakmont on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, either. It means historic old Oakmont Country Club on the outskirts of Glendale. The USGA's idea of a perfect Open course is one that does not yield a sub-par score for 72 holes. Or, if it does, by only a stroke or two.