Nothing Amateurish About Herron

The last time Tim Herron crossed paths with Tiger Woods at Muirfield Village he beat the then-15-year-old whiz kid in the 1992 U.S. Amateur.

The roly-poly power hitter with the very descriptive nickname “Lumpy” had another good day on the Jack Nicklaus course Thursday, shooting a 66 to share the first-round lead in the Memorial tournament at Dublin, Ohio, with Jesper Parnevik, Glen Day and Billy Andrade.

Woods, meanwhile, struggled at Muirfield once again, needing an eagle-birdie rally late on the back nine to save a 72 and avoid his worst round of the year.

“I’ve been slumping for a good month now,” said Herron, one of only two people to beat Woods in his 23 matches in U.S. Amateur play. “First it was ball-striking, then it was putting.”

That was not a problem Thursday.

Herron made seven birdies, an eagle and three bogeys as players took advantage of greens softened by a steady morning rain.

With birdies plentiful, Scott Hoch was a stroke back with a 67 while Phil Blackmar, Guy Boros and Ernie Els were at 68. Jack Nicklaus, the 57-year-old founder of the Memorial and designer of the course, shot a 69.

“I’ve gotten one good round in,” Nicklaus said. “I don’t know what I’ll do [today].”

Woods, however, was not able to exploit the friendly conditions as he struggled to find the magical level of play he had in his record-setting Masters victory last month.

Woods was three over through 14 holes, then rolled in a 25-footer for an eagle on No. 15 and a 12-foot birdie putt on the next hole to get back to even par, six strokes off the lead.

Another player who struggled was just happy to be on the course. John Daly, playing his first competitive round since eight weeks of alcohol rehabilitation, shot an erratic 76.

“I was very rusty,” Daly said. “It felt good to be back. It’s kind of a tough golf course to come back for my first start, but I love playing here.”

Andrade got to seven under through 17 holes and had the lead alone but fell into a tie when he hit his second shot into the trees on No. 18 and bogeyed.

Defending champion Tom Watson shot a 72 in the tournament, which this year honors South African Gary Player, winner of nine major championships.

*

Amy Alcott and Jody Anschutz each shot four-under 68 to share the first-round lead in the LPGA Michelob Light Classic.

Alcott, one victory shy of the 30 required for a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame, made five birdies and one bogey on the 6,350-yard Forest Hills Country Club course in St. Louis. The 41-year-old hasn’t won in five years and Thursday’s round was her first in the 60s in eight tournaments this year.

*

East Tennessee senior Keith Nolan matched his career-best round by shooting a five-under 66 to tie Pepperdine’s Jason Gore for the second-round lead in the NCAA men’s championships in Lake Forest, Ill.

Nolan, a native of Ireland, has a two-round total of 137 at Conway Farms Golf Club. First-round leader Gore shot a one-over 72.

Host Northwestern leads the team competition by two shots over Houston at the halfway point.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

THE LEADERS

MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

(Par 72)

Tim Herron 31-35--66 -6

Jesper Parnevik 34-32--66 -6

Glen Day 32-34--66 -6

Billy Andrade 33-33--66 -6

Scott Hoch 32-35--67 -5

Phil Blackmar 35-33--68 -4

Guy Boros 35-33--68 -4

Ernie Els 35-33--68 -4

Don Pooley 37-32--69 -3

Mike Standly 34-35--69 -3

Jack Nicklaus 34-35--69 -3

Andrew Magee 34-35--69 -3

Kelly Gibson 34-35--69 -3

Billy Mayfair 36-33--69 -3

Clarence Rose 34-35--69 -3

* STORY C6

* COMPLETE SCORES C12