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Long day awaits at BellSouth

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 1, 2001

DULUTH, Ga. -- The BellSouth Classic has become survival of the fittest.

They won't be voting anyone off the course today, but those who made the cut in the rain-delayed event faced a grueling 36-hole finale on one of the hilliest layouts on the PGA Tour.

"I'll have a lot of Advil in the bag," said Dennis Paulson, bothered by a sore back but two shots behind co-leaders Scott McCarron and Chris DiMarco.

McCarron, who won this tournament in 1997, and DiMarco each shot 5-under-par 67 Saturday and were at 9-under 135 after two trips around the TPC at Sugarloaf.

Mickelson, the defending champion, felt the same after his adventurous round of 66 in which he twice chipped in from the fringe of greens. He was alone in third at 8 under.

"Around the greens, there's no rough," Mickelson said. "It's given me an opportunity to get away with some poor swings and get up and down."

First-round leader Marco Dawson slumped to 72 and was four shots back. The opening round was rained out Thursday, pushing the schedule back a day. The second round started under gray skies, but the rain held off except for a few sprinkles. Dry, cooler weather is predicted for today.

Tour officials, aware some players are eager to get to Augusta National for the Masters, are hoping to fit in two rounds today so the tournament won't go to Monday.

"It plays to the advantage of anyone who's in pretty good shape," said McCarron, who didn't qualify for the Masters. "It certainly favors a guy like myself, who can do that. But it's not like an eco-challenge or anything. It's just walking."

Bauer wins first as a pro

Beth Bauer of Tampa made par to win on the third hole of a three-way playoff with Miriam Nagl and amateur Christina Kim at the California Futures on the Diablo Grande Ranch Course in Patterson.

It was Bauer's first Futures Tour victory and was worth $8,400.

All three parred the first playoff hole, and Nagl fell out with bogey on the second. On No. 18, the third playoff hole, Kim hit her approach within 42 feet of the pin, and Bauer hit to 45 feet. Bauer stroked her putt within 21/2 feet of the cup, and Kim knocked her putt six feet by then lipped out for par.

"I felt very confident going into the playoff," said Bauer, a two-time NCAA first-team All-American at Duke. "I had played the 18th well all week, I had made all pars."

After starting in a four-way tie for the lead, Bauer shot 1-over 71 to fall into the playoff.

"Winning is nice, but there are so many good players out here it's just great to be in contention," Bauer said. "My first professional win is pretty exciting."

LEGENDS OF GOLF: Defending champions Andy North and Jim Colbert shot a record-tying 13-under 59 in the best-ball team format for a three-stroke lead after the rain-delayed first round in St. Augustine. Tommy Aaron and Don Bies were second with 62 and led the Legendary Division for players ages 60-69. In the Demaret division for players 70 and older, Don January and Gene Littler shot 8-under 100 for 27 holes to win by five.

ARGENTINA OPEN: Carl Pettersson shot 3-under 67 for a share of the third-round lead at 9-under 201 with second-round leader Angel Cabrera (69) at Buenos Aires.

TODAY ON TV: Senior, Legends of Golf, 2 p.m., Ch. 28; PGA, BellSouth Classic, 3 p.m., Ch. 8.

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