The Leaf-Chronicle from Clarksville, Tennessee • 9

-Wide! (Si (3 IS LAUDERHILL, Fla. (AP) It gave him a $60,000 first- I 4 nW(V MLf 111 gling round of par and wasn't a factor. The whispers and questions began. "Is Jack, at 35, finally over the hill?" He answered with the over-wh elming, convi ncin authority of which only he seems capable. He played the last round without a bogey.

He. played the par-five holes 13. under for the week. He scored a total of 21 birdies and two eagles. He clinched the tournament with three holes to play.

And it was a great personal satisfaction for him to birdie the 12th hole, a hole that cost him the Jackie Gleason-Inyerrary Classic title on this course a year ago. He won by three strokes over J.C. Snead, the man he beat in the inaugural championship of the touring players in 1974. Jim Masserio and Roger Maltbie, tied for third in the field that included all the world's great players, were seven shots off the pace. But Nicklaus quickly" turned his eyes to the Masters, the first of the year's recognized major championships, an elite list this tournament hopes to join.

"I'm in pretty good shape for the Masters," Nicklaus said. "I've got a few little things to work on. There's still one club in my bag the pitching wedge I'm not completely happy with. And there's a little something in my swing. I keep leaving things a little to the left.

But in general, I'm in good shape for the -A) cores and money-winnings Monday tattle JWOOOO Tournament Players Soil Championship on the 7,12 yard, par 72 Inverrary Country Club course: Jack Nicklaus. M70-M45-2M C. Snead. S34.300 47494MI-J7 Hm' 7fr7MS-7l-J7 Jim Masserio, 117,793 4941-7247-774 Mark Hayes, $12,300 71-4M7-7J-OT tee Elder, JIO.100 44 72 7S-47-J7I Butch Baird. 71-47 72 7IM40 Don January, 11,225 David Graham, J7.500 70-71-71-44-asi Tom Watson.

$7,500 Gary layer, $7,500 7J-70-71-47-2I1 Fred Marti, 15.443 447475-47-JM John Schlee, $5,460 73-47-71-71-aiJ Hubert Green, 15,460 70-70-72 70-Jt2 Ray Floyd. SS.4M 71-7I-7J-44-2I2 Don Bies, 15,460 Hale Irwin, 1X417 7fr4i-70-75J03 Lee tt.417 73-6(173213 Tom Kite, $3,417 72-70-70-71203 Massenoale, $3417 72-6 72 70-213 George Burns, $3417 61 70-76-42l3 Bob Olckson. $3417 74 70-7049-J3 Dave Stockton, 13,41 73 70 72 6023 WHO'S GOT Peay's Gary Greene (40) and Charlie Fishbatk (10) both reach in to get a piece of the ball held by Murray State's Jesse away with a steal. SM'f Pboo by Gene Washer Williams (40). Greene came Meats Thinks Vols Have A Chance Govs Advance ft.

By ED SHEARER AP Sports Writer Sixth-ranked Alabama has clinched a share of its third straight Southeastern Conference basketball championship, but Coach "Ray Mears of No. 12 Tennessee is still anticipating a title deadlock. "I still think we have a chance to tie Alabama from the SEC championship," Mears said Monday night after his Vols trimmed Mississippi State 78-76. The two nationally ranked powers are the only teams in contention since Mississippi snapped an 18-game conference losing streak and eliminated Vanderbilt from AUSTIN PE AY FO FT RB A PF TP TO MP Otis HOWARD 7 10 0-0 9 2 2 14 4 29 Sam DRUMMER 5 16 4-6 4 4 2 14 3 33 Gary pR EENE 1 7 0 0 7 1 2 2 3 21 CharlieFISHBACK 14 18 44 7 3 3 32 2 38 Norman JACKSON 3-S 0 0 2 2 2 6 1 18 Calvin GARR ETT 2 4 0 0 2 0 1 4 1 18 Ralph GARNER 1 7 2 2 6 0 1 2 20 Mickey FISHER 2 2 00 0 1 0 4 0 14 Reed EPLEY 1 00 1 1 2 2 1 9 TOTALS' 36 70 10 12 43 14 15 82 17 200 PERCENTAGES: 51.4 83.3 MURRAY STATE- FO FT RB A PF TP TO MP Victor JORDAN 8 20 2 5 8 1 5 18 3 39 Zach BLASINGAME 5 15 2 4 6 0 3 12 1 38 JeSSeWILLIAMS 5 16 2 2 14 3 2 4 40 Jeff HUGHES "4-7 0 0 3 2 2 8 1 37 Grover WOOLARD 8 18 3 3 5 5 5 19 8 38 Tommy WADE 00 00 0 0 0 01 4 EddieWILLIAMS 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 2 Paul SMITH 0 2 00 0 1 0 0 0 2 TomLEPLER 1 1 00 0 0 0 2 0 0 TOTALS '31 79 9 11 43 12' 17 71 18 200 PERCANTAGES: 39 2 81.8 OFFICIALS: Russ Waddell and Kendall Sidwell ATTENDANCE: 2,063 APSU 39 43 82 MURRAY ST. 34 37 '1 the race in the process.

Alabama has two road games remaining at Kentucky for a nationally televised battle Saturday and at Vanderbilt -next Monday. Tennessee entertains Georgia Saturday night in its final game. If the Crimson Tide loses both and Tennessee beats Georgia, the clubs will share the crown and then meet in a one-game playoff to decide which gets the conference's automatic bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. Alabama, which has been thriving oji close games lately, flirted with disaster again Monday night before by seven points, 75-68, with six minutes to go. "If we had lost our poise then, we would have lost the game," said Young.

"I told our boys to remain calm and just keep playing our game." Tiiugfers'" game Is running" and in the next 90 seconds Phil Sellers, Hollis Copeland and Mike Dabney hit JavuDso "close "to 75-7Twftri 4 22 remaining. The lead seesawed seconds remaining. State had fought to a 76-76 deadlock with 1:27 to play on a layup by Wiley Peck. "I knew one would go our way sooner or later," Mears said. "This was the toughest game any team of ours has ever been called upon to win.

It was tougher than our game at Alabama Saturday because it was so physical. "I think this team deserves an NCAA tournament invitation," he said. It is possible the SEC runner-up will be given an NCAA at-large berth. King led Tennessee with 33 points and Ernie Grunfeld added 26. Ray White paced the Bulldogs with 23.3 13 point halftime edge.

Scott May was the Hoosiers' high scorer with 25 points. Eddie Owens collected 33 points, hitting on 15 of 27 field goal attempts, in triggering over St. Mary s. The Rebels, in posting their 39th straight home court triumph, boosted their won-loss record to 2M. "Nevada-Xas Vegas TeH at halftime 58-39.

Elsewhere, Rick Wilson's 26 points carried Louisville past Bradley 107-89; Bruce Campbell scored eight points in the final five minutes to lead Providence over Villanova 89-81 West Virginia earned a berth in the ECAC Ronnie Davis and John Billips tallied 21 each as Ole Miss broke its losing streak. Jeff Fosnes had 26 points and Butch Feher 22 for the Commodores. All I Pet. Pet. Alabama Tennessee Vanderbilt Auburn Kentucky Georgia Florida Miss.

St. LSU Mississippi .175 21 1 75 75 20 5 6N IS 10 .543 14 10 .563 14 10 .41 MI 14 .375 11 1 .375 13 11 IOC 400 513 .461 .451 .542 .500 .200 7 10 a 10 -a 10 5 11 .311 12 12 .063 5 20 1 IS Monday's ftaautfi Albama 17, Georgia 74 Kentucky 05, LSU 70 Tennessee Miss. St. 74 Mississippi $1, Vanderbilt 72 Only mes scheduled Pet. Oi Alabama 14 a 75 Tennessee 1) 4 .745 iv, Semes MmaJnino Alabama Away, Kentucky March Vanderbilt March I.

Tennessee Home. Georgia March, 6. Southern Division tournament by whipping New Hampshire 91-67, and North Texas State finished its best season ever with a 22-4 record by beating West Texas State 88-69. 1. Indiana (57) 3 Marquette (2r 1 Oirtcw.

in 4. KortKCarbl(na' 5. Nevada-Las Vegas 4. Alabama 7 UCLA I. Notre Dame 4 Maryland 10 Washington II.

Michigan 12. Tennessee 13. Cincinnati 14. western Michigan 15 Missouri 14 St John's. NY 17.

Carolina St. II. Florida State 19 Tenet AIM 20. Centenary 254 1.194 33 1 1.040 161 725 1 541 22 4 541 11 5 459 215 416 274 292 115 212 ItS 232 114 IN 221 110 32-4 It 214 54 117 15 304 215 23 22 5 23 place Check, the biggest of his career. It put him in the new World Series of Golf.

It primed him for Augusta, Ga. and the Masters, his first big goal of the year. And it answered the questions that were whispered around the locker rooms of the world after his failures in his first two starts this season. "If you'd asked me a month ago if, at this time, I'd be playing this well, I'd have said said after post? ing his 269 19 under par on the Inverrary Country Club course. A month ago he was still smarting from and the golfing world was still agog over-the unbelievable final round 82 he shot in the Bing Crosby.

In his next appearance, at the Bob Hope, he was one shot out of the lead going into the final round. And the Golden Bear, the most feared competitor of his age, let it get away. Nothing happened. He didn't move. He shot a strug the goals we set this year." Trailing 72-65 with only 5:58 remaining, Anthony Murray got the Tide untracked with three quick steals, scoring after ach.

Murray and Leon Douglas led the Tide with 20 points each and Rickey Brown, hero of Saturday's victory over Tennessee, added 17. Douglas also had 20 rebounds. Jacky Dorsey tallied 22 and Walter Daniels 20 for the Bulldogs, who carried Alabama into overtime before losing at Athens earlier in the season. Tennessee squandered a 14-point lead in the second half and claimed its Just victory when Bernard King hit a short jump shot with only three said St. Bonaventure Coach Jim Satalin, whose club is also playoff-bound.

"The key play was the foul, call on, the steal by Baron. If that isn't called, we tie the game." Sellers' 25 ppintjBppeLthfi Scarlet Knights, 26-0. Hagen had 22 points and Hollis 15, pomts and 21 rebounds for the JBonnies. 16-9. Rutgers opens thTTsAC" Metropolitan Division tournament on Thursday against Long Island University in the Metropolitan Division.

The Bonnies play Niagara in the Upstate New York Division. Indiana, which has already won the Big Ten title, broke away from Northwestern with a 13-4 spurt that established a 1 0-4' A near upset? Maybe, but the men's team wore boxing gloves and could not enter the free throw, lane under their basket in the charity matchup. AUBURN, Ala. Bob Davis was signed to a new multi-year contract as head basketball coach at Auburn University. ytaeirs Is 1 WCAA Tecaim Jack's back.

He's firmly entrenched in: his customary spot atop the world of golf. He's a winner 'again, against perhaps the best field of all time. And he's looking forward to even greater Jack Nicklaus wiped out the nagging, embarassing of an 82 and a pair of uncharacteristic collapses with a brilliant, seven-under-par 65 that staked him to a threestroke victory Monday in the rain-delayed, $300,000 itbxirnament Players 'Golf Championship. "I felt in total control of my game," Nicklaus said. "I played pretty well.

There were only maybe 10 shots all week I wasn't happy with. And I hit an awful lot of good shots. "It was one of my better tournament efforts." It was important to Nicklaus on several counts. It marked his first victory of the season and the 59th of his career three short of Ben Hogan's total of 62, second on the all-time winning list. unleashing a 22-4 outburst in the final six minutes to dump Georgia 87-76.

In other SEC action, Kentucky whipped Louisiana 'State 85-70 and Ole Miss ended its long drought by an 81-72 margin over Vandy. Auburn and Florida were idle. Coach C. M. Newton of-Alabama said everyone was still talking about Alabama's 93-90 double overtime victory over Tennessee Saturday, but "this is the biggest we've had in a long time.

"For one thing, it assures us of at least a tie in the SEC for the third straight year. And, it could easily give us a chance to play for the national championship, which is one of for a while, but two free throws by Rutgers freshman Abdel Anderson put th Scarlet Knights in front to stay 82-80 with 1:31 left. A turnover gave the ball back to Rutgers, and with 31 seconds lerrthe Bbrihies1 Jim Baron was called for a foul on an attempted steal. Dabney's victory. "Both teams played well," The Ft.

Campbell men, paced by Lovie Fry's 23 points dropped Ft. Meade 79-69. The Ft. Campbell women dropped Ft. Bragg 42-34.

Saying 1 He was not nearly so talented on the stage as he was in the water. BASKETBALL CHICAGO-All-American Scott May, teammate Kent Benson of Indiana, Terry Furlow of Michigan State, Rickey Green of Michigan and Mike Thompson of Minnesota were named to the first team All-Big Ten basketball team MILWAUKEE-Marquette's second-ranked men's basketball team just defeated the women's team by a score of 39-35 Monday night. NO-CREED-BUT CHRIST Church Bro. Kenneth Clouie MMrter Call 447-4773 third-ranked Rutgers became only the 19th NCAA major college to complete a regular season without a loss, according to records dating back to 1939. The nation's other major' unbeaten.icop-nmkgd Indians; raised its record to 26-0 l)y beating Northwestern, 76-63.

The Hoosiers close out their regular schedule By ALEX SACHARE AP Sports Writer Guards Jeff Kleinbaum and Ed Jordan told both sides of the Rutgers basketball story. "This is something I'll remember for the rest of my life," siL Kleinbauarr 'afters the Scarlet Knights completed the first unbeaten regular season since the school began 'iffiertcri reg laTnTaxeTiJaTr competition in 1906 with a Somefrom-behind 85-80 triumph over St. Bonaventure Monday night. Jordan, on the other hand, was looking ahead to the postseason playoffs. "This is just the beginning now we've got to keep it going," fe said.

By- beating the Bonnies, No. 12 Tennessee edged Mississippi State 78-76; N6.16 St. John's nipped Niagara 65-64, and No. 20 Centenary beat i Virginia Commonwealth 98-94. Rutgers' perfect finish did not come easy.

The Scarlet K.nj,gtsJ fense, which had ran off 100 or more points on 10 occasions this season, couldn't get going had too many bad passes in the first half, and couldn't make a layup," said Rutgers Coach Tom Young. "We were ahead by two, but we should have been up by 12 or 14." Rutgers' 39-37 halftime edge didn't last long. The Bonnies, with Glenn Hagen and Essie Hollis leading the way, kept up the pressure and went ahead Sports Ft. Campbell Wins Pair SHOE REPAIR College Basketball Auto Racers NQW TWO LOCATIONS IX) SERVE YOU BETTER FT. MEADE, was a good day for Ft.

Campbell teams playing in the FORSCOM Eastern Regional tourney played here. INDIANAPOLIS, Spitz has decided to retire from show biz and go back to dental school. This should bring sighs of relief from fans of the performing arts. Spitz, winner of seven swimming gold medals in the 1972 Olympics, is scheduled to enter the Indiana University dental school this summer. Spitz, who took pre-dentistry and was graduated from the Bloomington campus of IU gave up his plans for "dentistry after the Olympics to enter show business.

JESUS SAVES MUTING AT ERIN BARGAIN CENTER for Houston County-citizens located, across from Nave Funeral Home PHONE 289 3801. OWENS REPAIR SHOP back of Court House, 75 yds. up hill, Dover, Tenn. State Saturday. In other' games involving Top Twenty teams, No.

5 Nevada-Las Vegas whipped St. Mary's, 12-66, No. 6 Alabama beat Georgia 87-76; No. 8 Notre Dame defeated No. 14 Western Michigan 95-88 in overtime; No.

11 Michigan was Upset by Minnesota 81-79; All Plrst Pound Districts Maine Farmlnaton (8, Maine-Port Kent 42 Husson Col 104. Thomas Col 47 District 4 Mart Hill 73. Col of Charleston 44 District 11 Hastings 71, Doane45 District 13 Oustavus Adolphus to, SW Minn. 75 Augsburg 54 St. John's, Minn.

S3 District 27 Troy Jacksonville, Ala 15 Alabama Huntsvllle 10. Ala. St II District 3 Campbell 91. UNC Wilmington 44 District Alcorn 71. BelhavenS District 33 Pikevllle 111, Cempbellsvlle 64 District 10 Marymount 94, mporla St 47 Fort Hays St 97, Kansas Wesleyan 15, OT District 14 Drury S4JMissourl Western 47 SW BapJit.5.

Rockhurst 91, OT OlstrlctM Bethel 79, MllllgantJ Lincoln Memorial 104, Bryan 41 All Semifinals District 17 Henderson 13, Southern St 41 District II Idinooro 93, Clarion 90. OT Indiana, Pa. 13, Waynesburg 47 District 2B qulncvl5.lt. xavler 70 Diet. 11 Franklin 74, Sarlham 70 Manchester 74, Trl State 63 District 13 Plndlaye.

Defiance 65 Central It 13, Rio Orende 71 Olst.JJ Georgia 79, Oeorgia Col 71 District 1 Norfolk It 104, Virginia It 91 District 4 It. Mary't 17, Howard Payne 51, bestot series tied 11 District 33 7l District 19 Oeerge Meson 14, Philadelphia Pharmacy 14. OT Copplnltl1l.lt John Plsher 74 Oterrkett Tenet Southern II, Midwestern. Tai. 44, best of three series tied 1-1 Pro Basketball Denver IIS, VlrMia From WIRE REPORTS AUTO RACING ROCKINGHAM, N.C.-The citizens band radio craze is alive in the stock car racing circuit.

v. For example, Richard Petty's handle is Kingpen, while Red Rooster and Dill Pickle are drivers David Pearson and Dave Marcis. No, Kingpen, Red Rooster and Dill Pickle don't have CBs In their race cars, since there is little fear of smokies stopping them on the track. The CBs are in their road vehicles. HON DENOMINATIONAL G3E Monday's Colkoo Basketball Nasults By Ths Associated Prat AIT Assumption 109, Boston 107, 3 OT Colby Bowdoln 82 DowllngCol 71, Dominican, 52 Jersey City 79, Trenton 41 LeMoynaN, Alfred 67 Providence (9, Vlllanova II Oulnnipiac 90, American mt 44 Rutsars 15.

St. Bonaventure Ruttitrs-Camden 94, St. Thomas Aquinas St. Jonn's 65, Niagara 44 Seton Hall 75. Manhattan 43 Virginia 91, New Hampshire 47 SOUTH Alabama 87, Georgia 74 Centenary 9t, Va.

Commonwealth 94 Jackson St 2, OlllardO, forfeit Jacksonville 77, Georgia 65 Kentucky 15. LSU 70 Loulsvllla 107, Bradley t9 Mississippi 01, Vanderbilt 72 MeNeeaa St 45, 1 Alabama 74 New Orleans 74, Oklahoma Ity 47 Old Dominion 95, Florida Southern 73 Tennessee 71, Miss. St 74 MIDweST Ashland 72). Youngstown 47 Grand Valley 71, Spring Arbor 44 Illinois St Akrons Indiana St 47, Cvansvllle 7 Lake Superior St 75, Saginaw Valley 74 Wisconsin 91, Ohio SI 79 Michigan St 93, Iowa aa Minnesota II, Michigan 79 Notre Dame 95, Michigan M.OT Oral otter ts 79, St Louis 74 Wis au Claire 71, Carthage 59 Wit-Park aide 77, wit La Crosse 44 Indiana 7. Northwestern 41 SOUTHWIST Texaa Ttxaa 49 PAR WIST Cal Baptist 15.

Int 49 Xent Wasn. 74, Wash, 44 Hawaii 4S. Portland 42 OT Nev. Las Vegas 134, St. Mary't, Calif.

New Mexico St 125, Hardin Simmons 101 TOUR NAM! NTS OVC PleyeHt Plret Pound Morenead St 75, 1 Kentucky 44 Austin PeavM. Murray St 71 i Kentucky 91, Tennessee 74 Middle Term. 14, Term. Tech 77 CUNY CCNY41, Yorkl7 MAIA Playoff District 1 Championship lint MM SB. Oregon Tech 7 or The Community A 3353 Ed Norman National Guard Armory 41-A North Sunday School Morning Worship 1 1 :00 Evtning Worship 7:00 Youth 6:00 Nurrv available lttenri DJULT RfMTlL Tony Noland- 647 A JloiilliOuiis Upote Living Link MliionarUt To Mexico Jimmy Ruiioll and Norman Dungan LOCAL MISSIONS Youth Challenge Chrlttlan Secvlca Men's Center Bro.

Bill CorUy-Paitor Call or 441-2111.