European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 19, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday june 19,1988 the stars and stripes Page �1 sports Simpson shoots 66, leads open by shot App Nota defending Champ Scott Simpson. Watching drive at Ullh by Bob Green Brookline mass. A defending Champion Scott Simpson had insisted All week that there would be a new . Open Champion when the 88th edition of the tournament wraps up this weekend. Now he s not so sure. I always thought i had a Chance to repeal. I just did t think it was very  Simpson said Friday after shooting a 5-under-Par 66 to take a one stroke Lead at the Halfway Point. It s More Likely now added Simpson who s seek ing to become the Hist Man to make a successful de sense since Ben Hogan did it in 1931. I m a lot More comfortable now than last year. Winning one of these things takes some of the pressure off of you he said stopping Short of predicting Victo i m not too excited about the Lead. There s still two rounds to go and there s a lot of players who could  Norman is not one of hem. The australian Star withdrew after spraining his left wrist when he hit a Rock while playing the ninth  s 66, which came despite a double bogey from the water on the 11th Hole and a bogey on he 1 both was the Best round of the tournament and gave him a 36-holc score of 7-Undcr-Par 13s at the country club in suburban  us total matched the open Mark for the Best total at the Halfway Point. The Cui figure of 146 also matched an open record. It was established even though the round was not  players including first round co Leader Mike Nicolette were stranded on the course by darkness. They marked their positions and were scheduled to return at 7 . Saturday to Complete second round play. The third round was to be held As scheduled. None of the sin had a Chance of overtaking the Lead cars. Nicolette was the Best of them at 1 under for the tournament with one Hole to , his  in a Sling Lew to Birmingham ala., to be examined by or. James Andrews an Ortho medic surgeon at the Alabama medical and orthopaedic  to the . Golf association Hospital spokesman Mike Immel said Andrews found no sign of significant damage to the wrist and advised nor Man to rest for 10 Days to two  said it was too soon to determine the extent of the injury or when he May be Able to return to Competition. He said he was not sure if he would be Able to play in he British open in England next , one of the pre Toti Marmeni favo Les was injured when he hit a Rock while playing a shot from the rough on the ninth  sounded like he i a Boulder said Larry i who was playing with Norman Misc whose pitch in play olt Birdie Defeated nor Man in the 1987 masters had a 67 that left him at 136, one stroke behind  strange Winner of five titles in inc last 10 months and a record setting Money Winner in two of the last three seasons slogged through a drizzling afternoon rain to shoot a 67 and pull into a tic for third at 137 with Bob Gilder who had a 69.masters Champion Sandy Lyle of Scotland British see open on Page 23 Schmidt s 536fh Homer beats Mefs 3-1 by the associated press new York after a Mobil Long drought. Mike Schmidt finally broke into she Home run column. It was t surprising that it was pea Iii the new York mils Schmidt who has especially Good Sucu i a inst Mel pitching in his Brilliant career homered 10 sir three run fourth inning to help the Phillies beat new York 3-1 Friday night. It was a fastball Over the plate and i made great no Roundup Contact Schmidt said of his Homer off mils Ace Dwight wooden. Before Friday night Schmidt had gone to Bat 100official limes without hitting the Ball out of the Park. His last Home run prior to Friday s was on May 20. The Homer was the 536th of Schmidt s career put Ting him in a tic for seventh place with Mickey Mantle on the All time list while the rib was his l,537lh,Good for a 26th-Placc tie with Joe Dimaggio. Mantle s Homer had a hex on me for a month Schmidt said. I got the Ball from the fans and i m. Going to gel Mickey to autograph it. I Don t know Why i hit a Homer tonight and none in so Long. This was the strangest Streak i be Ever  Schmidt continued to build his career statistics against mcts1 pitching whom he has rapped for 48 homers and 152 Bis. Goodwn said the Pilch May have been Over the plate. However i d throw him the same Pilch again wooden. 9-3, has Only one win three losses and a no decision in his last five starts. After Schmidt s Home run Goodwn hit Chris Jami with a Pilch and Phil Bradley followed with a double. Milt Thompson was walked Ingeni tonally to Load the bases and Sieve Jeltz hit Inlo a double play which resulted in a Long rundown and allowed James and Bradley to score."1 did t hear Wally say go Home first baseman Dave Magadan said. Philadelphia starter Kevin Gross 8-2, allowed seven Hiis in so innings struck oui six and walked two in route to his fourth straight Victory. Steve Bedrosian got see my on Page 26 a brakes Gerald Perry Brace against astros Terry Puhl As Pitcher s pack of throw bounces it the first baseman