European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Torrid Start moves Els into 2 shot Lead by Ron Sirak Oakmont Paap there a a new Star emerging at the . Open. He a 24 years old foreign of course and with any Luck he could walk off with a championship that has been in american hands for 13 years. He a Ernie Els a South african who shot a 66 on saturday including the first Ever nine Hole 30 in the seven opens at Oakmont country club. A 54-Hole total of 7-under- 206 gave Els a two stroke Lead going into the final round. Els started saturdays third round at 2 under birdied nos. 1 and 2, Eagle the -5 fourth Hole when he ran in a 25-footer, birdied 5 and made a two putt Birdie on no. 9 for his 6-under -30. However he fell off to a 36 on the Back getting in trouble As Early As the 10th Hole. He drove into the rough on that Hole pitched Back to the Fairway hit on and three putted for double bogey. He also bogeyed 16 to fall to 5 under. _ but he got it Back together for a Birdie Birdie finish. The first came when he drove into the rough on the 315-Yard 17th then pitched to 8 feet and made it. He finished with a 9-foot Birdie putt on 18. He a followed by new Sealander Frank Nobilo at 208 and Colin Montgo . Open Merie of Scotland at 209. The top americans also at 209, were 44-year-old Tom Watson 49-year-old Hale Irwin and 39-year-old Loren Roberts. A the foreign players Are the Best players in the world now a Watson said after Birdi eing the 18th Hole for a 68. But Watson for one makes his intention Clear Quot my Frame of mind for tomorrow to win. Simply to win no matter what it  that could be easier said than Els done a especially when it comes to Els who was second in the Buick open last week and runner up in the european pea championship earlier this year. He has the americans tripping Over each other trying to Praise him. A i think i just played with the next god a Curtis strange said. Quot he a not up and coming a Watson said a a he a there. He a going to be a world  and when Irwin heard Els say he would play on the . Tour next year he said Quot that a too  foreign players have dominated the masters and the British open during the last decade but none has won the . Open since David Graham of Australia in 1981. _ close friends from the european tour Els and Nobilo get a break by being paired together in the last group sunday. Quot he is a very Good Friend. That would probably help both of us a Nobilo said. The bearded Nobilo was steady All Day and shot a 3-under 68, including a 20-foot  saving putt on the last Hole. Quot they Are great players a Nobilo said of. Watson and Irwin. Quot Hale Irwin has won three . Opens. He knows what it is like. Tom obviously won a Bunch of  but he showed no fear. A a Thebes thing about a major championship is reputations count for very Little once the Golf Ball has been hit a he said. And while it was a Good Day for the Young Els 54-year-old Jack Nicklaus crumbled on a sweltering 97-degree Day shooting a 40 on the front nine and 77 for the Day. He a 3 Over 10 strokes behind. Still in Contention were strange and Steve Lowery at 3 under australian the stars and stripes spoils june 20,1994 Page 32 Greg Norman John Cook and Steve Pate at 2 under five strokes off the Pace Irwin could have been alone in second place but double bogeyed the last Hole to shoot 71. He said he popped up his drive after he lost control of the club because. Of his sweaty hands. Irwin who was 45 when he won in 1990, is the oldest Man to win the open. Roberts who won for the first time in his 13-year pro career earlier this year mastered the treacherous Oakmont greens for seven birdies and no bogeys. He punctuated his round with a Curling 60-foot Birdie putt on the 16th Hole a putt that moved so slowly across the Slippery Green that it seemed like it might never get to the Hole and then added a 15-footer on 18 for Birdie. He needed Only 24 putts for the round. Roberts 7-Unaer round was bettered Only by Johnny Millers final round 63 in the 1973 open Here. No one else had Ever shot 64 at Oakmont in an open and there had been Only six 65s, three of them coming in fridays second round. Romania win sets . Up for fall italians shocked by Irish world cup by the los Angeles times done to look now a and if you Are like the majority of american television viewers chances Are you did no to but the world cup took a mighty wicked twist on the Home team saturday. And for that we can thank that renowned romanian pop icon Gheorghe Hagi. Hagi was supposed to Tumble for us he and his romanian teammates leaving Colombia precisely where it belonged after one game atop group a and putting the United states one Point up in the race for the groups other automatic pass to the second round. Hagi shredded Colombia at the Rose bowl with one booming goal and two deft passes that led to others enabling Romania to upset one of the tournament favourites 3-1, while putting a serious crimp in any , plans to still be around and kicking in july. Now Colombia is miffed and it gets the americans wednesday afternoon at the Rose bowl. Colombia not Only needs to beat the yanks in that one it needs to stomp them. By two goals at least if it is to balance its goal differential account so important when it comes to placement in the second Rounel. To Advance the United states most Likely needs at least three Points in group play. It has one after tying Switzerland in its opener which Means it now must either a tic both Colombia and Romania b beat Colombia c beat Romania. Romania had to overcome a considerable Home Field . Makes its Point a see Page 30 disadvantage braving a sea of colombian flags and screaming yellow fright wigs worn out of deference to the storied colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama. But romanians first goal by Florin Radu Choiu via a Brilliant bouncing 25-Yard pass from Hagi made All that hair Stop standing on end. It was 2-0 after Hagius towering shot hooked the top right Corner of the net and in the 89th minute it was that Man Hagi again pounding a Long Ball so hard that goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba displayed it into an easy poach for Radu Choiu. In another world cup game saturday. Ireland 1, Italy 0 at East Rutherford n.j., Irish eyes were wet their throats sore and their spirit overwhelming. Hustling and tackling with the same Fervour As their countrymen Sang and chanted Ireland upset Italy before 74,826 at giants stadium. The loss stunned the players to their Knees while representing the worst fears of their country of critics. Italian Forward Roberto Baggio who recently was named Best player in the world already has suffered much. After Ray Houghton intercepted a header and kicked an excuse me Irish goal from 22 Yards in the 12th minute the defense went to work on Baggio. For the rest of the afternoon they did everything but drag him around by his Ponytail. Quot yes i think we intimidated them a Little bit a Lead enforcer Paul Mcgrath said.  outdraw open Golf new York apr the United states Switzerland world cup game saturday Drew an overnight National rating of 5.8, beating the . Open Golf championship. Abc sports also said monday the 1-1 tie in Pontiac mich., which led into its open telecast produced an is share in a Survey of 31 markets. A ratings Point represents 942,000 Homes. The share a ram at open is the percentage of televisions tuned to the program at the time. Abc said the third round of the . A from Oakmont pa., had a rating of 5.0. The top markets for the world cup game with ratings Atlanta 7.7boston 7.4 and new York 7.1. Colombians Faustino As Prill a ducks under romanians Daniel Prodan in Battle for Ball at the Rose bowl