At 8th Annual CGA -- State -- Senior Championship, Bradley's Par Round Leads.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.--(BW SportsWire)--June 23, 1999--

"I'm loving the rarified air."

Santa Monica's Bud Bradley was not talking about the cold, foggy and windy conditions that prevailed Wednesday during the first round of the eighth annual California Golf Association (State) Senior Amateur championship at Poppy Hills Golf Course.

Bradley had reason to be enjoying the moment. He had just posted an exceptional 37-35 -- 72 on the 6,249-yard course. Not only was that good enough for the first-round lead in the 54-hole event, but it also elevated the South to a 229-231 lead in the annual team competition.

Things like this just don't happen, especially since the championship moved from Ojai in 1994. Players representing the Northern California Golf Association have posted five straight wins and have not lost in team play since that part of the tournament was added in 1995.

Three of the titles belong to defending champion Jim McMurtrey from Danville. Bradley played in the same foursome Wednesday and credited McMurtrey with helping his game.

"I learn something every time I play golf with him," said Bradley. "I watch him like a hawk. He's wonderful to play with."

Bradley must be a good student. He had birdies on three of Poppy's five par-5s against three bogeys. It matched his best round at Poppy Hills, but he was not ready to step to the winner's circle. "I shot 72 last year and then a million. This is a very dangerous golf course, but it was good to me today."

Last year, Bradley opened with rounds of 73-72, but struggled home with an 83. McMurtrey went 71-74-74 -- 219 for his third title. Wednesday, McMurtrey fired a par-36 on the front nine, but finished with a 41 on the back nine, including a double-bogey on the final hole. "That wasn't very good, was it?" he smiled.

Bradley is joined on the South team by Frank Merhar (78), Ed Rieu (79) and Paul Ladin (80). Only the best three scores count. Brentwood's Bob Olds led the North with a 76. McMurtrey followed with a 77, 1997 champion Cliff Davis a 78 and reigning NCGA Senior champ Bob Heaton an 81.

Pebble Beach's Chuck Weil, the 1992 winner, shot 79. Carmel's Paul Spengler, who was the champ in 1996, finished with an 81.

Checking in behind Bradley with 74s were two other Southern Californians -- Preston Davis of Manhattan Beach and Tom Eastlack of Menifee.

The field will be cut to the low 24 scores and ties for Friday's final round.

Following are the first-round results:

72 - Bud Bradley, Santa Monica, 37-35.

74 - Preston Davis, Manhattan Beach, 35-39; Tom Eastlack, Menifee, 35-39.

75 - Jerry Hutton, Long Beach, 37-38; Larry Carr, Bakersfield, 36-39; Joe Saldana, Avalon, 37-38; Peer Hegg, Hacienda Heights, 39-36.

76 - Peter Daley, Costa Mesa, 38-38; Joe Bolstad, Westlake Village, 37-39; Robert Erwin, Whittier, 37-39; Bob Olds, Brentwood, 36-40; Bob Wernick, Rancho Mirage, 39-37.

77 - Paul Kay, Encino, 37-40; Al D'Amato, La Quinta, 40-37; Jim McMurtrey, Danville, 36-41; Robert Callan, San Francisco, 39-38.

78 - Justin English, El Macero, 39-39; Cliff Davis, Suisun, 39-39; Frank Merhar, La Jolla, 37-41; Reuben de los Santos, Red Bluff, 42-36; Brian Marshall, Ventura, 38-40; Spence Beard, Westchester, 40-38.

79 - Art Arms, Rancho Santa Fe, 37-42; Bobby Fries, Fresno, 37-42; Earl Stewart, Fairfax, 39-40; Bob Kovash, San Francisco, 40-39; Ed Rieu, Palm Desert, 39-40; Jack Essex, Riverside, 37-42; Dick Dallagiacomo, Anderson, 39-40; Roly LaMontagne, Stockton, 41-38; Larry Wagner, Danville, 39-40; Chuck Weil, Pebble Beach, 41-38; William Paulson, Monterey, 36-43; Tracy Sergeant, Rodeo, 40-39.

80 - Ken Krieger, Lake Forest, 40-40; Joe Dudley, San Jose, 39-41; David Ellis, Roseville, 39-41; John Cartwright, Pauma Valley, 37-43; Jerry Chirpich, San Luis Obispo, 40-40; Michael Drucker, Newport Beach, 38-42; Paul Ladin, Westlake Village, 40-40; Jim Noel, Rancho Mirage, 39-41.

81 - Bernie Overland, Placentia, 41-40; James Talbott, Reno, 39-42; Bob Heaton, Antioch, 41-40; Paul Spengler, 38-43; Jerry Hardy, Alviso Viejo, 39-42; Kent Winton, Atherton, 42-39; Dennis Iden, Costa Mesa, 41-40; Dennis Carunchio, Escondido, 43-38.

82 - Jim Ono, Fremont, 42-40; K.C. Crain, Venice, 39-43; John Jones, Rancho Mirage, 43-39; Al Cariss, Temecula, 40-42; Stephan Whitman, Martinez, 42-40.

83 - Reg Bailey, Antioch, 38-45; James Clarke, Cambria, 44-39; Andy Gonzalez, Monterey, 40-43.

84 - Jim Thurman, Clayton, 40-44; Gary Conti, 40-44; Ray Celaya, San Jose, 43-41; John Cranston, Los Altos Hills, 39-45.

85 - Van Rehbeck, Laguna Hills, 39-46; Len Santoro, Fountain Valley, 43-42.

86 - Thomas Smith, San Francisco , 39-47; Ted Gehrke, Redwood Estates, 39-47; Ray Laird, III, La Quinta, 45-41; Gil Carpio, San Jose, 44-42; David Sixt, San Diego, 41-45.

89 - John Snow, Del Mar, 44-45.