Golf briefs for June 13, 2005

Monday, June 13, 2005 | 9:42 a.m.

Storm delays play at Bayer Classic

At Overland Park, Kan., Gil Morgan and Dana Quigley, the leaders in the clubhouse when rain suspended play, had to wait until today to find out whether they were to meet in a sudden-death playoff in the Bayer Advantage Classic.

When the storm system that has plagued the tournament all week forced the suspension Sunday, three players were still on the course within three strokes of the leaders in the Champions Tour event.

Morgan, with an early tee time, shot a 5-under 68 and Quigley came in a short time later with a 66, tying him with Morgan at 11-under 133.

When play was halted, Rodger Davis was 8 under for the tournament through nine holes, Dan Pohl was 8 under through 11 and hometown favorite Tom Watson, after reeling off two straight birdies just ahead of the rain, was 8 under through six.

Couch one win away from PGA

At Glenview, Ill., Chris Couch won his second title of the year to move within a victory of a promotion to PGA tour, shooting a 4-under 67 for a four-stroke victory in the LaSalle Bank Open.

Couch, also the Rheem Classic winner on May 15, earned $135,000 to jump from fifth to first on the money list with $275,995. The only player in the field with four rounds in the 60s, he finished at 15-under 269 on The Glen Club course.

Couch, also second in the Virginia Beach Open in late April, earned a spot in the PGA tour's Western Open on June 31-July 3 at Cog Hill.

Rookie wins first title

At Hilversum, Netherlands, Spanish rookie Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano won his first tour title, shooting a 3-under 67 for a two-stroke victory over England's Gary Emerson.

Fernandez-Castano had an 11-under 269 total. Emerson finished with a 70.

-- Sun wire services