Californian Leads Nw Golf Tourney

Arron Oberholser of San Mateo, Calif., carded the best round of the day, a 5-under-par 67 Thursday, to take a six-stroke lead after 36 holes of the sixth annual Northwest Players Championship tournament in Redmond, Wash.

Oberholser was 8 under par after two rounds with a 136 total as the 46-man field moved to the East and South courses at the Sahalee Country Club.

Darin Vaughan of Spokane shot a 76 and is at 150.

Rob Rashell of Seattle, the Washington State Amateur champ, moved into second place with a 73 for 142.

The final round will be played Friday on the 6,754 yards of the South and North courses at Sahalee, which will be the site of the 1988 PGA Championship.

Rypien race team makes deal

Sale of a portion of Mark Rypien Motorsports to Roush Racing appears to be a done deal.

John Deere and Co. announced in a news release the signing of a multi-year agreement with Roush Racing to sponsor a NASCAR Winston Cup team. Roush Racing, of Livonia, Mich., has acquired an interest in the team owned by Mark Rypien Motorsports (MRM).

“John Deere sponsorship will remain with the No. 97 race car and driver Chad Little of Spokane for the 1998 NASCAR season and beyond,” the release said.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the Roush organization will take over operation of the team immediately.

Roush Racing also fields NASCAR Winston Cup teams with drivers Ted Musgrave, Jeff Burton and Mark Martin.

, DataTimes