The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Mike Burke Jr. Of Montammy Gc

Any imaginative golfer has asked the question: What would it be like to play on golf's grandest stage, to compete in a major championship? Towaco's Mike Burke Jr. doesn't have to wonder. He's been there plenty of times. And it never gets old teeing it up with the game's greats.

Trump Hopes to Host ; U.S. Open Is High On His Wish List

BEDMINSTER -- The shiny, black Rolls Royce sat outside the clubhouse at Trump National last week as a reminder to all who passed it. Yes, Donald Trump is the man who has it all.

At the Clubs

AlPINE CC Women's member-guest, July 22, 1st Gross: Nancy Brown, Barbara Finkelstein, Jane Kugler, Jennifer Morris, 68; 1st Net: Liz Schuman, Adria Schozer, Kim Sitarz, Laney Fowler, 50; 2nd Net: Julie Cohen, Susan Newman, Kathy Ozan, 51; 3rd Net: Doris Mortman, Karen Fox, Phyllis Anikstein, Phyllis Mack, 51; 4th Net: Lois Goldstein, Donna Schwied, Yael Morris, Eileen Greenspan, 54; 5th Net: Jodi Epstein, Terri Delgatto, Cynthia Low, Marilyn Ostrow, 55.

Earlier Twilight

Twilight rates at the five Bergen County-run public courses will take effect an hour earlier, at 4 p.m., and the fee has been reduced at Valley Brook Golf Course, said Kevin Purcell, general manager of County courses. Here are the twilight fees:

Keeping an Eye On the Prize ; W. Milford's Bouloucon Contender at Amateur

West Milford's Karen Bouloucon is among the contenders at the State Women's Amateur Championship, one year after she was runner- up. Bouloucon, who plays out of Crystal Springs, is among 60 women scheduled to tee off at the four-day event at Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Neshanic Station with today's stroke-play qualifier.

Penalty Call Start of U.S. Collapse ; Loss of Composure Leads to Flurry of Goals

EAST RUTHERFORD -- Brian Ching didn't raise his voice, but clearly he was upset. The United States national team midfielder shifted from one foot to another, his gaze fixated on the ground as he responded to questions after Sunday's humiliating 5-0 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final at Giants Stadium. Ching was not happy with what he termed a loss of composure by the Americans in the second half, when Mexico scored all of its goals. He was especially livid with a call that gave Mexico a pen...

Gardner to Miss 3-4 Weeks

NEW YORK -- Brett Gardner didn't think he needed X-rays after Saturday's loss to Oakland despite feeling a little something in his left thumb after he jammed it sliding to break up a double play in the first inning. But the precaution the Yankees took revealed a fracture at the base of that thumb, on his throwing hand, that by will sideline the outfielder for three to four weeks, he believes.

Mets Notes

Feeling relief Jon Niese stabilized the Mets' starting rotation Saturday, but Jerry Manuel said that he expected to still carry the extra reliever rather than promote a position player for the short-handed bench.

I Kid You Not: They Are Good

I'm a bit of a golf nut. I play more golf than I can afford to, and I watch more golf on television than those closest to me would like.

Varipapa a Striking Performer

Tom Watson stirred the hearts of older athletes and gave many others that little extra inspiration they need in his spirited bid to win the British Open. Bowling has been full of similar superstars.

Sea of Joy

Livan Pulls It Together

HOUSTON -- Livan Hernandez's day was just five batters old and it was questionable whether his day -- or maybe even his tenure in the Mets' starting rotation -- was going to last a sixth. He already had given up a walk and three consecutive RBI doubles - - the only out coming when leadoff man Michael Bourn flew to the wall in right field. It was ugly enough that Tim Redding already was throwing in the bullpen, with Jerry Manuel admitting later that Hernandez had two more batters in him if he ...

Yanks Cleaned Up in Homestand ; Bullpen Is a Big Part of 9-1 Run

NEW YORK -- Slogged through in a steam bath of a July afternoon Sunday, the Yankees' 7-5 victory over Oakland seemed moderately significant on the surface, not to mention rather inartistic. To the victors, however, it kept them from spoiling a post-All- Star break homestand with two straight losses to the last-place Athletics, instead sending them into a nine-game, 10-day trip to Tampa Bay, Chicago and Toronto after a 9-1 run at their new digs.

Don't Trade What Came From Farm ; Cashman Should Pass On Halladay

NEW YORK -- Roy Halladay is out there the way Randy Johnson was in 1998, back when the Unit was a more ominous sight to batters in the box than he was to cameramen on the street. Across the final week of that bygone July, Brian Cashman was standing in the eye of George Steinbrenner's storm. Just as the Unit was still the Unit in the summer of '98, The Boss was still The Boss.

Mexico Gets Cup Fiesta ; Five-Goal Second Half Dooms U.S. In Final

EAST RUTHERFORD -- The Mexican party started at 11 a.m. in the Giants Stadium parking lot, when a sea of green jerseys arrived with beeping car horns and waving flags. It continued into the evening Sunday, even under a downpour, as the sellout pro-Mexican crowd of 79,156 celebrated a Gold Cup championship and a historic 5-0 victory.