Dottie Mochrie Making Her Mark -- Golfer Emerges As Lpga's Top Winner In 1992

KENT - Nothing succeeds like success or changes one's life as quickly. Just ask Dottie Mochrie, who enters this weekend's $450,000 Safeco Classic tournament as the LPGA Tour's leading money-winner.

The 144-player field began the first round of the 72-hole tournament this morning at Kent's Meridian Valley Country Club.

In four previous seasons on the LPGA Tour, Mochrie won two tournaments. In 1992, she has won four times and has collected $679,161 in earnings.

She made a statement with her first victory of the season, the $700,000 Dinah Shore in March, one of the LPGA's majors.

Before claiming the title, Mochrie had to silence a heckler after completing the tournament's 71st hole, where she left a birdie putt short of the hole. The putt would have put her in the lead.

"The guy called me a loser," Mochrie said. As she left the green, she directed a glare at the man cold enough to freeze molten steel, then went back to work.

"He didn't say anything when I made the (birdie) putt on the next hole to win the tournament," she said.

Winning the Dinah Shore was just the beginning of Mochrie's achievements this year. Her leads in the money list; the LPGA Player of the Year award standings; and the chase for the Vare Trophy, which goes to the player with the lowest scoring average, have brought the Sarasota, Fla., resident plenty of attention as well.

"I notice people following me during practice rounds," Mochrie said. "Before this year, there used to be no one watching. And more people recognize me in airports and when I'm out in restaurants. That's the thing I noticed first."

Mochrie said she has not been able to cash in on her on-course success with endorsements.

"Nothing's really changed," Mochrie said. "Everything was pretty much set at the start of the year, so it's been difficult to change anything. I hope things will be different next year."

She said life at the top has also generated more demands for her time when she's not playing.

"It takes better time management than I thought it would," Mochrie said. "There is a lot of time taken up giving interviews and answering letters. I'm fortunate to have my husband do a lot of stuff for me, like working with the companies I'm signed with and with potential sponsors."

Soon, Mochrie may notice Nancy Lopez looming in her rear-view mirror. Lopez, who has won the past two LPGA events, said her motivation for the rest of her season is catching Mochrie in the Vare Trophy standings.

"That's one (award) I'd like to win every year, because to me it shows who the best player really is, not the top money-winner," said Lopez, 35.

Mochrie, 27, is averaging 70.83 strokes per round. Meg Mallon is second with a 71.05 average, while Lopez is third at 71.08.

Mochrie's priorities vary only slightly from Lopez's.

"The money is definitely not the main thing," Mochrie said. "The Vare Trophy is more important (than the money) and the player-of-the-year award is more important than that."

Lopez, whose season will end after next weekend's stop in California, acknowledges she needs some help from Mochrie.

"I have to play really well the next two weeks, but I have a chance," Lopez said. "With the kind of competition there is on the Tour now and because I don't play as much as I used to, the opportunity to win the Vare Trophy may not come again."

Mochrie said it makes no difference to her if Lopez or others challenge her for the Vare Trophy.

"I can't do anything but control what I do, that's my attitude toward it," Mochrie said. "If that's her (Lopez's) goal, that's her goal. It's also mine."

Mochrie will noy play in California next weekend in order to compete in the British Open. Then she'll play for the U.S. team in the Solhiem Cup, which will be played in Edinburgh, Scotland, in October. Then she'll rejoin the LPGA pros in Japan for the final events of the year.

"I'm not going to change my plans," Mochrie said.

Lopez won't try for five -- Nancy Lopez, who has won the past two LPGA events, at Springfield, Ill., and Portland, holds the tour record for consecutive victories. She won five straight in 1978.

If Lopez wins here and next week in Buena Park, Calif., she said she won't go for No. 5.

"My season will be over after California," Lopez said. "I'm not going to Japan."

After next week's tournament, the Tour heads to Japan for two events.

Lopez said she won't compete overseas because of her daughters - Ashley, 8, Erinn, 6, and Torri, 10 months.

Lopez's two older daughters missed school to watch their mom play here and will travel to next week's stop in California.

Several players out -- Several players withdrew from the Safeco Classic before the first round. The most notable is Meg Mallon, who has a hip injury. Mallon, the 1991 U.S. Open winner, also missed last year's tournament in Kent.

Others players who pulled out were Jane Geddes, Tina Purtzer and Becky Pearson. Kim Bauer, Marci Bozarth, Keri Arnold-Cusenza and Kim Cathrein were added to the field.

SAFECO CLASSIC PAIRINGS

TOMORROW

First tee 7:30 a.m. - Nancy Rubin, Lisa Kiggens, Kate Hughes. 7:40 - Keri Arnold-Cusenza, Jody Anschutz, Nancy Taylor. 7:50 - Susie Redman, Michelle Bell, Ellie Gibson. 8 - Jennier Graff, Patti Berendt, Patty Jordan. 8:10 - Robin Walton, Kate Golden, Mary Murphy. 8:20 - Julie Larsen, Cindy Figg-Currier, Heather Drew. 8:30 - Terry-Jo Myers, Kim Saiki, Tracy Kerdyk. 8:40 - Kim Cathrein, Kelly Robbins, Vicki Fergon. 8:50 - Danielle Ammaccapane, Sherri Turner, Dottie Mochrie. 9 - Michelle McGann, Marci Bozarth, Mitzi Edge. 9:10 - Debbie Massey, Deb Richard, Cathy Johnston. 9:20 - Caroline Keggi, Kim Bauer, Jan Stephenson. Noon - Melissa McNamara, Allison Finney, Carolyn Hill. 12:10 p.m. - Jane Crafter, Collen Walker, Jennifer Wyatt. 12:20 - Tina Barrett, Lori Garbacz, Anne Marie Palli. 12:30 - Hollis Stacy, Dana Lofland, Robin Hood. 12:40 - Lisa Walters, Brandie Burton, Beth Daniel. 12:50 - Pamela Kometani, Lori West, Cindy Schreyer. 1 - Nancy Ramsbottom, Sarah McGuire, Nina Foust. 1:10 - Kelly Crawford, Gail Graham, Shirley Furlong. 1:20 - Margaret Platt, Jill Briles-Minton, Jerilyn Britz. 1:30 - Laurie Brower, Nancy White, Marilyn Lovander. 1:40 - Angie Ridgeway, Michelle Mackall, Myra Blackwelder. 1:50 - Loretta Aldrete, Deedee Lasker, Lenore M. Rittenhouse.

10th tee 7:30 a.m. - Gina Hull, Laurie Rinker-Graham, Cathy Marino. 7:40 - Jenny Lidback, Katie Peterson-Parker, Tani Tatum. 7:50 - Laurel Kean, Alison Munt, Janice Gibson. 8 - Judi Pavon, Nancy Harvey, Kelly Holland. 8:10 - Kim Williams, Val Skinner, Noelle Daghe. 8:20 - Caroline Gowan, Kathy Guadagnino, Peggy Kirsch. 8:30 - Kim Shipman, Joan Pitcock, Michele Redman. 8:40 - Pat Bradley, JoAnne Carner, Patty Sheehan. 8:50 - Rosie Jones, Nancy Lopez, Cindy Rarick. 9 - Karen Noble, Martra Figueras-Dotti, Muffin Spencer-Devlin. 9:10 - Barb Mucha, Kris Tschetter, Juli Inkster. 9:20 - Amy Benz, Kris Monaghan, Sherri Steinhauer. Noon - Betsy King, Kathy Postlewait, Penny Hammel. 12:10 p.m. - Dawn Coe, Maggi Will, Judy Dickinson. 12:20 - Elaine Crosby, Michelle Estill, Nancy Scranton. 12:30 - Donna Andrews, Helen Alfredsson, Chris Johnson. 12:40 - Missie Berteotti, Dale Eggeling, Sally Little. 12:50 - Martha Paulconer, Marianne Morris, Denise Baldwin. 1 - Missie McGeorge, Nanci Bowen, Lynn Connelly. 1:10 - Lauri Merten, Sue Thomas, Jayne Thobois. 1:20 - Cathy Reynolds, Kiernan Prechtl, Kay Cockerill. 1:30 - Ann Walsh, Barb Bunkowsky, Pearl Sinn. 1:40 - Laura Baugh, Cindy Mackey, Mary Berth Zimmerman. 1:50 - Tara Fleming, Donna Wilkins, Barb Thomas.