Merion

Terry Spahr, the defending champion, and Tom Harrity won two tough matches each yesterday, creating an all-Merion Cricket Club finale in the 50th Atlantic Coast Open squash racquets championships at the Resorts Racket Club. In the afternoon semifinals, Spahr defeated former Penn teammate Dave Proctor, 17-14, 17-14, 15-6, and Harrity, the former Philadelphia champion, overcame the severe hitting of Scott Brehman, the 1988 and 1989 Atlantic Coast champ, 15-9, 15-10, 15-12. The final starts at 2 p.m. today.

Lee Trevino seemingly always let you know when he was happy, particularly in the heat of competition on the golf course. But other than blowing a kiss to the crowd to acknowledge the applause as he walked onto the 18th green at Merion Golf Club with the 1971 U.S. Open championship securely in his pocket, he was relatively subdued. Trevino wrapped up his work in the 18-hole Monday playoff by sinking his three-foot par putt to defeat Jack Nicklaus by 3 strokes. As he pulled his ball from the cup, removed his cap, and shook hands with his rival, he felt immediate relief and a sense of pride that he had prevailed over five pressure-packed days on what he had called "the hardest damn course I've ever seen.

North Carolinians Bill Plyler and Chris Dalrymple, partners for the first time, played the East Course in 4-under-par 66 yesterday to win Merion Golf Club's 10th annual Hugh Wilson Invitation Tournament. The pair combined for a 13-under-par 197 at better-ball competition. Plyler of Pinehurst and Dalrymple of Charlotte birdied the first five holes on the back nine. Plyler birdied 10 and 11 with putts of 12 feet and 1 1/2 feet after hitting a pitching wedge to the 10th and a 2-iron to the 11th.

The United States Golf Association has confirmed that historic Merion Golf Club wants to host another U.S. Open, sometime after the year 2000. David T. Fay, executive director of the USGA, said last week that the Merion application was on file and would be considered the next time the association's Championship Committee discusses U.S. Open sites, possibly next year. Merion had been scheduled to hold next month's U.S. Women's Open, but withdrew in March 1991 rather than comply with the USGA's newly established non-discriminatory membership guidelines.

Barnes Foundation chairman Bernard C. Watson has turned down a funding proposal offered by Montgomery County to keep the historic art collection in its Merion home. Watson rejected the proposal in a letter Monday to a lawyer representing the county, saying the foundation had already made binding commitments to Philadelphia to relocate to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. He added that the "decision is irreversible. " A spokesman for the foundation said: "The Barnes Foundation has already raised $150 million from a broad base of donors, has the steady support of the city of Philadelphia and a lease for a city block on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and will shortly pick a world-class architect to build a new home for the art collection to fulfill its mission.

The township commissioners voted to rezone three large Merion properties in the neighborhood of Episcopal Academy, in response to a Pennsylvania Superior Court ruling that the rezoning of one of the properties was unconstitutional. In 1988, the commissioners approved an ordinance rezoning about 120 Merion properties. That ordinance was challenged by Morton J. Berman, who lived on North Latches Lane. The rezoning had approximately tripled the minimum lot size required for building on Berman's property and two neighboring lots.

Merion, scoring four of its five victories by narrow margins, raised its record to 3-0 in defense of its Philadelphia Cup championship in the 90th annual inter-club team series of the Women's Golf Association of Philadelphia yesterday. After defeating Huntingdon Valley, 5-2, and getting an assist from Wilmington Country Club, Merion stands alone in first place with two rounds left. Philmont was knocked out of a first-place tie with Merion when it was defeated by Wilmington, 4-3. THE RESULTS PHILADELPHIA CUP Merion 5, Huntingdon Valley 2 At Huntingdon Valley - Liz Haines, M, d. Kelly Jamison, 1 up; Nancy Porter, M, d. Charlotte Neslie, 7 and 5; Sheila Selby, HV, d. Pam Emory, 5 and 4; Vinnie West, M, d. Sue Sullivan, 1 up, 19th; Sue Sayer, HV, d. Nan Leonard, 5 and 3; Carol Cook, M, d. Jane Hamilton, 2 and 1; Cissy Zabel, M, d. Nan Hamilton, 2 and 1. Wilmington 4, Philmont 3 At Wilmington - Bonnie George, P, d. Doris Smith, 2 and 1; Nancy Koelle, W, d. Linda Weintraub, 1 up; Betty Richardson, W, d. Ruth Scott, 2 and 1; Fran Engelbach, P, d. Gayle Anderson, 1 up, 19th; Sandy Wedge, W, d. Bobby Rose, 3 and 2; Miriam Rodstein, P, d. Pam McCrery, 3 and 1; Kit Dolphin, W, d. Sue Kraus, 5 and 3. Phila.

Merion began defense of its Philadelphia Cup championship yesterday with a 5-2 victory over Waynesborough as the Women's Golf Association of Philadelphia launched its 91st annual interclub season. The competition includes 966 players and 138 teams participating in 23 cups or divisions. PHILADELPHIA CUP MERION 5, WAYNESBOROUGH 2 At Waynesborough - Nancy Porter, M, d. Judy Owens, 2 and 1; Liz Haines, M, d. Judy Wolstenholme, 7 and 5; Vinny West, M, d. Kari Hagar, 2 and 1; Carol Cameron, W, d. Carol Cook, 2 up; Lindsay Counselman, M, d. Molly Markle, 2 up; Nan Leonard, Merion, d. Sue Rakestraw, 2 up; Jackie Kurtz, W, d. Meg Young, 5 and 4. PHILA.

Carl Everett of Merion, recent winner of the Philadelphia Mid-Amateur Championship, won the medal prize with a 1-over-par 71 yesterday as the 69th George Arthur Crump Memorial Cup tournament began at the Pine Valley Golf Club with an entry of top amateurs from 29 states, England, Argentina and Washington, D.C. Walker Cup players Jay Sigel of Aronimink and Vinny Giles, team captain from Richmond, Va., tied for second place at 72. Defending champion...

One in a series of articles getting you ready for the U.S. Open at Merion, June 13-16.   THE MOST influential person at this June's U.S. Open might not be three-time winner Tiger Woods or reigning Masters champion Adam Scott. Or USGA executive director Mike Davis, who is responsible for setting up Merion's East Course for, as the championship's website states, golf's toughest test. Or even NBC's Johnny Miller, whose jab-like observations figure to ruffle some egos. No, the one holding the keys at America's sixth-ranked course, which is hosting this flagship event for the first time in 32 years, is Matt Shaffer, director of golf course operations at the Ardmore institution.