GOLF

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25227, 4 July 1947, Page 4

GOLF

BRITISH OPEN TOURNEY COTTON AND AYTON LEAD FIELD (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, July 2. The English professionals, Henry Cotton and L. Ayton, with scores of 69 (equalling the course record, established yesterday by N. von Nida in the second .qualifying round), lead the field at the end of the first 18 holes in the British open golf championship at Hoylake. One hundred qualifiers played in the first round under bad conditions. Heavy early morning rain left pools of water on the course, and there was a strong wind. Cotton reached the turn in a brilliant 33, which included birdies at the fifth and the seventh. He also scored a birdie at the twelfth, but poor iron shots cost him strokes at the other holes. Ayton’s putting and tee shots were deadly accurate, and he had five singleputt greens in the first nine. Von Nida was the favourite for the event before the start of play. He returned 74. His putting was far less accurate than usual. The leading scores are:—Cotton 69, Ayton 69. Stranahan (an American amateur) 71. F. Daly 73, J. Adams 73, Van Donck 73, Burton 73, von Nida 74, W. Anderson 74, Vic Ghezzi 75, R. A. Whitcombe 75, F. Jowles 75, Waters 75, McLean 75, A. Lees 75, J. Jacobs 75, A. Padgham 75, S. King 75, W. Shankland 76, R. Burton 77, Dai Rees 77, Bulla 80. Parking in Lowe Street.— The Transport Department drew to the attention of the Riccarton Borough Council on Monday evening the danger of cars parked in Lowe street obscuring the railway crossing. It was reported that some cars were parked on railway property. It was agreed to meet inspectors to discuss safeguards against accidents.