GOLF Charles Still Leading From Thomson In National Open

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 8

GOLF Charles Still Leading From Thomson In National Open

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, November 5. The determination of the young Masterton player, B. J. Charles, a burst of brilliant scoring by the Australian professional, P. W. Thomson, and fine rounds of 68 by the New Zealand professionals, N. H. Fuller, F. X. Buckler, and A. E. Guy, lent the second day of the New Zealand open championship at Heretaunga most of its very considerable interest. Though Charles, best of the amateurs after his 69, was expected by most of the spectators to suffer fatally from- the importance of the occasion, this talented 18-year-old, after some early misgivings, played boldly and convincingly and thoroughly merited the distinction of leading the'field at the half-way mark. With six holes to go, Thomson was four strokes more than the scratch score; and he was not playing well. Only tremendous resolution and skill gave him’ par figures after a poor start.

Those players who were not away early experienced an unpleasant change in the weather, which at first presented problems. The morning was as calm and mild as could be imagined, and the notes of the shining cuckoo and the tui, as well as the less melodious sounds from the golfers in trouble, carried clearly across the fairways. About midday, a wind came, and while it gained in strength, rapidly brought with it light showers. Another problem for the later players were the greens, on which it was difficult to stop the ball, and which were not improved by wear and tear. Eight Christchurch Finalists Eight Christchurch players are among the 66, who, with two round totals of 151 or better, will contest the final 36 holes of the open championship tomorrow. Charles today started nervously, to be three over after six holes. His game might very easily have deteriorated completely, but he did not let early troubles dismay him. He lost no further strokes going out, and with some magnificent straight hitting and accurate play about the greens, had three birdies in the next five holes.

. Thomson and B. H. Glading were together today. For a long time they missed the green repeatedly. Glading often drove into far distant places; but Loth chipped with such uncanny accuracy that they scored reasonably well. The wind strength and direction seemed to puzzle Thomson, who tried various boy scout methods of assessing it without conspicuous success. He dropped a stroke at the first hole, and at the short fifth hooked one out of bounds. His next shot from the tee was better, and he asked of the gallery the golfer’s eternal and neveranswered question: “Why didn't the first one do that?” Thomson was out in 37 and Glading in 35; and Glading’s success was due in some measure to good, old-fashioned luck. Thomson, with two long holes, stretched himself out and hit some vast woods to register two birdies; but early in the second half he came to grief. At the 410-yard twelfth, Thomson put his drive into rough on the right, and his second to rough on the left of the green. His third he deposited neatly into a bunker in front of the flag. He came out too strongly. Had the galle-y expected an air shot next, it might have been forgiven. The six at this par-four hole made Thomson four over, but he fought back with a lovely birdie at the 500-yard thirteenth and finished the round with four 3’s and a 4. At the 295-yard sixteenth he all but drove the green before getting his birdie, and at the seventeenth (445 yards) he hit two fine straight shots and sank a long putt for his eagle. Even then he was not done. At the home green he missed his birdie only fractionally. Glading, after an exhausting effort to keep up appearances; slipped strokes rapidly towards the end. Fuller Out in 33 Fuller, hitting his irons with the precision for which he is noted, and putting better than he has often done, went out triumphantly in 33. with six 4's and three 3’s. He had few misadventures on the way back, although at the last hole only a long putt gave him his bogey. Guy's natural build is rather like that of an American footballer in full uniform; and when he came to the long holes before the turn he really beat the ball to win birdies from both. Another birdie at the tenth put him three under, but a missed short putt and a tee shot at the fifteenth, which failed to get up the hill to the elevated green, cost him strokes. However, he managed to drive the 295-yard sixteenth for a birdie.

Buckler’s round was a story of the olayer’s approach to the game. Yesterday, when he scored 76, he played every stroke as it failure would bring the tumbrils up at the double. His excessive caution and minute examinations of fairway, green, sun, cloud and sky told on him; but today he played boldly and without undue delay. Out in 35, he was right on top of his game, and gave no real hint of fallibility in his steady and correct homeward half.

J. B. Tunnell, the Wanganui professional, who scored 68 yesterday, had lost touch today. He hurried his shots, made mistakes, and lost confidence. He was out in a tragic 41. which included a seven at the fourth hole, which runs beside the river. It was there that Southerden lost a ball yesterday. and today hit two out of bounds to run up a modest 8.

Crampton Fails With Chips Crampton, although hitting his woods with spectacular success, failed repeatedly to chip close to the hole. Like Thomson, he never runs the ball up, but, again like Thomson, he varies the height of the approach greatly, according to the terrain and the position of the hole. The essence of youthful confidence, he invariably uses a fliron at the two three-bogey 200 yard holes on the course, and usually finds the green. D. L. Woon was four over at the turn, but came home in 34, even after three-putting the sixteenth. First of the Christchurch amateurs to qualify was M. W. Stanley, of Buss-

ley. He was out in a discouraging 38, but played the last half, in the often violent wind, in 34, with some splendid irons and sound putts. D. C. Watson was out in 36, and he has seldom hit the ball better, but with repeated failures to find the greens and sink putts for saves, he totalled 77. The Avondale player, W. J. -McGavock, did well with his second 74, a fine round if the unhappy 5 at tbe short ninth could be forgotten. L. J. James was out in 36, but the wind found him out in the second half H. J. Gosset, after a reasonably good start, struggled desperately for his figures before the end. So; too, did I. B. Cromb, while L, A. Watson, although playing better to the green than he has done for a very long time, missed eight putts of under five feet. And so to the finish of the open championship tomorrow. The only reasonable prediction is that clubs.and hopes will be raised some 10.000 times during the day—lo,ooo individual answers to individual problems. The Press Association reports the following results, (P.l, denoting a orofessional:—

PETER THOMSON. British Open Golf Champion, New Zealand Champion, and GOLFER OF THE YEAR, plays DUNLOP 65 GOLF BALLS EXCLUSIVELY. Advt.

AUSTRALIANS AHEAD OF AMERICAN TEAM (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 6. Australia took the lead in a golf contest against the United States today when Australian players won both the foursomes played at the Lake's course. Sydney. Before today’s play. Australia and the United States had won three matches each at Perth. The contest, which is for the Lakes Cup, -will be decided tomorrow, when four singles will be played. Today Ossie Pickworth and Kel Nagle beat E. J. (Dutch) Harrison and Tommy Bolt, 3 and 2. Norman von Nida and Jim Mclnnes beat Marty Furgol and Dave Douglas, 3 and 2.

AVONDALE CLUB At the closing day ot the Avondale Golf Club prizes won during the season were presented by Mrs M. P. H. RouMiam as follows:

Men: Senior Championship and Avondale Plate, A. E. Ison; Intermediate Championship and Avondale Bowl. R. A. McNeil; Junior Championship, R. W Taplin; iSladen Cup, P. Venter; Wyn Simpson Cup, M. K. Rodgers; Foursome Championship, A. k. Ison and F W Roberts; Mixed Championship, F. w’. Roberts and Mrs L. Wilkins * Top Dog, A. A. Lawrence and A. J. Dickey; Scales Cup, A. E. Ison and Mrs Chetwin; Lewis Tr<a>hK A L. Large and Mrs Large; McKendry Memorial, R. A. McNeill and K. South; Aggregate Cup, B. K. Franks; John Martin Cup, T. Perkin and J. Sowden; Members Cup, s. T. AnaruPresldent's Trophy S. Suckling; Captain’s Trophy. M. K. Rodgers; Vice-President's Trophy, w. Russell and B. K. Franks. Women: Senior Championship, Mrs E. r.i unlo r Championship, Miss M. Mills, Championship Foursomes. Mrs A. L Large and Mrs H. S. Chetwin; Erin P i ß i enn t n Memorial Cup, Mrs M. P. .H. Rousham; J. A. Stringer Bowl Foursome, Mrs H. S Chetwin and Mrs J. A. Logie; Members £KE' BE w E - ™« ht Mem**" Mrs J. w. McCabe; I. A. Maindonald Rose Bowl. Miss E. Moore: Weir Cup. Morton; L.G.U. Silver Medal Mrs E. Paton; L.G.U. Bronze Medal, Mrs Mrs ri. A a TJnn Ohn Martin Puttln « Cup ’

1st 2nd rd. rd. T>. R. J. Charles .. 69 72 141 P. W. Thomson (P.) .. n 71 142 N. H. Fuller (P.) .. 75 69 144 A. E. Guy (P.) .. 75 69 144 D. L.. Woon F. X. Buckler (P.) .. 71 .. 76 73 69 144 IS J. A. Paterson (P.) .. 72 73 E. W. Young i-i r >> 72 73 145 A. C. Relph B. Crampton (PO N. F. Dowden .. .. 72 73 145 ' 74 72 146 .. 74 TO 146 N. V, Edwards .. ...71 75 146 I. A. Ewen .. TO TO r 146 J. N. Andrews .. .. 73 73 146 R. A. Court ... 7473 147 F. J. Cullen .. 74 73 147 R. A. Jackso n(P.) .. 75 72 147 A. S. Jameson ■'. ■ .. 76 71.’ 147 J. H. Lowes .. A : TO/ 77 • IS R. C. Murray A. D. S. Smith .. M. W. Stahley .. .. 73 74 :: 35 75 73 ii? J. B. Tunnell .. -68 TO 147 N. H. Amon ■ 74 74 148 D. E. Collins .. ..TO 73 148 R. B. Bailey .. .. 75 73 118 W. G. Home .. 74 74 148 James Galloway (P.) A. W. Jensen (P.) .. 76 72 148 .. 76 72 148 D. G. Leng-Ward .. 74 74 148 W. W. Smith .. 78 70 148 P. G. F. Smith .. .. 75 73 148 G. L. Taylor .. 74 74 148 I. Dyer .. 75 73 148 W. J. McGavock .. 74 74 148 J. D. Dtirry .. 72 77 149 G. W. Faulkner .. .. 75 74 149 H. J. Gosset .. 72 77 149 B. E. King .. 77 72 149 R. F. Mackie .. 73 76 149 G. T. Seccombe (P.) .. 74 75 149 B. M. Silk .. 72 77 149 R. D. Wilson .. .. 75 74 149 J. H. Woon .. 73 76 149 I. B. Cromb .. 76 74 150 J. Q. Casey .. 76 74 150 S. E. Cox (P.) .. 73 77 150 J. B. Crawford .. .. 78 72 150 W. c. Crisp G. Cuuningnam .. .. 75 75 150 A. 72 78 150 R. H. Glading .. .. 75 75 150 K. S. Glendlning .. 76 74 150 F. T. Gordon .. 73 77 180 G. R. Lindsay .. .. 76 74 150 J. Mitchell .. 75 75 150 G. P. Roberts .. 76 74 150 J. H. Rogers (P.) T. M. Sout .. 74 76 150 .. 73 77 150 G. E. Wilson .. 75. 75 150 I. E. Deadman .. .. 73 78 151’ J. P. Homabrook '.. 75 76 151 L. J. James .. 76 75151 A. R. Kitto .. 74 77 151 E. A. Southerden (P.) .. 74 77 151 D. C. Watson .. 74 77 151 L. A. Watson .. 75 76 151 E. J. Astin .. 80 72 152 D. B. Dunn .. 74 78 152 G. R. Falloon .. 80 72 152 H. D. Hayden (P.) .. 77 75 152 G. E. Hudson (P.) ... 75‘ 77 152 S. A. McDonald .i .. 78 74 152 A. Murray (P.) .. .. 76 76 152 K. F. Thom .. 76 76 152 E. B. Treacy .. 80 72 152 H. A. Black .. 75 78 153 S. G. Cooper .. 78 75 153 R. Daley .. .. 78 75 153 A. B. Jolly 4P.) .. .. 78 75 153 S. Keeble .. 76 77 163 R. D. Kearns .. 74 79 153 D. M. Ross .. 77 76 153 G. N. Tustin .. 76 77 153 M. J. Thornton .. .. 76 77 153 J. Watt (P.) .. 77 76 153 T. S. Galloway (P.) .. 76 78 154 T. Burrell (P.) .. .. 77 78 155 R. B. Carr .. 77 78 155 R. Harsant .. 77 78 155 R. Hay-McKenzie .. 75 80 155 I. Arundel (P.) .. .. 79 77 156 S. Booth .. 78 78 156 L. Evans (P.) .. 82 74 156 John Galloway (P.) .. 81 75 156 R. G. Holland .. .. 75 81 156 T. E. Irwin .. 81 75 156 J. D. Lewis .. 80 76 156 N. Payne .. 77 79 156 G. Payne .. 80 76 156 H. W. Lawrence .. .. 79 77 156 A. R. Timms .. 79 77 156 K. W. Stephen .. .. 76 80 it? D. Brodie . .. 80 77 J. L. Black .. 75 82 157 E. Fennell (P.) .. C. B. McLeod .. * .. 84 .. 81 73 76 ,!57 157 A. J. Shaw (P.) .. .. 78 79 157 B. A. Colquhoun .. 79 TO 158 H. J. D. Corrin ..’ .. 83 75 158 D. H. Graham .. 76 82 158 A. L. Gise (P.) .. .... 80 78 158 K. E. Carter 84 159 A. J. Fletcher .. •X. 80 79 159 N. M. Fowke ... 80 79 159 J. Hamilton-Gibbs .. 81 78 159 J. W. Hennan ... 80 79 159 N. W. Osmand .. .. 82 77 159 T. A. Pannett .. 81 78 159 J. H. Duncalf .. 80 80 160 P. L. Peacock .. 79 81, 160 J. F. Farley .. 76 85 161 S. Haynes .. .. 77 84 161 T. P. Jones .. 81 80 161 B. C. Parsons •• P 84 161 J. W. Scott 76 85 161 D. A. Stevens .. 79 82 161 M. Miller .. 83 79 162 F. J. J. Shearer .. W. S. 1 ouglas .. .. 82 80 162 .. .81 82 163 JL C. Mitchell .. .. 81 82 163 J. G. Scott .. .. 83 80 163 A. M. Johns •• .. 77 87 164 V. L. J. Quinn .•*** .. 83 ' 81 164 H. D. Randup .. .. 87 77 164 B. C. Bidwill • •..83 82 165 D. J. Oliver .. 84 81 165 R. D. Haycock .. .. 81 85 166 N. Jarman ♦. .. 80 86 166 R. L. Linley 1. .. 80 87 167 P. L. Hegiribotham .. 85 85 170 O*Rorke Vase Results of the O’Rorke Vase inter-club teams’ match were:—Manor Park B 294, Akanna 296, Hamilton 296, Masterton 298. Wellington 302, Miramar A 305, Manawatu 306, Christchurch 306, Hutt 309. Waipukurau 309. Paraparaumu Miramar B 323, Manor 310, Shandon 313. Park A 324.