SMALLDON SCORES 68 TO LEAD IN BRITISH OPEN

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28013, 6 July 1956, Page 18

SMALLDON SCORES 68 TO LEAD IN BRITISH OPEN

GOLF

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

LIVERPOOL. July 4. Dennis Smalldon, the 30-year-old Welsh professional champion, played remarkably well today to lead a strong international field with a record-equalling 68 in the first round of the British open golf championship. f irst man out on the Hoylake course, and having the best of the weather, Smalldon was in great form. Hitting all his shots perfectly and chipping and putting like a man inspired, he made the 6960 yards of the tough links look very easy. Later, a strong wind and rain made conditions uncomfortable, but still most of the talented field of 96 qualifiers were able to turn in good scores. Behind Smalldon was Enrique Bertolini, champion of Argentina last year, who had a splendid 69 (34-35>. Bracketed at 70 were Peter Thomson (Australia), Al Balding (Canada), and Eric Lester and D. C. Thomas (Britain).

Among those who will have to show improvement if they are to survive are Bobby Locke (South Africa), who took 76 today. Only a golfer of his remarkable control could have done so well after the mortifying experience of taking three shots in a bunker for an eight at the long third, and later driving out of bounds for a six at the sixth. He will be among those struggling tomorrow to be one of the 50 qualifiers for the final 36 holes on Friday. Thomson could have been luckier. He began by grazing the cup on the first to miss a birdie. But on the fifth he squandered a stroke by missing a fourfoot putt. He broke • through at the seventh and was then three under fours. After the thirteenth he was four under fours and the gallery was looking for a record.

But their confidence sagged when Thomson pushed out his drive at the seventeenth into a bad lie, and then put a wood to the right and short of the green. He finished with a five. Then, on the eighteenth, he was through the green and took two putts for another five. Bobby Locke was tormented by a bunker on the third. At his first effort to get out, his feet slipped, and he hammered the ball more deeply into the sand. The hole cost him an eight. Then at the sixth he was out of bounds and took a six. He was out in 41. Locke's fellow-countryman, the hardworking youngster Garry Player, persisted today with his good golf. He turned in a 71 and showed no sign of nervousness or indecision. Best scores are:— 68, D. F. Smalldon. 69, E. Bertolini (Argentina). 70, P. Thomson (Australia). A. Balding (Canada), E. G. Lester. D. C. Thomas, G. Player (South Africa). 71, F. van Donck (Belgium). R. de Vicenzo (Mexico), C. Celles (Spain), A. Miguel (Spain). 72, H. Weetman, F. E. Miller, S. Miguel (Spain). F. Stranahan (United States), A Cerda (Argentina), T. H. Cotton. M. Gonzalez (Brazil), J. Hargreaves, W. Shankland, S. Leonard (Canada). 73, K. Housfield, N. Sutton, J. B Carr, C. H. Ward. C. O'Connor, A. Casera (Italy), A. Angelini (Italy), J. R. M. Jacobs. . :

74, T. Wilkes (South Africa), M. Ishii (Japan), J. Martin, C. M. Tugot (Philippines), L. B. Ayton, M. Souchak (United States), J. K. Tate, J. Panton, E. Green, H. Lester. 75. J. Burton, T. McNaughton, D. J. Rees, W. J. Branch, J. Adams, W. R. Sharp. R. L. Moffitt, E. Moore (South Africa). F. Saubaber (France), J. Hitchcock. B. J. Hunt, F. Phillins (Australia), R. Whitehead, R. Rossi (Brazil). 76, H. Bradshaw, B. Crampton (Australia), M. Pose (Argentina). C Greene, C. Said (Egypt), G. de Wit (Holland), J. W. Jones. A. D. Locke (South Africa). 77. J. W. Wilkshire, A. Thirwell. K. W. C. Ad wick, H. Thomson (Egypt), F. Daly. R Hayden, R. Cotton (France). 78, T. Halliburton, S. S. Scott. G. Sarazen (United States). N. Fogarty, P. Gill. P. Alliss. P. Burke (United States). Chen Ching Pn (Formosa), N. C Coles. 79. A. Salas (Argentina), J. Wade. G.

Howard, E. E. Whitcombe, ■ J. T. S. Brockley. 80, T. H. T. Fairbairn. P. J. Butler, T. Gardner, J. D. Pritchett. E. Large. 81, T. Spence. Y. Hayashi (Japan). H. Lees, R. Wilkinson, H. Mcllree. A. E. Sheoperson, R. Burton, R. Jarman, F. Bullock. CHRISTCHURCH CLUB The draw for the Denniston Cup qualifying round on Saturday, July 7, is as follows: 9 a.m.: M. K. Boon, G. Chapman. W. McK. Cleland. 9.5: P. G. Egden, R. B. Lake, D. H. Cummack. 9.10: J. G. Mangan, R. A. E. Brett, C. G. F. C. Hamilton. 9.15: A. B. Callender, K. W. Hobbs. I. McW. Harkness. 9.20: B. R. Cook, J. Forrester, W. G. Quirk. 9.25: C. L. Sturge, N. A. Boon. S. R. Cuthbertson. 9.30: W. D. Wood, E. G. Keenan, T. S. Connell. 9.35: H. E. W. Roberton, D. D. A. Reese. R. G. H. Bullock. 9.40: R. D. Glackin, P. D. Shea, J. V. Glasson.

10 a.m.: T. S. McMillan, G. W. Riley, D. B. Ward. 10.5: A. R. Mac Gibbon, R S. Beadel, D. L. Taylor. 10.10: H. D. Livingstone, H. W. Macfarlane, T. P. Laffey. 10.15: M. Taylor, M. A. Johnston, M. L. Taylor. 10.20: M. W. Johnston, D. G. Rich. M. F. Hobbs. 10.25: A. R. Blank. S. G. Wells, A. W. Robinson.

11.10 a.m.: H. V. Rossi, M. L. Page, P. S. Foster. 11.15: S. Hunter, A. B. Hobbs, R. R. Livingstone. 11.20: C. E. Suckling. R. A. Roberton, R. E. Alexander. 11.25: D. F. Williamson, J. D. Bull, J. K. Davidson. 11.30: D. W. Russell, F. W. Stevens, W. C. Debenham. 11.35: G. M. Turrell, D. C. Bennie, A. G. Paterson. 11.40: R. D. Kearns, M. W. Simes, C. W. Caldwell. 11.45: H. M. Minson, J. H. Hewlett, M. Kunzli. 11.50: P. F. Barkle, W. A. Caldwell, C. J. Ward.

12 noon: P. Williamson, W. G. Scannell, G. R. Burrowes. 12.5: N. F. Boag, R. R. Bell, H. C. Smith. 12.10: J. G. Scott, M. C. Tipping, J. B. Prendergast. 12.15: J. J. Cuddon, E. H. Watkins, A. L. Smith. 12.20: L. J. Moorhouse, W. Simpson, M. K. Gray. 12.25: A T. Bell, E. J. Corcoran, F. P. Morrison. 12.30: L. A. Sinclair, J. Richards, A. J. Skellerup. 12.35: H. E. C. Debenham, G. E. Hoffman, W. J. Humphries. 12.40: N. R. Parkes, B. J. N. Wilks, B. W. Cleland. 12.45: C. W. Skidmore, M. D. Mercer, D. K. Fieldhouse. 12.50: N. E. Tingey, G. R. Hunter, E. S. Henderson.

1 p.m.—P. Hall, J. L. Barriball, E. A. Cleland. 1.5: E. S. Williams, F. F. Reid, M. J. Russell. 1.10: J. Ramsden, F. G. Hill, O. C. Abbott. 1.15: C. T. Werren, A. E. Benzie L W. Fleetwood. 1.20:. F. W. Seldon, W. L. Burns. R. C. Saunders. 1.25: G. N. Sheldon, J. W. Knight, P. R. Hollings. 1.30: G. W. A. Green, M. J. C. Robinson, J. H. Scott. 1.35: W. D. Murie, M. J. W. Davis, M. B. Cook. 1.40: L. A. Woodward, H. A. Montgomery, F. L. P. Sharp 9144