GOLF Peter Thomson Equals Muirfield Course Record

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28936, 2 July 1959, Page 5

GOLF Peter Thomson Equals Muirfield Course Record

(NJ). Prest Astocuttion—Copynght)

LONDON. July 1.

For the first time in his reign Peter Thomson faced Muirfield’s mighty 6606 yards in earnest yesterday in qualifying for the British open golf championship.

With the old lurking smirk on his lips, he treated the course with the contempt dv to a public pitch-and-putt park, said the “News Chronicle.”

In three thrilling hours, with a gallery that grew from a knot of disciples to a roaring mob that careered across fairways like a Cup final crowd, he took just 66 shots to become master of Muirfield. ,

Only one man in history—Henry Cotton in his winning open 11 years ago—has equalled that 66. Cotton did it as a Royal Command performance before King

George VI. Thomson yesterday merely performed the miracle to scare his rivals. Today he will attempt.to retain his title and win his'fifth open. Today this qualifying 66 is worthless. The scoreboard was wiped clean when the last man came in yesterday. Now a new start will be made with 90 players, including 10 amateurs, competing in the 72-hole championship proper. This is the lowest qualifying total of all time. There were 10 places to spare in the qualifying list—a maximum of 100 places were since 15 players finished on the 148 mark all had to go out ' . Thomson’s record-equalling performance. played without a

blance of luck, was nearly overshadowed on the less gruelling 6506-yard Gullane course by Joe Carr, the Irish Walker Cup player Carr lopped three strokes off the record with a superb 64. He took the Gullane course by the neck with his very first shot, a, 300yard drive eight yards from the pin. He holed out in two and wielded the three-iron, that he uses instead of a putter, with reckless audacity. Eight times he needed only one putt Britain's Neil Co! the overnight leader after the first qualifying round, shot a 70 today Two happy men at the end of the day were Angel Miguel, of Spain, and the cross-handed Indian from Durban, Sewsunker Sewgolum, who waited anxiously through seven long hours before learning that their 147 totals were good enough. The New Zealanders, Andrew Robinson and lan Cromb, failed to qualify. The qualifiers were: 137 P. W Thomson, Australia. 138— N Coles t>a. 70; J. B. Carr* 74; o 4; F. Jowle u 7, 71 13V—R. P. MII.S 72. S 7; G. W. Low 70 09; G J flayer (South Africa) 71, bo; K. R. Jack- 72, 67. 140— A. Cerda iArgentina) 71, 69; F Van Donck (Belgium) 69, 71. 141— G R. Wjolstenholme- 68. 73; J Panton 70, fl; K. A. McDonald 72, 69; B Wukes (South Alrica) 72, 69; H. R. Henning (South Africa) 75, 66; J Henaerson 72, 69 142 W. Goggin (United States) 70 72; A D Locks (South Africa) 70, 72; J. A. Macdonald 73, 69; T. Hallburton 70. 72: J S. More 74, 68; J. Hitchcock 67. 75; P. E. Gill 72. 70. D. Shell -70. 72; G. Hargreaves 70 72. 143 D J Rees 75, 68; B. J. Hunt 71 72; R. L Moffitt 71. 72; H. Weet- -. man 70, 73 J. E. Miller 73, 70; C. ? O'Connor (Eire) 72, 71; C. Celles 7l. 72. R. Hayden 70, 73; R. Halsall 70. 73; B. Shelton 71. 72; F. Bonallack’ 70 ?»; S. S. Scott 70, 73 144 Jacobs 74. 70; W. D. Smith74, 70: R A Knight 72, 72; G Weston 74. 70, G Johnson 77, 67; J. R. Moses 7! 73, H Bradshaw 75. 69; W. J Henderson 72. 72; W. G. Cunningham 73. 71; G. R. Maisey 75, 69; M. Faulkner 71. 73; J. J Quereloz •Brazil) 71 73: J. Garraialde (Francei 69 75. 145 R Sota (Sbaln) 73. 72; P Allis 75 70 J E. Stuart- 75, 70: S. Miguel (Spain’ 71, if; J. Sharkey 76, 69; R. Burton 70. 75; H. Cotton 73, 72; E G Lester 74, 71; D R Dalziel- 72 73: G M. Hunt 75. 70; R M Mandeville 73. 72; A Stickley 71. 74; C H Ward 72. 73' B. Hutchinson 71. 74; P. G. Shanks 72, 73 146 J. W. Wllkshire 73. 73: W Hill (Rhodesia) 74. 72; V Drew 77. 69; F. S Boobyer 72. 74; E. C Brown 74. 72; G Aitken 76. 70; J. Adams 73 73; L Ruiz (Argentina) 75. 71; C. S Dennv 74. 72; C. Kane 72. 74; E. Wh<tcombe 74. 72; A. M Fox 73. 73; J. Hun.e 76. 70.

147—S C- King 78 69; A. W. Paton 70 77: H. Lewis 75. 72; K. Bousfield 76, 71; S. Sewcolum (South Africa) 7L 76: A. Miguel (Spain! 74, 73: F. Bullock 71, 76; R. L. Watson (United States) 75. 72; J. J. Garnet (Germanv)- 74. 73; J, F Ferguson* 72. 75: K. F Dodsworth 75, 72; R. Sweeney (United States) 73. 74. • Indicates amateur.

WAITIKIRI LADIES’ CLUB.—Flag "match—Senior: Mrs O. Falloon carried the flag to the eighteenth hole. Intermediate: Mrs M K. Boon earned the flag to the nineteenth fairway. Junior: Mrs K. T. Marriott carried the flag to the eighteenth hole. StaMeford—Senior: Mrs B. Lee, 30 points; Mrs B. Smith, 29; Miss L Hillis, 28. Intermediate: Mrs D. Williams. 32; Mrs M. K. Boon, 32; Mrs D Brown, 28. Mrs Williams won on countback. Junior: Mrs K. T. Marriott. 29 points: Mrs I. M. Wicken. 28; Mrs M. Smith, 27.