GOLF Outsider Leads Field In British Open

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28938, 4 July 1959, Page 7

GOLF Outsider Leads Field In British Open

(N.Z Press Association —Copyright)

MUIRFIELD, July 2. Fred Bullock, a professional coach on a driving range, and a rank outsider, gave the lie to all the unbelievers by not only retaining the lead but going further in front in the British open golf championship at Muirfield today. He had a second round of 70 for a half-way total of 138 after 10 hours of drama-packed golf. Bullock, aged 41, who learned all his golf under his father at Holyhead in the Isle of Anglesey, has not played In a major event for two years.

Yet on a stormy day he out-played all the tournament-toughened international stars, and strengthened hopes of a first British victory since Max Faulkner’s success of 1951.

His great display gave Bullock a two-strokes lead over the stylish 47-year-old Belgian, Flory van Donck who played through heavy rairr for a second 70 to total 140.

The Belgian’s putter helped him to a hat-trick of 3's at the height of the storm from the sixth to the eighth. He holed from 12 yards at the sixth, and from seven yards at the eighth. A change of champion is as near a certainty as possible The titleholder, Peter Thomson, the 29-year-old Australian, said so himself when he crashed to a second 74 to finish 10 strokes behind the leader at 148 —the last qualifying score. There are 48 players in tomorrow’s final 36 holes. you can go and look at someone else now,” said Thomson, as he sadly walked away from the last green after an unavailing fight to make up for a disastrous 7 at the 409 yards ninth hole.

Qualifiers for the final 36 holes, with two rounds and totals, were 138—F. Bullock, 68, 70. >

140—F van Donck (Belgium), 70. 70142 R. A. Knight. 71, 71; A. F. Stickley, 68, 74; M. F. Bonallack (amateur), 70, 72. 143 T. M. Haliburton. 74, 69; S. S Scott, 73, 70f J. Hitchcock, 75, 68; A. Cerda (Argentina), 69, 74.

144 J. Panton, 72, 72; E. Lester 73, 71; S. King, 70, 74. 145 J B. Carr*, 72, 73; J. Adams, 71, 74; J. R. Moses. 72, 73; G. M. Hunt, 72, 73; J. Garaialde (France), 75, 70; H. Weetinan, 72, 73. 146 N C. Coles, 72, 74; J. Hargreaves, 72, 74; G. Player (South Africa), 75, 71; P. J. Shanks, 76. 70; R. R. Jack*, 71, 75: C. Kane 77. 69; R. P Mills, 75. 71; L. Ruiz (Argentina), 72, 74; K. Bousfield, 73, 73; H. R Henning (South Africa). 73. 73; D. J. Rees, 73, 73; T. H. Cotton, 71, 75; A. D. Locke (South Africa). 73. 73; R L. Moffitt. 74. 72; H. Lewis, 73. 73. 147 C. O’Connor, 73. 74; J. S. Mere, 72, 75; R. Hayden. 75, 72; H Bradshaw, 71, 76. 148— P. W. Thomson (Australia), holder, 74. 74; A. Miguel (Spain). 73, 75; C. H Ward, 78, 70; J. Sharkey, 74. 74; G. B. Wolstenholme*. 78. 70; G W Low. 75. 73; J. J Querelos (Brazil), 76, 72; E. Whitcombe, 71. 77; N. V. Drew, 71, 77; P. Alliss. 76, 72; B J. Hunt. 73. 75 • Amateur. WAIMAIRI BEACH LADIES’ CLUB.—Bisque bogey—A grade: Mrs R. Ayrey, 3 down; Mrs A. Henderson, 3 down. Mrs Ayrey won on a count-back. B grade; Mrs M Hall, 4 up; Mrs D. Nesbit, 1 up; Mrs D. Smith, all square, C grade: Mrs K. Stephenson. Hole-in-One.—Mrs G. Appleton holed in one at the short 110-yard “South-west” hole on the Rangiora Golf Club’s links this week.