GOLF High Wind Upsets R. J. Charles In U.K. Open

Press, Volume C, Issue 29565, 14 July 1961, Page 20

GOLF High Wind Upsets R. J. Charles In U.K. Open

(NX. Press Assn.— Copyright) SOUTHPORT, July 13. The New Zealand golfer, R. J. Charles, the first man to tee off in the second round of the British open at Royal Birkdale this morning, began disastrously.

With a 50 miles an hour chilly gale coming off the Irish sea. he hit his first ball down the fairway but hooked the second out of bounds. It was impossible to find the ball in this jungle of grass and creeper. As a result he carded a seven on this bogie five bole.

He drove into the teeth of a gale at the 527-yard second, was on the green in three, and down in two putts for a par five. Then, with this powerful wind behind him at the next hole he drove his ball into a bunker, took two shots to get out, and was down in five.

At the short 212-yard fourth he missed an eightfoot putt, and dropped another stroke. After four holes he was 21—-four over the card. One player in each of the first three pairs to hit off. lost balls when the gale carried them into the rough. The defending champion. Kel Nagle, Dai Rees, and the

South African. Harold Henning, each shot a 68 yesterday to lead the Held after the first round. On the second line —one stroke behind the leaders—are Norman Johnson. David Miller (Stoneham) and Jean Garaialde, of France. Arnold Palmer, after a round of put'ing “horrors" returned a 70, while the other favourite. Gary Player (South Africa) had two over on the last nine to finish with a one under par 73. Peter Thomson returned a 75. Palmer shared 70 with five other golfers. including British senior champion, 50-year-old Sam King. Nagle's short irons around the greens were superb. As a result he was generally left with easy putts. He began brilliantly in a heavy rain shower when he dropped a 25-foot putt for a birdiie four on the first. Palmer looked particularly serious after missing a fourfooter at the third. This was to be the start of a string

of wayward putts, as in his entire round he had nothing less than two-putt greens Rees, who has never won the open in bis long career, was the first to set the crowd scampering over Blrkdale's wet, sandy hills when he was five under the card after the first nine. Only minutes before he finished, there were more enthusiastic scenes round the home green when unknown 24-year-old Norman Johnson (Britain) holed a 70 yards approach shot for an eagle three and a 69 to snatch the earlier lead of 70 set by Palmer. Johnson’s lead was shortlived. Rees turned in his 68. followed by Hemilng and then Nagle.