Golf TOURNAMENT BOYCOTT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 5

Golf TOURNAMENT BOYCOTT

Thomson And Nagle

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 18.

The leading Australian golfers, Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle will boycott one of the biggest forthcoming Australian tournaments because of extravagant appearance money being paid to Arnold Palmer (United States) and Gary Player (South Africa), the "Daily Express'' reported. The newspaper’s golf writer said Thomson told him this after brilliantly winning the Dunlop masters’ tournament at Royal Porthcawl on Saturday. He quoted Thomson as saying: "Kel and 1 fly home early this week to play in Australia. New Zealand, and the Far East, but there is one £ 3000 tournament promoted by a tobacco firm we won’t be in.

"We are pulling out because of what they are giving Palmer and Player to appear/ Palmer is getting £4ooo— than the total prizemoney—and Player more than the first prize of £600." The writer said the only time Palmer and Player would encounter the Australian pair during a flying visit would be in an 18-hoie exhibition match raising money for a £4.000.000 cultural centre in Melbourne.

“Kel and I are playing that one for nothing.” said Thomson. “We decided on that rather than accept the offer of £l5O each while Palmer and Player were both getting £500.”

CHRISTCHURCH LADIES’ CLUB.— Championship qualifiers: Miss B. Langley 170, Mrs L. A. Watson 175, Miss H. R Buchanan 175. Miss W. Morgan 177. Mrs C. J. Ward 178. Mrs A. I. Charles 180, Miss E. M B. Nutt 181. Mrs E. A. Lee 181.