GOLF CHARLES BACK FROM OVERSEAS TOUR

Press, Volume C, Issue 29627, 25 September 1961, Page 15

GOLF CHARLES BACK FROM OVERSEAS TOUR

The first New Zealand palter to subject himself to the inquisition of regular tournament play overseas as a professional, R. J. Charles, returned to Christchurch \esterday in good health and in pocket. Charles, 25 years old and described overseas as the world’s best lefthander. has in the last nine months travelled many thousands of miles, played in 22 major tournaments in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the Continent, and won prize money in excess of £2OOO. Charles said last evening that his performance in bis first year of overseas golf r.ad been considerably better than he had hoped, and r.e is eager for his next tour, starting in January. But he has this in common with the 24-handieap player as he looks back on his first tour, he thinks of all the ways in which be might have done be ter. Perhaps the outstanding feat performed by Charles was to lead the qualifiers for the British Open with rounds of 68 and 70. His total of 136 was two better than that •' the Sou h African. Gary' Player. Charles said not much importance was atached to the qualifying positions, and for the distinction of being first he won only £5O, but he felt some satisfaction at finishing ahead of Player and the American Arnold Palmer. "One of Two Best” The first round of 66 was one of the two best he p ayed while he wag away. Charles said- He said every drive went down the middle, every iron went to the green, and he holed his putts from 6ft consistently. The 70 in the second round was harder to achieve than the 66. Charles said. He s arted late on the second day, and knew he had to have a 71 to beat Player.

His other best round was a.so a 66 in the Dunlop tournament, and it was in the third round. This was the best round of the tournament. Among the best of Claries’s performances were third plac ngs in the Transvaal and East Rand tournaments. second in the Dunlop at Bloemfontein, sixth in the Northern Open in Scotland, fourth in the Martini International, first in the Bowmaker at Sunningdale (with two rounds of 88). fifth in the Dunlop at Nottingham, and s xth in the Swiss Open, where his last two rounds were 65 and 69 In SIX Other tournaments he finished in the first 12. Charles explained that in the major tournaments. there were usually 30 or more places carrying prize money One of rhe reasons he did not do better. Charles said, was that he never began a tournament, .with -'good r-nnd. He never broke 7Q then: but in the third and fourth rounds he d'd it on a number of occasions. He feels now that he wss perhaps too conscioue that two good rounds were needed to oualify for the last two rounds the fields be : ng split at ‘he ha'f-way mark

"Perhaß* I tried a bit too bard at the start of a tournament.” said Charles “At

th* end I was more relaxed, and scored better.” Charles was asked to comment on the experimental use of the larger American ball in New Zealand. He said that the small ball was used in Britain, and if there was an option, he would prefer the small ball, which went further off the tee*. Both balls, had their advantages. but ‘as New Zealand golf was a winter game, he thought the small ball better for New Zealand conditions. Two things, at least, have happened to Charles’s outlook on golf since he left New Zealand. He is no longer concerned about a comparative lack of length off the tees. He has found that he can hit the ball far enough to compete: accuracy is all important. But he has had to raise his mental standards on the subject of scoring. Now he cannot fee! satisfied with a round unless it is of 70 or under. Scoring in Britain had improved markedly in recent years, said Charles. The half-way mark, when the field was reduced, used to see scores of 145 qualifying for the final rounds Now the mark was usually 140 or 141. That was probably a result of keener competition and the big fields: with about 200 players taking part, some were almost certain to ba scoring in the middle sixties. Charles will leave New Zealand in January for a tour which will probably take him to South Africa again, to the Far East for a circuit of tournaments, to the United States for about two months, and then to Britain, about April.

Charles will start practising almost immediately for the Caltex Thousand tournament at Paraparaumu Beach, and the New Zealand Open at New Plymouth, starting on October 11. These will be his only tournaments while he is in New Zealand.