GOLF Three New Zealanders Qualify At Melbourne

Press, Volume C, Issue 29680, 25 November 1961, Page 5

GOLF Three New Zealanders Qualify At Melbourne

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MELBOURNE. Nov. 24. Three New Zealand players qualified for the final 36 holes after today’s second round of the Australian Open Golf Championship at Victoria Course. Melbourne. They are S. G. Jones, 147, R. C. Murray and W. J. Godfrey. 150.

The other three New Zealanders eliminated today after failing to score within the qualifying score of 151 were F. T. Gordon. 157, R. R. Newdick. 156. and I. Woodbury. 160. Murray had a four-over scratch 77 today, as did Gordon, while Woodbury scored 81. The final 36 holes will be played tomorrow. The big-hitting Sydney professional. F. Phillips, went to a four-stroke lead over P. Thomson and K. D. G. Nagle when he scored a 67 for a 36-hole aggregate of 133. | Thomson had a 67 today and Nagle a 70. to put them on 137.

B. Devlin, who is defending the title, had a 66 today, making him 138, while the South African. G. Player, had a 73 for a total of ’.39—six strokes behind the leader. Yesterday Player was equal leader with Phillips. both on 66. Record Score The sensation of the day [ was a record-breaking nineunder scratch 64 by the 22-year-old New South Wales professional E. W. Dunk, giving him a total of 140. Dunk uses women’s grips on his very light clubs because of his small hands. Jones scored 72—one stroke better than his partner. G. Player. Jones’s card included three birdies and a brilliant eagle on the 18th. Jones delighted the big gallery with some wonderful golf. He was always up with and at times ahead of Player, who is at present the biggest money winner of the American professional circuit. Off the tee, Jones was long and accurate and his putting brought frequent applause He narrowly missed birdies at the tenth, twelfth and fourteenth holes when the ball ringed the cup but stayed out. On the four occasions when he struck bunkers, Jones recovered with perfect shots which were also loudly applauded by the crowd. On the outward nine, Jones

was two under the card with birdies at the first, second and eighth. He was one over on the 415-yard, par-four sec-: ond after his second shot' found the green but trickled[ back into a bunker.. He was down in scralct) figures. On the back nine, Jones was level with the card until the seventeenth, where he struck a bunker, then threeputted for a seven. Jones said after the round that he had shaken off the influenza attacu which troubled him on the first day. He was pleased with his round today and said he was keenly looking forward to the final 36 holes tomorrow.

Hie leading scores were: [133: F. Phillips. 66. 67 137: iP. Thomson. 70. 67: K. Nagle. 67, 70. 138: B. Devlin, 72. ,66. 139: G. Player. 66. 73. 140: , W. Dunk. 76. 64. 141: A. Murray, 70, 71. 146: S. Leonard. 72. 74. The New Zealanders’ scores were:—l47: S. G. Jones. 72. 75. 150: R. C. Murray, 77. 73; W J. Godfrey. 74. 76. 156: R R Newdick, 78. 78. 157: F. T Gordon, 77, 80. 160: I. D Woodbury, 81. 79. Ryder Cup And Commonwealth (N.Z.P A. -Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. November 24. The president of the British Professional Golfers' Association, Lord Brabazon of Tara, said last night that home players frowned upon the idea of a Commonwealth team playing the United States for the Ryder Cup golf trophy. He said there had been some talk of a Commonwealth side, rather than Britain. meeting the Americans for the trophy, but it would be very hard to select who should play. Lord Brabazon was speaking at the annual dinner of the association. RAWHITI C L U B.—Closing day competitions—Men. long driving: S. R. Cuthbertson. Putting: G. Williams. Approaching: R. Mitchell. Women long driving senior: Mrs L. Beswick. Intermediate: Miss R. Berry. Junior: Mrs N. S. H. MeCann. Putting—Senior: Mrs C. O’Neill. Junior: Mrs E. Tench. Approaching—Senior: Mrs L. Beswick. Intermediate: Mrs A. Brooke-Taylor. Junior: Miss R. Kidd. Mixed foursome: I. Dobson and Mrs A. Low.