GOLF Murray And Charles In Fine Form At Shirley

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29715, 8 January 1962, Page 6

GOLF Murray And Charles In Fine Form At Shirley

Since his return from a succeaaful first professional tour. Christchurch golfing enthusiasts have looked forward with considerable interest to a public appearance in Christchurch of the New Zealand prtrfessional champion. R. J. Charles, rated by many overseas as the finest left-hander in the world. The SOO or 700 who visited his home course at Shirley on Saturday must have left feeling that the golf they saw was certainly worthy of the occasion.

For not only did Charles, after an uncertain start, produce some magnificent irons in a fine recovery from three over, after four holes, to three under for toe round: R. C. Murray, the New Zealand representative, gave one of his finest displays to beat Charles 2 and 1. and with a six-under-ecratch 87 establish a course record for the Christchurch Golf Club’s newly extended lay-out. There have been many wonderful days at Shirley: this Craven A Filter challenge match takes its place among the classics.

Everything seemed as if by nature to fit neatly into place and combine in making the afternoon at Shirley quite memorable. Muchneeded rain overnight freshened the course, which was in remarkably good condition. and the lack of any excessive run, which might have been expected at this time of the year, added stature to Murray’s new record. The greens were quite fine and true with a good sole of grass requiring firm putting and chipping, but they usually held the well-played iron and rewarded the bold shot to toe flag. As the players turned for home, a warming sun appeared. It was as though even the elements looked with favour on Murray's five-under 32 and a best-ball of 29 for the outward journey. First-class Form No doubt most of the excellent gallery were there to see Charles, whose form in a series of challenge matches throughout the country has been quite firstclass, but they must have been completely captivated by the royal quality of Murray’s game as be raced away to a lead of four up in as many holes, with successive birdies from toe second to the fourth. Two more at the eighth and nine gave him five for the first nine, where he was still four up. and another at the tenth left him

aix under with eight to play. He was well through the green st toe eleventh and had to chip from rough and then sink a IG-footer for his par. but he played no more than three or four loose shots in the round end his superb work on and around the greens always enabled him to recover.

The players carefully holed every putt, with a stroke record m well as the match in mind, and Murray did not drop a stroke in the entire round. He putted for birdies on each of the last seven hole*, as he drove regularly down the centre and found the greens with crisp, controlled iron*. His acore might easily have been further reduced; at the twelfth a long downhill putt all but succeeded. and at the last, after a carefree drive which left Charles well behind, he hit the beck of the cup trying a shade too boldly for a #6. It was dearly Murray's day. and probably, as he recalls it with pleasure, he will remember mainly his beautiful touch with chipper and putter. He ha* never before maintained better command of his short game, and he was in complete command of every club throughout. Hooked Wood

Charles began the match playing well through the first green and chipping short for a 5 at the first. Then he shocked everyone by hooking his fairway wood over the fence at the long fourth for a two-over 7. He. as well as the spectators, must have been a little disappointed at this indifferent start, and even after his fine five-iron, which left him only a sixfooter for an eagle at the next, he could do no better than 5 at the sixth. Even with his eagle, this still left Charles two over scratch, but he then settled down to recover superbly, even if it was too late to overcome an opponent who never seemed likely to falter. He had birdies at the seventh and eighth and missed a short putt for another at the ninth: so. notwithstanding his early trouble*, he still managed to turn in scratch figures. Charles was never in any difficulty coming home; he very nearly holed his chip for an eagle at the tenth, and pitched to within a few inches for another birdie at toe twelfth. A magnificent six-iron never left the line at the difficult par 4 fourteenth, stopping only 18 inch** in front of the cup. It win ■ Shot of rare quality, which

reduced Murray a lead to two. with four to play, but he. like Murray, could not aink a birdie pun in the closing •tAgM. Hu homeward run of X 3 - he played the la*'. 1* in six under eorwtch—repneaemed immaculate golf and Charlo provided ample evidence ef hu true dee* He took a Mule tune to gauge the pare of the green*, but hie tee ehota were particular'v accum»* and he showed that he ha* improved hi* length by matchin* Muitwv repeatedly from the tee*. Some of hie iron play was amasingly accurate and the strength and power of thia denortment ef hia game were shown as he invariably took one rlub lea* than Murray for hie shot to the green. One Eagle

Charlea'a ecore of 70. three under, included an eagle and five birdie* ageinet Murray * aix birdie*, the difference between them being the three shots Charlo* dropped to per in the early atagee. The beetball score for the match we* 88—11 under—and with a little more luck on the green* It oould easily have been several ahota better. Handly a hole waa completed without a shot or two to exeite admiration. Not the least notable feature of the daw was that each and all ot Shirley a ample bunker* remained completely undisturbed.