Charles Has Record Win At Houston

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30113, 23 April 1963, Page 14

Charles Has Record Win At Houston

fN Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright) HOUSTON (Texas), April 21. The New Zealand left-handed golfer, R. J. Charles, today won the first prize of 10,000 dollars in the Houston golf classic, the Associated Press reported.

He set a new 72-hole record of 268—12 strokes under scratch —to hold off challenges by Fred Hawkins and the amateur star, Hornero Blancas.

Charles went into the final round with a three-stroke lead over the U.S. Masters champion. Jack Nicklaus. The New Zealander had 190 after 54 holes. Charles became the first left-hander to win a major professional golf tournament when he took the classic by one stroke, said United Press International. Hawkins, of Texas, with a 66. took second place. Biancas took third, three strokes ahead of Nicklaus. who was fourth. Charles, aged 27. who showed no emotion when he sank his game-winning putt on the eighteenth, beat Cary MiddlecofTs old record of 273 set in 1955 Both Hawkins, with 269 end Blancas, with 270. beat the old record, while Nicklaus. with 273. tied it, attesting to the excellent condition of the Memorial course this year, sa’d United Press International Charles went out tn front of the field of 49 professionals and 10 amateurs after the second round and stayed there the slim New Zealander had his worst round—a 69--today after scoring a 67 and two of 66 “My drives today were not

as good as they might have been," Charles said. “But fortunately my putting came through for me and I putted the best today of any round ’ Blancas, a former University of Houston player, had the best round of his life, a 64. to be placed third and finish the highest of any amateur on the professional tour this year. Nicklaus. a co-favourite with Gary Player of South Africa, to take the classic, scored a one-over scratch 71 Well known for his composure Nicklaus trailed Charles by three strokes through the first 14. only to score one over scratch three holes in a row and lose his chance to take his third tournament win of the season.

The scratch-smashing effort was Charles’s answer to a promise by the classic’s sponsors they would boost the scheduled top money of 9000 dollars to 10.000 dollars if someone would win the 72 holes and prevent the fifth consecutive play-off Charles, the first foreign entrant to win the classic since Bobby Lorhe. of South Africa, in 1947. seemed shocked when he first glanced at the.eheoue nresented to him before a crowd at from 30 000 to 35.000

“Evidently this is a blank eheoue" he said, to the delight of the huee gallery. “I’m sure with such a big crowd there will be sufficient funds to find the 10.000 dollars.”