Nicklaus Wins Play-Off

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30587, 2 November 1964, Page 14

Nicklaus Wins Play-Off

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, November 1. Jack Nicklaus, of the United States, scored a magnificent five-under-par 67 today to win the Australian Open golf championship in a play-off against Bruce Devlin, of Australia. Nicklaus and Devlin had finished level on 287 yesterday at The Lakes course, Sydney, after Devlin had dropped a shot at the last hole.

Today, Nicklaus had a onestroke lead after the first nine holes and finished three strokes ahead of Devlin. It was his first open tournament win outside the United States. In an exhibition of superb golf today, Nicklaus repeated his last round score of 67 yesterday. After taking the lead at the third hole when Devlin landed in a bunker, Nicklaus had a birdie at the sixth for a two-stroke lead. But, at the short eighth, the scores were levelled when Devlin sank a 20-foot putt for a birdie and Nicklaus missed a short putt and his return putt. TURNED IN 33 At the ninth, Nicklaus dropped a 20-foot putt for a birdie three and. went into the lead again. He turned in 33, two under par. Nicklaus picked up another stroke with a birdie at the eleventh but Devlin, matching the American with his driving, had a birdie at the thirteenth and reduced the American’s lead to one stroke. Nicklaus again took a twostroke lead when Devlin dropped a stroke at the next hole and at the eighteenth. He finished with a birdie four while Devlin had a par five. A play-off, however, should not have been necessary. Devlin, needing a par five on the eighteenth In his final round on Saturday, chipped over the back of the green and then two-putted for a one-over six. S. J. Charles finished on 296, level with the Adelaide profes-

sional, John Sullivan, who had led after the first two rounds. W. J. Godfrey had a final total of 306. Charles went into the final round four strokes behind Devlin, who was on 216 after 54 holes. He had a bad start in the final round, dropping a stroke at the second hole and three at the short third hole where he landed in a bunker. Charles's ball stopped in a footmark and it took him three shots to get out. This cost Charles any chance of the title and he was bitterly disappointed when he returned to the clubhouse. Hot And Bothered “I was very upset and got all hot and bothered," he told a New Zealand Press Association correspondent. "Actually, 1 was pretty angry at the organisers for not having the sand trap raked over before we played the hole. “This would never have happened in the United States. Indeed, I remember a similar incident there, when a player landed in a hole in a sand trap and was allowed to drop his ball. “I'm not very happy at going to the expense of coming to play here to strike a thing like this." Charles collected £2O as his share of the prise money. Scores after completion of the four rounds were:— 287:—J. Nicklaus {United States), 75, 71, 74, 67; B. Devlin, 72, 73, 71, 71. 288:—E. Ban. 71, 74, 76, 67. 291: B. Crampton, 76, 69, 72, 74. 292: B. Mesnil, 75, 75, 74, 68. 293:—F. Phillips, 73, 72 . 75, 73. Overseas scores:— 296:—R. J. Charles (New Zealand), 72. 75, 73, 76. 302: G. Wolstenholme (Britain), 73, 73. 82, 74. 304:—S. Davies (South Africa), 73. 74, 78, 79. 306:—D. Hutchinson (South Africa), 80 , 72 . 79, 75: W. J. Godfrey (New Zealand), 79, 73, 78, 76. 314:—J. Hayes (South Africa), 76, 76, 82, 80.