Devlin’s Three-Under 66 Leads By Three

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30900, 5 November 1965, Page 14

Devlin’s Three-Under 66 Leads By Three

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY. Bruce Devlin, of Australia, with a six-under-par 66, held a three-stroke lead after the first round in the Wills Masters golf tournament at Sydney yesterday. Showing his best form since he underwent an operation recently for varicose veins, Devlin’s 66 included an eagle at the ninth and four birdies in his homeward nine.

In equal second place, on 69, were the British Open champion, Peter Thomson, and Dennis Sullivan, both of Australia.

The South African, Gary Player, shared fourth position with an American. Doug Sanders, on 70. Lying sixth is R. R. Newdick, of New Zealand, who

clayed steady golf for a 71. R. J. Charles and Jack Nicklaus are on 72. The third New Zealander, W. J. Godfrey, produced a mixture of good and indifferent golf in his 75, having a twoover six at the twelfth. Flies On Charles Charles was steady throughout but his . putting let him down when birdies were in sight half-a-dozen times. “Goddam you flies” was Charles's agonised cry when he missed a putt for a birdie two by two inches on the second green. Newdick, stroking brilliantly, was three under at the first four holes. He scored successive birdies at the first and second, and a third on the 537-yard fourth hole. Putting Troubles Putting also proved disastrous to Player and Nicklaus. Player two-putted the third, fourth, fifth, seventh, ninth, twelfth, fifteenth and eighteenth and most of them were less than six feet from the hole. At the 397-yard third hole, Nicklaus failed to knock in an 18-inch putt and had a oneover five. Player had a sensational start to the £3200 72-hole tournament when he scored an eagle two on the 396-yard first hole. His second shot from 160 cards rolled past the pin, and then curled back to go down for an eagle. Unfortunately the little South African, who swallowed a number of pain-killing tablets because of an injured back, was unable to continue in the same brilliant fashion, although he reached the turn in a two-under 34, which included eight successive birdies after his eagle start. Heartfelt Comment His only comment after his round was: “How can you play so well and score so badly.” Devlin played the first eight holes in par figures at the ninth scored with a brilliant

eagle three on the 462-yard hole. He was on the green with the second shot and made no mistake with the long putt. Then the fireworks started. He birdied the tenth and twelfth to go four under the card. Another birdie followed on the fourteenth and then a fourth came on the final hole of the round. Homeward Nine In 32 Driving to the eighteenth, Devlin pushed his second iron into a deep sandtrap in front of the green. He exploded out in magnificent fashion to finish with an easy two-footer, which did not trouble him. This gave him a second half of 32 for a total of 66. Afterwards Devlin said his leg had stood up well to the strain and he felt sure he would be able to keep his good form. He said he had practised hard all week and was getting better all the time. The Englishman, Guy Wolstenholme, seemed a little unlucky to score only a 75. He had three birdies on the long holes but could not manage the fast greens.