SIX BIRDIES IN LAST NINE Thomson Leading By Two Shots

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30918, 26 November 1965, Page 13

SIX BIRDIES IN LAST NINE Thomson Leading By Two Shots

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

A blistering homeward nine by P. W. Thomson, which rocketed him into a two-stroke lead, and equally brilliant outward nines by J. D. Durry and S. Peach, were the highlights of the first round of the Caltex £2OOO golf tournament at Paraparaumu yesterday.

I homson, out in an unimpressive one-over-par 37, scored six birdies in his homeward nine of 31, and a total of 68.

His score for the second half is believed to be a course record. When Gary Player set the full course record of 66 in 1958, he was out in 34, home in 32.

Durry, the New Zealand amateur champion, and Peach, a 26-year-old Australian professional, were both out in 32—four under the card.

But Durry crashed coming home and ended on 73, while Peach, six under with four holes to play, suffered a similar fate with a spate of one overs, and ended with a 70. He is in second place with the 22-year-old Englishman, P. O. Green, and the 19-year-old Sydney professional, R. Stanton. Long Putts Thomson reached the turn playing indifferent golf. Then he holed a 12-foot birdie putt at the tenth, a six-footer at the thirteenth and again at the fourteenth, a 15-footer at the sixteenth, a 12-footer at the seventeenth, and a fourfooter on the last hole. It was a magnificent exhibition of putting on the fast Paraparaumu greens. It was smooth sailing for Peach until the fifteenth, where he put his second through the green and took a one over. His tee shot at the short sixteenth suffered a similar fate, and an off-line drive at the seventeenth and an over-clubbed approach cost him more shots.

He got his par five on the eighteenth, but most top golfers had no trouble in getting birdies at this hole, so Peach was further penalised.

Immaculate approach iron play and fine putting gave Durry, who was playing with Thomson, a brilliant start. But shots that went through the green on three successive holes from the

fourteenth cost him a one over each time, and when he took a two-over-par six on the seventeenth his chances faded.

Green started sensationally was three three. He chipped in at the first, had a par at the second, and then sank a 20-foot birdie putt at the third.

Another birdie at the seventh enabled him to turn in 33. but a two-over six at the eleventh and two lipped putts put him square with two holes to go. A fine iron to within four feet of the seventeenth hole gave him a birdie, and a drive, five iron and an eightfoot putt on the last hole gave him an eagle.

Better Form Stanton was out in par and nicked up three birdies coming home on the three parfive holes. He missed only two greens in his round—the second and seventeenth—and was a much more assertive golfer than he has been in previous tournaments in the sponsored circuit. E. A. Ball, of Australia, is handily placed after the first round with a 71. He had six birdies in his first round, but three putts on two of the first three greens and a snap-hook into the creek on the eleventh spoiled his card. On 71 with Ball are the left-handed professional from New South Wales, J. Davis, and the young South African, C. Amm. Controlled Golf Davis was three over after three holes and was out in 38. But his homeward nine of 33, including five birdies, represented fine controlled golf. Amm birdied the two parfive holes going out and had three birdies and two oneovers coming home. R. R. Newdick, of New Zealand, had an eagle at the twelfth when he sank a 20footer and was four under with four to go. But the sixteenth cost him dearly. After over-clubbing his nineiron second he was down for a two-over six. He ended with a 72. Charles Not Playing (N.Z. Press Association) HASTINGS. R. J. Charles will not play in the Watties £l5OO golf tournament at Hastings on Monday and Tuesday. Now in America for a special television series, Charles cabled the tournament organiser, Mr J. H. S. Robertson, yesterday withdrawing his entry because of bad weather delaying the television series.