Another 69 Keeps Donald In Front By 3 Shots

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30937, 18 December 1965, Page 17

Another 69 Keeps Donald In Front By 3 Shots

(By

R. T. Brittenden)

With all the impropriety of youth, G. F. Donald, the 2u-y ear-old .Victorian, confounded the sages by scoring another 69 in the Wills Masters tournament yesterday and leading at the half-way mark by three strokes h ith a 36-hole total of 138.

In second place is W. J. Godfrey’, who yesterday showed the benefit of his recent tournament experience. He is being stalked, at a range of one stroke, by the calm and composed R. J. (diaries.

Godfrey scored 70 yesterday, Charles 69, and they were among 14 players who beat par on a sunlit day of light winds which beckoned the players and promise them birdies.

But in the jostling for positions for the final 36 holes today, there was no-one more impressive than the tall and smiling Englishman, G. B. Wolstenholme. He set a new course record with 68 and had he been able ~, sink putts of reasonable length, could have established a mark which might have lasted for ever. Woistenholme’s golf was at once the most exciting and the most frustrating in a tournament which already has offered excellent entertainment and which promises to produce a thrilling finish today.

from a long way back to ninth equal—and only seven strokes behind Donald—came the irrepressible K. D. G. Naele with a 69. The fair and handsome C. Amin, of South Africa, moved tip eight places with a fine round of 70. and the same score was returned by the dark Dutchman, M. Roesink. Foxton Finds Form

Other fine feats of arms were those of the young Auckland player, R. D. Gillespie. whose 71 made him the top amateur by two strokes from R. C. Murray. There were similar scores by K. D Foxton, who, in his first professional circuit, has now found himself, and by the Australian, A. A. Murray One of the most popular of players, the Russley amateur J. D. Broadhurst, also distinguished himself with a 72. as did the club professional, M. Wolveridge The overnight watering of the greens had an excellent effect, although there were a few where slopes seemed to have run the moisture away and made it difficult for the boldly-hit ball to sit and stop.

There was an excellent gallery of about 2000, although the paid attendance was very considerably less. It is distressing that so many people are disposed towards dishonesty whenever the opportunity of free entertainment is available.

Donald yesterday showed commendable courage, as well as a fundamentally sound technique, for he had many moments of bitter disappoint ment. Although there were six birdies in his round, his putting was not of the exceptional quality it had been on the first day. He again startled spectators, with the Length he achieved, for he is hrery lightly built. It took him comfortably on to the 515-yard sixth in two, but he three-putted; he again three-putted, for a six, at the long thirteenth, after missing a two-footer for a birdie at the eleventh. At the last hole, he needed one of five feet for a 68 and a course record, but this, too. went astray.

But he played many magnificent shots. At the eleventh he hit a drive of almost 300 yards; at the twelfth he was badly placed in trees, but a true, low iron gave him a fivefoot putt and a birdie; and at the sixteenth, when again off line, his spectacular 3-wood defeated the tall pines and gave him a safe five. Thought And Fought Godfrey also came through a crucial test splendidly. He played superb golf to go out in 33—four under—accurate tee shots and crisp irons setting him up beautifully. On the way home, however, he was quite without luck and had his birdie putts dropped, as so many of them seemed certain to, he could have been several strokes better. In temperament and technique, Godfrey is a vastly improved player; when things were not running for him. he

thought and fought and prospered. Almost at the back of the field, Wolstenholme became a sort of Pied Piper, and it was a merry tune he played. Six feet four, urbane, powerful, he placed his drives within feet of the chosen spot and produced iron shots of thrilling quality. Had To Work Hard

As on the first day, he had to work very hard on his putting, but it brought him three birdies going out. At the thirteenth (470 yards), he was through the green for two and chipped in with a 6-iron for an eagle three: but at each of the other eight holes coming home he putted for birdies without a single success.

It was a wonderful display of iron play and it should have brought even more success. for the putts, if too often short, were only fractionally so Only at the sixteenth was Wolstenholme badly at fault. There a lovely drive and a raking iron left him a little short of the green, but he chipped too, strongly and could not manage the 10-foot putt. His round ended on a somewhat dramatic note. As he was bringing the club down to drive, there was a burst of applause from the crowd at a green nearby and Wolstenholme pushed the shot out. inside the tree line. The ball found the metalled pathway and ran down it briskly, and came to rest there. A ruling was sought: no drop was allowed, which brought criticism from many spectators, but the decision has backing. from St Andrew’s. It was a very tricky shot Wolstenholme had to play, but he found the green beautifully from about 100 yards out, and putted safely for his four and the course record.