MASTERS GOLF

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31168, 19 September 1966, Page 3

MASTERS GOLF

i One Stroke Victory (N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright/ (Nottinghamshire). The British international, N. C. Coles, won the £1250 first prize in the Dunlop Masters golf tournament at Lindrick on Saturday. In an exciting finish. Coles, with a 72-hole aggregate of 278, won by one stroke from C. O’Connor (Ireland) and P. W. Thomson (Australia), who each took 279. O’Connor had led by one stroke at the half-way stage overnight and increased his advantage over Coles to two strokes after the third round. But Coles put in a strong finish with a final round of 69. while O’Connor took 72. Thomson also finished powerfully, equalling the course record of 66. after going out in 32. He holed a 25ft putt for an eagle three at the sixteenth. Thomson had started the final round six strokes behind O’Connor. Coles came to the short last hole needing a par three to win. H e hit a perfect tee shot to the green and comfortably got his three.

O’Connor had a birdie four at the sixteenth and came to the eighteenth requiring a birdie two to tie with Coles. His tee shot finished 10 yards from the pin, but his first putt stopped half an inch from the hole.

Final leading aggregates were:—

278: Coles, 70. «9. 70, 69. 279: O'Connor, 68, 70. 69. 72: Thomson. 75, 69, 69. 66. 281: P. Alliss <Britain). 75. 67. 70. 69. 282: R. J. Charles <New Zealand), 74. 70. 68, 70.