Blinded By Sand, Blown Off Feet Golf Scores Soar In 40m.p.h. Winds

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31208, 4 November 1966, Page 15

Blinded By Sand, Blown Off Feet Golf Scores Soar In 40m.p.h. Winds

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY. The Australian, P. W. Thomson, battled through strong winds and flying sand to share the lead in the first round of the Dunlop international golf tournament yesterday—and then said the competitors should have considered not playing.

Thomson and his fellow Australian, K. D. G. Nagle, shot two-over-par 74s in the 8000-dollar tournament at the Australian Club. They lead R. Stanton (Australia) by one stroke.

Their performances were excellent considering the appalling conditions. Wind gusts of 40 m.p.h. knocked players off their balance and blew sand in their faces.

then played par golf to the 18th. There he sank a 20-foot putt for his birdie. Charles began immaculately, with four pars, but he then crashed with two-over six at the fitfh, a one-over five at the seventh, and turned in 41 (nine over). Charles settled down a little on the inward nine and finished with an eight-over 80. W. J. Godfrey was all at sea in the conditions and turned in 45. He could do little better coming home, and his 89 left him well down the field. Clark began well and was square with the card after three holes. He continued to play steadily and finished with a 79 which left him well in the race. His inw’ard nine of 39,

which included a birdie two at the sixteenth, was excellent in the conditions. Leading scores (Australians unless specified) were:74: P. Thomson, K. Nagle. 75: K. Stanton. 77: G. Mercer, B. Devlin, C. Johnston, W. Dunk. 78: A. Palmer (United States), C. Clark (Britain), G. Wolstenholme (Britain), A. Heil, A. Murray, J. Sullivan, M. Willis. Other overseas scores were: 79: D. Clark (New Zealand). 80: R. J. Charles (New Zealand), G. Player (South Africa). 81: J. Koennecker (United States) 82: M. Roesink (Holland). 85: B. T. Boys (New Zealand), A. van Pinxten (Holland), M. J. Woolverldge (Britain). 86: R. McDonald (New Zealand). 87: W. Robinson (United States). 89: W. J. Godfrey (New Zealand). 94: P. Adams (New Zealand).

The late starters, including Nagle, also had to endure freezing rain squalls. Such stars as the American, A. D. Palmer, the South African, G. Player, and the New Zealander, R. J. Charles were always struggling in these conditions. Palmer had a six-over-par 78 and Player and Charles each shot 80. NO POINT PLAYING Thomson, who is also chairman of the Australian Professional Golfers Association, said after his round; “We should consider not playing in conditions like these. “It isn’t possible to play well, so I don’t see the point in playing at all.” Thomson said that at times his eyes were stinging so badly he could not see the ball clearly. Palmer said he could not remember playing in worse conditions. “My eyes feel as if they have been sand blasted,” added the American, who last week won the Australian Open championship. SHOT FELL SHORT Palmer dropped a stroke at the par-3 second hole when his seven iron fell badly short into a sand trap. He never looked like recovering and reached the turn in 38. Any chance of come-back faded on the eleventh, another par three hole. His five iron found a sand trap, his recovery was poor, and he three-putted for a five. Player was always in trouble. He was one over par at the second, two over at the fifth after twice landing in bunkers, and turned in 41 —five over par. He did little better on the inward nine, dropping strokes at another four holes before finally scoring a birdie on the eighteenth for his 80. Thomson began poorly when he dropped a stroke at the fourth and two at the fifth. But from that point he played immaculate golf. He reeled off eleven successive pars, then finished with a birdie.

Nagle’s round was remarkably similar. He turned in 39,