Thomson Stays In Front

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31209, 5 November 1966, Page 17

Thomson Stays In Front

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) SYDNEY. Three Australians share a threestroke lead at the half-way mark in the Dunlop £3200 professional golf tournament at Sydney.

P. W. Thomson, who had shared the lead with K. D. G. Nagle after the first round, had a 73 yesterday and was one of the three at the head of the field on 147.

He was joined by R. Stanton (75, 72) and D. Welch (78, 69), but Nagle, in milder but still unpleasant conditions, collapsed with a 79 and dropped to equal sixth place. The only New Zealander who stayed within sight of the leaders was D. Clark, who shot a 76 yesterday for a total of 155. R. J. Charles again was in lots of trouble and added another 80 to the one he scored on Thursday. C. Johnston, 77, 73, is three strokes behind the leaders, followed by E. W. Dunk, 77, 74. Palmer A Three-over The American, A. D. Palmer, slipped further behind after a patchy second round, which included an eagle and a three-over. Palmer returned a 75 for a half-way total of 153. The South African, G. Player, also lost ground, with a 76 for a total of 156.

Palmer showed little of his usual consistency. He looked as if he would challenge for the lead when he scored an eagle at the par-five fourth hole, sinking a 24ft putt. But he crashed on the parthree fifteenth, where he took two shots to recover from a sand trap, then needed three putts from close range. Three-putt Habit Player’s putting let him down, too. Three times he needed three putts from 12 feet. His only good putt was a 30-footer he sank on the fourteenth for his lone birdie. The best round of the day was by Welch, a little known Sydney professional. Playing on his home course he returned a three-under-par 69. Also in the leading group is the Englishman, G. B. Wolstenholme. A steady 75, which included two birdies, gave him a total of 153. Charles looked as if he would offer some challenge when he turned in 38, but he faded on the second nine and finished with another 80. He is on the same total as W. J. Godfrey, who had a 73, one of the best rounds of the day. Another New Zealander, B. T. Boys, with a steady 77, was on 162. The New Zealanders, M. J. Wolveridge and R. McDonald, failed to qualify for the final 36 holes, Wolveridge totalling 167 (87, 80) and McDonald 172 (86, 86). P. R- Adams, troubled by a stomach upset, withdrew after struggling to the turn in 56. He had a 94 in the first round.