CHARLES v. THE FIELD In Box Seat For Russley Golf

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 20

CHARLES v. THE FIELD In Box Seat For Russley Golf

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

For once in a way, it is not whether New Zealand’s outstanding golfer, R. J. Charles, can beat the great Australians, P. W. Thomson and K. D. G. Nagle —but whether they can beat Charles.

The course talk at Russley yesterday, when many of the competitors in the Wills Masters £2OOO tournament were practising, was about Charles, and whether he could maintain the spectacular form he has shown in the last week.

In winning the New Zealand Open and Watties £l5OO tournaments, Charles was 34 strokes under par for eight rounds; before coming to New Zealand, he was 11 under for the four rounds of the Canada Cup.

The Wills tournament which starts today will present Charles with particular difficulties. Thomson and Nagle, and the English players, G. B. Wolstenholme and A. Jacklin, will no doubt see in Charles’s recent successes a particular challenge. Being the favourite to win an event such as this may be a disadvantage; Russley, in the past, has not been kind to Charles, and the history of the event is set against him, for Australians have won the previous three times. Superb Form But Charles is in such superb form that he may overcome these hurdles, and the whole of New Zealand golf will hope he can. He did not practise yesterday. Nor did Thomson and Wolstenholme, and Nagle contented himself with chipping and putting. It is Nagle who may be Charles’s principal threat. He said yesterday that the pinched nerve in his left foot was not troubling him now. This injury was sustained two years ago, but it has caused him only occasional discomfort until recently. Nagle, a man held in the warmest regard by New Zealand golfers, was as relaxed and cheerful as ever. He said | that he had played the last 36 i holes in the Hastings tournajment on Tuesday quite comfortably and he does not expect to be troubled today. It is perhaps just as well for the others that he has reported fit. Two years ago he came to Shirley with an injured back, and won. the Open handsomely, scoring an incredible 130 for the final 36 holes. Mighty Dutchman Russley was a hive of activity yesterday. A commanding figure in the practice rounds was the handsome young Dutchman, M. Roesink, who hit the ball a golfer’s mile. An enormous birdie putt on the last green put him five under the card. At the 497-yard ninth, he hit a drive which could be classed as prodigious even in the extravagant language required to record his hitting powers. It needed only an eas-ily-struck 5-iron to put him pin high. Another who impressed particularly was the slim young Australian, R. C. Vines. He has been playing tournament golf for only five months, but already has won the Cairns Open, finished fifth in the Australian P.G.A. championship, and third last week at Coff’s Harbour. He strikes the ball beautifully, and he could be prominent today. Jacklin, a strong hitter, was behind only Charles and. Wol-

stenholme in earnings at the first two tournaments, and he must be given every chance of being at the top again. He played with distinction in the recent Canada Cup contest, after winning prominence early in the year during a sponsored trip to South Africa. One of New Zealand’s best prospects, apart from Charles, is B. T. Boys, a former national amateur representative, who has played several brilliant rounds in his brief professional career. Another Dutch golfer, A. van Pinxten, played well yesterday in partnership with Roesink against Boys and W. J. Godfrey. Last year’s winner, the Australian G. F. Donald, practised earnestly, but there was some disappointment that several late scratchings included the brilliant young R. J. Stanton. He has decided to rest from golf before setting off on the American circuit next year, and he did not travel to New Zealand with the rest of the Australian youngsters. Another important loss is that of C. Clark, of Britain, who was well placed in the two tournaments played on the New Zealand circuit so far. Others who have withdrawn are P. L. Adams, J. Carter, N. D. Hayden, R. Mesnel, L Dum-

mett. B. Shelton. E. A. Southerden, and J. J. Sullivan, all professionals. Their replacements are E. Williams, an Australian professional, and six amateurs. Particularly welcome, however, was the late entry of the New Zealand representative, R. C. Murray. Record Of 66 The Russley fairways have never loooked better, but after the rain of the last week they were giving little run yesterday. However, as the course dries and quickens, scoring should be excellent. Nagle’s course record of 66, set in this event last year, may remain, but a winning score of 275 or better is in prospect. The greens are first-class, except for the seventeenth, which was attacked by a fungus growth about six weeks ago. The grass died, and there has not been time for resowing to have had effect The fine grooming of the course is the result of admirable co-operation between two of the leading Christchurch clubs. Five weeks ago Russley lost its greenkeeper. But for the last three weeks Mr M. W. Stanley, the greenkeeper at Shirley—and an outstanding one—has been working at Russley.