Murray Magnificent

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31226, 25 November 1966, Page 15

Murray Magnificent

Had Murray been able to putt like Woolbank, he would have done even better than 67.

He has hardly ever hit the ball better—long, straight drives followed by precise irons.

He had six birdies, and did not drop a stroke anywhere: but five times putts of six to eight feet for birdies or eagles failed to drop. He missed three greens only, and each time recovered splendidly. This was a magnificent round by any standard. For an amateur player, it was quite memorable. And after it was over, the cheerful Murray

set off willingly to attend the Canterbury representative cricket squad’s practice—he has not played cricket for 12 years, and is taking part in Sunday's single-wicket tournament. The urbane Wolstenholme had a struggle to get out in 36, one under par, and his success was attributable chiefly to brilliant putting. His course to the green was sometimes erratic. But his putter put everything to rights. Coming home, he played fine golf and continued to putt most successfully. There were four birdies in the half.

“I could have had a good score if I had holed a few putts,” said the cheerful entertaining Ball. He must have been joking. He was out in

33, back in 35, scoring six birdies, mainly because of his firmly-controlled approach shots.

His putter certainly did not flatter his golf. He had a putt of three feet for an eagle at the thirteenth, and missed it. At the next long hole, he had his four with a putt of four inches.

It was strange to see Thomson with a small gallery towards the end of his round. For he played lovely golf, going out in 36 and picking up three more strokes on the way home. It would be surprising if he does not drag the crowds today, for he is very well placed to challenge the leaders. WEEK-END STROLL

One of the best early scores come from the lean and rangy Peach, who plays his golf with an air of inconsequence which suggests he is out for a hit around on a Sunday afternoon.

He played brilliantly to go out in 33, four under, having chipped in for an eagle at the 468-yard second. He played a few rather slack irons coming back but had par figures, with a couple of birdies.

Coxon was in impressive form. He said after his round of 69 that his confidence had returned on the greens, and he attributed this to his recent visit to Britain, where he was a money-winner 12 times in 14 tournaments, and finished sixth equal in the Carling event. Donald appears to be hitting the ball further than he did last year, but he was troubled during the rain with slippery grips. He was rarely off line, played some very fine approach shots, but missed four putts of under three feet. STEADY WOLVERIDGE

The New* Zealand professionals were led by M. S. Wolveridge, B. T. Boys, and T. A. Brady. Wolveridge’s round was the epitome of steadiness. He did not miss a green until the last one, he dropped a stroke only once, and he had two birdies, two halves of 36. The second amateur is R. K. Atkinson, of Russley, who recently set a course record at Geraldine with a fourunder round of 69 —14 pars and fouf birdies. Yesterday he played very soundly, keeping the ball straight nearly all the time, recovering well when off the line.

On a day of such splendid scoring, it was a pity that Charles was not at his best. He has a heavy cold, but did not advance indisposition as an excuse for a moderate score of 74.

Almost throughout his round, he kept pushing out his drives and irons and he was able to correct this fault —an expensive one at treelined Russley—only at the twelfth and thirteenth holes. Yet it was a measure of his quality that he could appear to be playing so poorly, yet finish only one above the card.