R. J. Charles Says ... Bad Tee Shot Almost Cost Chance Of Tie

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31543, 4 December 1967, Page 18

R. J. Charles Says ... Bad Tee Shot Almost Cost Chance Of Tie

A bad tee shot and a stupid second shot almost cost me the chance of tlelng the Wills Masters *4OOO golf tournament at Russley on SaturdayPlaying the sixteenth hole, one of the best holes on the course. I hit a tee shot too far left and then attempted to cut a four wood round the trees. I heaved and lunged at the ball and pulled it Instead of slicing It was a stupid shot and a safe iron shot was called for not the one I attempted to play. As soon as the ball left my club I thought, well that's it. But it struck a spectator and fell back inside the course instead of going out of bounds. To score 68 and <7 on the final day as Martin Roesink did to rocket to the froht of the field is a tremendous effort. Martin was a little fortunate tn holing his second to the last green in the third round but he oßvitors of the ball In the world Mirtiii’t pirternUnce down the seventeenth in the final round. I thought my main

I was unaware of how I was doing in the tournament as there were no progress boards except for one at the eleventh tee. In the United States leader boards are posted at various parts of the course and especially at the finishing holes. This helps the gallery and the players.

Personally speaking, however, there are times when I feel I would be better off not knowing how I was doing in relation to the others. It tends to make one lose concentration and perhaps play for safety rather than continue to play the course.

On Saturday I played well in the morning but my game was very unsound in the afternoon with my driving losing its accuracy and my iron play below standard. It was a bit of a struggle. Frank Malloy has tremendous power and many times on Saturday he was well, ahead of men off the tee. He does have a problem, however, with his left hand where the index finger is missing. At times this is the reason behind a bad shot and if he can overcome thia handicap he may develop into a very good player. I was delighted to see a change in the pin placements on Saturday. The golf course was stretched to its limit with tee markers at the extreme back of tees and most of the holes cut towards the back of the greens. Many of the holes were strategically placed requiring good placement off the tee shot and accurate iron play.

It was another most successful Wills Masters tournament and It attracted the largest gallery of the circuit to date. 1 have always felt that golf in Christchurch gets tremendous support from the public and Saturday’, gallery confirmed this. It. was the first time we have had crowds lining the fairways as well as encircling the greens. The tournament was blessed with ideal golfing conditions and the course, In magnificent condition, played much the same for each round. The greens were good to putt on and they held iron shots better than any other course on this, present New Zealand circuit. I am sure all the players were very pleased with the tournament in every respect.