S. AFRICAN IN GOLF LEAD

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31654, 15 April 1968, Page 12

S. AFRICAN IN GOLF LEAD

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

AUGUSTA (Georgia). The South African, G. Player, sank a 30-foot putt on the eighteenth green yesterday to take a one-stroke lead over five other players in the United States Masters golf championship.

The little South African took the lead at the end of the third round after the other five had finished. He previously won the Masters tournament in 1961. Player said he was “very, very surprised, but pleasantly surprised” to be in the lead because his putting had' been inaccurate over the last! few days. Player’s 72-67-71 gave him a total of 210 and a one-stroke lead over B. Devlin (Australia) and four Americans, D.j January, F. Beard, R. Floyd! and R. Goalby. Two strokes behind them! were L. Trevino, M. Barber, | and R. de Vicenzo (Argentina), the British Open champion. The 23-year-old T. Jacklin (Britain) fell behind with a two-over-par 74 after earlier rounds of 69 and 73. Jacklin was on 216, the same score as R. J. Charles (New Zealand), 75-71-70, and W. Casper, 68-75-73, the first-round leader. J. Nicklaus, the pre-tourna-ment favourite, was four strokes behind Player, having a two-over 74 after previous rounds of 69 and 71. He was tied with a host of golfers, including H. Henning (South Africa) at 214. The leading scores are:— 210: G. Player. 72. 67. 71. 211: F. Beard. 75. 65. 71; B Devlin, 69. 73, 69: R. Floyd. 71.

71, 69: R. Goalby, 70, 70. 71: D January. 71, 68, 72. 212: M. Barber. 75. 69, 68: R. de Vicenzo, 69. 73. 70; L. Tre vino, 71, 72. 69. 213: T. Aaron, 69, 72, 72; J. Pittman, 70, 73. 70. 214: J. Boros, 73, 71, 70: L. Hebert, 72, 71, 71; H. Henning. 72, 71, 71; J. Nicklaus. 69. 71, 74: T. Weiskopf, 74, 71. 69; B. Yancey, 71, 71, 72.