LAST-SHOT RECOVERY Boros Wins Richest Golf Tournament

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31762, 20 August 1968, Page 15

LAST-SHOT RECOVERY Boros Wins Richest Golf Tournament

<y.Z. Press Association —Copyright!

HARRISON (New York).

J. Boros, with a four-under-par 68 for a 72-hole total of 272, won the $U5250,000 Westchester Classic—the richest golf tournament in the world.

Boros, the 1967 Professional Golfers’ Association champion, fought off a strong finishing round by J. Nicklaus (United States), to collect $50,000 first prize money.

Nicklaus had a six-under-par 66 to finish on 273, and tied with D. Sikes (United States) and the early tournament leader, B. Murphy (United States). B. Casper finished with a 67 for a 275.

Murphy, who had led the first three rounds of the tournament with sharp putt-

ing and strong drives, slumped to an even-par 72 in the final round, far from his eight-under-par 64 on the opening day. B. Crampton, of Australia, finished with a 277, and H. Henning (South Africa) with a 279, to lead the foreign players. Boros exploded out of a trap and sank a 12ft shot on the final green for his dramatic one-shot win. He came from three shots behind in the final round.

Murphy elected to play safe—rather than gamble—on the 518 yd finishing hole, and the strategy was costly.

The veteran Sikes, who set the course record of 62 and finished second to Nicklaus a year ago, closed like a champion, recovering from trouble and sinking pressure putts of 18 and 15 feet on the sixteenth and seventeenth holes and then getting his birdie on the final hole with two big shots to the front of the green. He had a final round of 68. Good Rally Nicklaus, bidding for his third successive tournament win, but fighting a severe cold, made a spectacular trap shot on the last hole and sank an Bft birdie putt for a closing 66. He had rallied from six shots behind. Casper, who is second only to A. Palmer in all-time money winnings, made a powerful effort for the first prize with a round of 67 that included eight birdies and three one-over shots, but he settled for fifth place money at 275. Leading scorers and winnings: J. Boros, $50.00(1. 70. 65. 69. 68— ’72; J. Nicklaus, $20,416, 67. 68 72, 66—273; D. Sikes. $20,416, 65. 70, 70, 68—273: B Murphy. $20,416, 64. 69, 68. 72—273: B. Casper. $10,750. 70. 71. 67. 67 275; D. Wysong. $9OOO. 68. 69. 72. 67—276; R Mcßee. $9OOO. 69.

66. 70, 71—276: B. Crampton. $7083. 68. 68. 73. 68—277: D. Douglas, $7083, 70. 65. 73. 69. 277: F. Beard, $7083, 71, 67, 69, 70—277.

Other foreign entries included R. Charles (New ZeaZealand), $2750, 68. 71, 73, 69 281; T. Jacklin (England), $2034, 71, 66, 71, 74—282.