NEW PROS LEAD ALCAN GOLF

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31802, 5 October 1968, Page 15

NEW PROS LEAD ALCAN GOLF

(N. Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

SOUTHPORT. R. Cole (South Africa) and R. Murphy (United States), two of the newest recruits to professional golf, shared a two-stroke lead, with seven-under-par totals of 141, at the halfway stage of the Alcan “Golfer of the Year” championship at Royal Birkdale yesterday.

Close on their heels was the New Zealander, R. J. Charles, who putted brilliantly in a round of 70 to be 143. Bracketed with Charles was the British player, P. Butler. Murphy, a former United States amateur champion and a member of the all-conquer-ing American Walker Cup team in Britain last year, is in his first year in the paid ranks. He leapt into the limelight by equalling the course record of 69, on the 7140 yards seaside links, set up earlier in the day by another former amateur, P. Townsend (Britain). Cole, the 1966 British amateur champion who has been a professional for only 18 months, led until Murphy scored a birdie four on the home green to share the top place. E. A. Ball (Australia) and W. Casper, the former United States Open champion, provided spectators with lighter entertainment when they took off their shoes and socks, rolled up their trousers to their knees and waded into water-filled bunkers to play strokes. Casper went “paddling” at

the short fourteenth, which cost him a four, while the Australian dropped two shots when his ball took a dive into water at the ninth. Scores: 141—R. Cole (South Africa), 71, 70; R. Murphy (United States), 72, 69. 143 R. J. Charles (New Zealand), 73, 70; P. Butler (Britain), 74, 69. 144 — P. Townsend (Britain), 75, 69; L. Trevino (United States). 72, 72. 145 G. Brewer (Unite# States), 75, 70. 147 N. Coles (Britain), 75, 72; T. Horton (Britain), 71, 76; P. Thomson (Australia), 75, 72. 148— G. Dickinson (United States), 77, 71. 149 B. Huggett (Britain), 74, 75. 150— C. le Grange (South Africa), 75. 75; B. Barnes (Britain), 75, 75. 151— W. Casper (United States), 77. 74. 152 B. Yancey (United States), 77, 75. 153 — T. Weiskopf (United States), 78, 75. 154 D. Thomas (Britain), 80, 75. 155 M. Barber (United States), 80, 75. 157 K. Hosoishi (Japan), 81, 76. 158 — A. 'Thompson (Canada), 162—E. A. Ball (Australia), 83, 79. 170. —F. Beard (United States). 86, 84.