Young Australian Wins; Charles, Lister Fade

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32175, 19 December 1969, Page 12

Young Australian Wins; Charles, Lister Fade

(New Zealand Press Association)

GISBORNE.

It was Christmas gift time for the 20-year-old Melbourne professional, G. McCully, yesterday. He fired a fourth-round score of 69 to aggregate 274 and win the $lOOO first prize in the Watties $5OOO golf tournament.

The tall Australian held off a mid-round challenge from his fellow countryman, E. W. Dunk, and when Dunk struck trouble, McCully stayed clear to coast in by a three-stroke margin from the rest of the field.

The second prize money was shared by Dank and the New Zealand left-hander, R. J. Charles, who compiled a four-round total of 277, while the 36-hole leader, J. M. Lister (New Zealand), was one stroke further away, on 278.

The . tall and supple McCully, who, with Charles, broke the Awapuni course record with 66s in the third round yesterday morning, was in command of his game throughout the tense final 18 holes. He refused to be intimidated by Dunk’s sudden surge to within one shot midway through the afternoon, and when Dunk lost some ground, McCully competently paced his way home to win his first major 72-hole tournament He had five birdies in Ms final round of 69 and two oneovers.

"I felt pretty good but I never dreamt of winning,” he said afterwards. “It was the company, I think. They were really great to play with,” he added, referring to his day’s partners, K. D. G. Nagle and Dunk.

Dunk could manage only three birdies and had two oneovers. His short approach on the final hole, followed by too long a chip past the pin and the missed putt back, cost him money, as he would have led Charles by a stroke with a regulation par three. Charles, apart from a shattering shank at the tenth, played a competent game. He was out in a regulation 36 and home in the same figures. The putts he needed for sub-par golf would not drop. But Lister could be forgiven for wondering if he is ever going to win on tMs season’s circuit He led the first two rounds, starting with a record-equalling 67, and following: it with 71, 72 and final

four-under round of 68. Lister seemed set for sometMng good as he turned 'at 33 (three under), but he could not make up any further ground on the homeward nine. He carded six birdies in the round, but a two-over on the par-three eleventh left Mm a little shaken. In the first four tournaments on the circuit Lister has been runner-up three times and third once. Nagle, everyone’s favourite, will be remembered as the man of the tournament who missed more birdies than anyone else. In his four rounds 70, 70, 74 and 69, he had the misfortune to see most of Ms birdie putts slide past. He played his usual compact game, although his injured right hand was troubling him in the latter rounds. On the 283 mark with Nagle was the promising Australian, G. Marsh, who put together three 70s and a 73. In the morning, Charles and McCully, both had six-under-par 66s to share the lead. Dunk, who missed a 2ft putt on the fifteenth had a 67 and was one behind. McCully had a staggering eight birdies but blemished his card with two one-overs. Charles and Dunk both scored six birdies but whereas Charles had par figures at all the other holes, Dunk had a one-over when he missed the vital putt on the fifteenth. Lister started disappointingly in the morning and at no stage looked likely to retain Ms lead. He nearly went one-over part, but a mighty 40ft putt on the seventeenth gave him a great birdie there. Nagle dropped out of contention with a third round of 74. The greens were most unkind to the Australian veteran and his putts did everything but drop. M. J. Fisher (Poverty Bay) and S. G. Johes (Hastings) finished equal on 292 to lead the amateurs. Fisher won on a count-back.

Leading scores (New Zealand players unless stated otherwise) are: 274—G. McCully (Australia), 70. t», 66, 69. 277 R. J. Charles, 68, 71, 66, 72; E. W. Dunk (Australia), 71, 68, 67, 71. 278 J. M. Uster, 67. 71, 72, 88. 283 G. Marsh (Australia), 70, 73. 70, 70; K. D. G. Nagle (Au» tralia). 70, 70, 74, 69. 284 R. Vines (Australia), 71, 72, 72 , 69; P. A. Harvey (Australia), 69, 73, 69, 73. 286—D. Clark. 79. 74, 68, 74; P. Oosterhuis (England), 68, 72, 73,

73. 287—M. Bembridge (England), 71, 75, 72, 69; B. J. Coxon (AUS-

tralia), 73, 73. 73, 88: E. A. Ball (Australia), 73, 76, 70, 68.

288— B. T. Boys, 68, 77, 72, 71; C. Clark (England), 72, 73, 73, 70. 289 A. Murray (Australia), 70, so, 74, 76; L. Sharp (Australia) 72, 72 , 73, 72; A. Snape,. 70, 73, 69, 77.

201—D. Graham (Australia), 74, 70, 74, 73. 292—M. J. Fisher. 75, 74, 74, 09; *S. G. Jones, 73, 70, 74, 00. 203—J. Stolhand (United States), 73, 72 , 77, 71.

204—V. Bennetts (Australia), 75. 76, 68, 75. 295 F. Phillips (Australia), 75, 72, 74, 74. 296 G. Donald (Australia), 70, 73, 77, 76; F. Malloy, 69, 77, 74, TO: «W. A. Neill, 74, 74, 75, 73. 297 J. Croskery, 76. 75, 76, 71. 298 W. Godfrey. 73, 74, 75. 76; P. Hart (Australia), 73, 74, 76, 75; A. Palmer, 77, 72 . 74, 75; •W. L. Hill, 73, 76, 74, 75. (• denotes amateurs.)