Young South African has one-stroke lead

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32459, 20 November 1970, Page 24

Young South African has one-stroke lead

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. The 22-year-old South African, R. Cole, highlighted his round with an eagle three at the 512-yard twelfth hole and went on to establish a one-stroke lead in the first round of the Caltex golf tournament at Paraparumu Beach yesterday.

Cole, with a three-under-par 68, was followed by the Briton, M. Bembridge, one stroke behind, and by the New Zealander, T. Kendall, third on 70. Cole, winner of the British amateur title as a teen-ager in 1966, considers this year the worst of his three years as a professional. "But today I hit the ball really well over the last nine holes, although I found the conditions a bit tougher on the. way out,” he said. SUCCESSFUL PUTT At the twelfth, he played a magnificent approach shot and then managed to sink a putt of 45ft for his eagle. Cole has spent six months on the United States circuit this year without achieving the success his talents appear to deserve. Three birdies on the outward nine left the gifted Cole one under the card, and although he dropped a shot at the eleventh, his eagle at the next hole made his day. Bembridge’s round was laced with many fine shots but he was unable to sink a putt of more than five feet. Kendall did not start well but later tightened his game substantially.

K. Gamer, the Australian left-hander, who led the Caltex field last year after 36 holes, was on 71, with the Wellington amateur, J. Lacy, and the American professional, W. Brask. Brask was supremely confident over the first nine holes, turning in 32 -(three under). This had included five birdies in seven holes. However, a strong wind and the fast greens foiled him on the way home. The 23-year-old Brask has just completed his first year on the United States tour, where he won $BOOO. With a borrowed putter, Lacy was two over the card but when h» reverted to his own putter, he had a brilliant sequence of three successive birdies. Now over 40, Lacy has been revelling in medal play in tournaments for the last year or so. FAVOURITES STRUGGLE The pre - tournament favourites, K. D. G. Nagle and P. W. Thomson, had to be content with rounds of 72 and 73, respectively. “I couldn’t sink birdie putts on some of the easy holes on the second nine, said Nagle. “The greens were extremely fast” Thomson, who spoilt his round with a two-over six at the seventeenth, said: “I was too confident today. It should be the worst round I have in the tournament "I thought I had hit a good second into the seventeenth but the ball found a bunker and there my troubles began.” Thomson’s blast out of the bunker flew over to the women’s tee at the eighteenth and his uphill chip went up and rolled back down. KIDD HAS MALARIA W. J. Godfrey, complaining of back trouble, carded a disastrous 80, but the Otago player, A. Kidd, caused the biggest stir when it was announced that he was suffering from malaria. Kidd, just returned from competing in the Fiji open, struggled around in 90 and after visiting a doctor, withdrew from the tournament.

The second qualifying round will be played today and the final 36 holes on Saturday. Leading scores (New Zealand professionals unless stated) were:— 68— R Cole (South Africa). 69 M. Bembridge (Britain). 70— T. Kendall. 71— W. Brask .(United States); K. Garner (Australia); *J. M. Lacy (Paraparaumu). 72 G. Cunningham, R. Jenkins. “E. Kerr (Hutt), G. Marsh (Australia), P. Morgan (Australia), K. D. G. Nagle (Australia). 73 P. Beames (Britain); D. Ingram (Australia); R. McDonald; F. Phillips (Australia); C. R. Rlsch (United States); T. Scorgle; P. W. Thomson (Australia). 74 •!. S. MacDonald (Hutt): G. Donald. J. Vaughn (United States). 75 D. Cullen (Australia), ’J. D. Durry (Paraparaumu); F. Molloy; *M. McDonald (Manor Park); A. J. Palmer: D. Sullivan; B. Vivian: *S. M. Owen (Castlecliff). 76 L. Brown; ’H. H. Carver (Hastings); G. Holst; *H. W. Lanner (Hastings); W. Logan; •N. T. Nanklvell (Mornington); •A. Procter (Paraparaumu); B. C. Rafferty; S. Savanapongse (Thailand). 77 ’J. P. Aldridge (Otakl); B. Shelton; *P. F. Watson (Taupo). 78— *R. L. Cooper (Walnulomata); G. B. Wolstenholme (Australia).