Nicklaus had right answer

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32543, 1 March 1971, Page 14

Nicklaus had right answer

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

PALM BEACH.

J. Nicklaus responded to a challenge from the South African, G. Player, by scoring five birdies in a sixhole run and take a four-stroke lead in the United States P. G. A. championship.

Nicklaus shot a two-under-par 70 and had a 54-hole total of 208.

Nicklaus’s eight-under-par total put him comfortably ahead of Player, who shot a 68 yesterday for a four-under 212.

C. L. Gilbert, a little-known American professional, stayed stubbornly in contention by shooting a 72. His total of 213, left him five strokes behind Nicklaus. CHARLES ON 215

In a seven-way tie at 215, were W. Casper, T. Bolt, R. J. Charles (New Zealand). B. Yancey, G. Borek, M. Barber and R. Lunn. Player’s 68 was on the board when Nicklaus, after playing one-over-par golf for the first eight holes, went on his rampage. He birdied the ninth, to reach the turn in par 36, and repeated it at the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth.

Charles, who was in joint second place after his first round of 70, slipped down the list with a 75 on the next day, but then struck back

strongly for another 70 yesterday. Another to fade after a good start was the United States Open chamipon, T. Jacklin (England). He followed a 71 with two 745.