‘Unknown’ takes lead in U.S. Open golf title

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32637, 19 June 1971, Page 46

‘Unknown’ takes lead in U.S. Open golf title

(N.Z. Preis Association—Copyright?

ARDMORE (Pennsylvania).

Labron Harris had a lucky escape on the final hole to salvage a three-under-par 67 and the first round lead in the seventy-first United States Open golf championship at the Merion course, but more than a dozen players, including the favourite, Jack Nicklaus, were within three strokes.

Harris, the 1962 United States amateur champion who has not won a tournament in seven years as a professional, bounced his approach shot off a spectator and then made a six-foot putt on the 458yard eighteenth hole for a par 4, and a one-stroke lead.

The present United States amateur champion, L. Wadkins, R. Goalby, and a veteran professional, D. Sanders were on 68, and Nicklaus and J. Colbert shot 695. Goalby, a late starter, was four-under-par, after 15 holes, but was two over on the parthree seventeenth.

The finishing holes beat many of the players, including Nicklaus, A. Palmer and the defending champion, A. Jacklin (Britain). The New Zealanders, R. J. Charles and J. Lister scored 72 and 73 respectively. Nicklaus, nearly everyone’s choice to win the tournament, took a one-over at the 224-yard, par-three seventeenth hole when he hit his drive into a sand trap and then missed a four-foot putt. He missed a 10ft birdie putt at the eighteenth, a 458-yard, par-four. Palmer shot a 73 including one-overs on the last two holes, and Jacklin had a 75 with one-overs on the last three.

The final three holes—among the toughest finishing holes in the country—are threaded by an abandoned quarry. The players must approach a tightly-trapped green on No. 16 over the quarry, and must hit their drive more than 200 yards in the air to clear it on No. eighteen. EARLY FINISHERS H. Blancas, who had appeared headed for a share of the lead, also had troubles with the quarry, finishing two-over, one-over, one-oyer. Among the early finishers

at even-par 70, only L. Trevino, T. Weiskopf, and G. Brewer escaped disaster on the final holes. Trevino birdied number eighteen, Weiskopf finished with three straight pars, and Brewer birdied numbers sixteen and eighteen. The bespectacled Harris, who ran in four birdie putts on the back nine, made the turn in 35 with a birdie on number nine and then played the back nine in a sizzling 32 strokes. Colbert sank two birdie putts, one on each of the nines, and was one over at the last hole as he moved out in front of the 150-man field of 135 professionals and 15 amateurs. He played the front nine in a one-under 35 and the back nine in an evenpar 34. ' Jacklin, playing in a threesome with the Masters champion, C. Coody, and L. Wadkins, eagled the long par-five second hole after taking a one-over five on the first He hit his drive into the rough on the narrow second fairway.and hit his second shot near a trap about 160 yards from the pin. He used an-

other iron for his third shot and holed it.

Nicklaus, seeking his third United States open title, South Africa’s G. Player, and Trevino, were among the late starters. Player and Trevino each has won the title once. IDEAL WEATHER The tournament started under ideal weather conditions. Skies were sunny and temperatures in the mid-70s. There was little wind over the course. The Merion course, soaked by rain earlier in the week.

was drying out fast, and the tight, well-protected and sloping greens were becoming more and more slick as the sun beat down.

Most golfers who have played this course are of the opinion that it. will be tough to better par if the weather stays good and the greens get faster.

The Australians Devlin, D. Graham and B. Crampton had scores of 72, 77 and. 73 respectively. Charles was among the early starters.