S.A. Govt asked to aid golfer

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32678, 6 August 1971, Page 15

S.A. Govt asked to aid golfer

(N.Z. Press Association)

DUNEDIN.

The South African Government has been urged to finance the visit to New Zealand of the champion Coloured golfer, Papwa Sewgolum, in December, to take part in the Otago Golf Classic and the New Zealand Open.

The request was made by the chairman of the Classic organising committee, Mr R. M. Hal], in a telephone call to the Minister of Sport, Mr Frank Waring, in Pretoria. The call was taken by the Minister’s secretary, Mr Potter, who gave an assurance that the matter would be taken up with Mr Waring. Mr Hall said that he made the call about midnight after returning from a meeting of the committee which had spent some time discussing the problem of sponsorship for Sewgolum.

"It occurred to me that it would be good public relations for the South African Government to sponsor Sewgolum out here as an answer to the growing criticism.. in New Zealand and in other countries ’ of the apartheid policy." he said. He had not been able to talk to the Minister, but he

had been told by Mr Potter that Mr Waring would be informed of the request and that the committee would be advised of the decision. “I don’t feel very optimistic. Mr Potter did not exactly sound enthusiastic on the

phone but it is worth a try,” Mr Hall said. Sewgolum accepted an invitation from the committee to take part in the tournaments, providing sponsorship could be found for him. Already the committee has

been offered free accommodation for the golfer by a Dunedin motel owner. The offer extends over the period of open, the classic, and the “Evening Star” pro-am. Sewgolum, aged 43, an Indian from Durban, is an outstanding golfer who has had a number of successes in world competition in the limited opportunities available to him. Three times winner of the Dutch open, he has also finished sixth in the Carling World Championship, and last year in the British Open he equalled the course record at St Andrews in one of the qualifying rounds. More than 30 years old when he obtained his first full set of clubs, Sewgolum has a freak grip. He holds his clubs in the reverse way, with his front hand clasping the shaft below his back hand.