N.Z. golfer leads in Australian Open

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33058, 27 October 1972, Page 14

N.Z. golfer leads in Australian Open

fN.X.P A -Reuter—Copyright)

ADELAIDE.

A New Zealand golfer, T. Kendall, defied biting cold winds to post a course record of 68 yesterday for a two-stroke lead in the first round of the $20,000 Qantas-Australian Open golf championship.

Kendall’s four-under-par round took two strokes off the previous record for the recently altered Kooyonga course. In the gusty conditions only seven golfers—Kendall and six Australians—beat par for the testing 6727-yard lay-out.

E. Ball was two strokes back on 70, and the Briton, P. Oosterhuis, was one of five men on 71. Another on 71 was the former World Cup representative, D. Graham, a pretournament favourite with a countryman, B. Crampton, who had a 73. M. Bembridge (Britain) also shot a 73, but the two American contenders fared poorly. R. Murphy, restricted in practice for the event because of cold, windy weather, had an 80.

Murphy won the $25,000 Wills Masters in Sydney last

week with a five-under-par 31 for the last nine holes. H. Blancas (United States) carded a 74 along with two Australians, K. D. G. Nagle, and B. Devlin, and R. Shade (Scotland). Kendall's round included six birdies.

A yoga practiser who spends half an hour each day standing on his head as ah escape from the pressure of tournament golf, shot a birdie at each of the first two holes. He holed an 8-foot put at the first and took two putts after reaching the green in two at the par-5 second, Kendall, who is known to the other players as “Top Kat,” turned in 35 and got to three under when he knocked in a birdie putt from 30 feet at the eleventh. NEAR *ACE’ He three-putted the thirteenth, but at the fourteenth almost holed his tee shot with an 8-iron. The ball came to rest only two feet short of the cup and he tapped it in for another birdie. Kendall took a one-over at the sixteenth but got a birdie at the seventeenth and another at the last, where he holed a 35-foot putt.

Kendall, who won the Coffs Harbour Open in New South Wales several weeks ago, said: “That was one of the best rounds I've ever played. The ball ran well for me all day.” He said the windy condiUons had not worried him. They were similar to those he had experienced on courses in England and In New Zealand.

Murphy had three one-overs and one birdie for an outward 39, and on the back nine he had four one-overa and a two-over for a 41. “I just can’t play when the weather is windy and cold as it was today,” he said. Leading scores:— 68—T. Kendall (New Zealand). 76—E. Ball.

71—G. Marsh, W. Dunk. F. Conallin P. Oosterhuis (Britain), D. Graham.

73—C Angel, B. Crampton, M. Bembridge (Britain).

74—8. Devlin, T. Gilmore. H Blancas i Unit cd Stale.:, K. Nagle, R. Tuoliy, P. Thompson, K Shade (Scotland).

73—P. Connell. H. Coxon, C. Bonython, A. Mercer, S, Onsham (Thailand' A. Palmer (New Zealand). P. Llewellyn (Britain).

Other visiting players' scores — 76—S. Owen (New Zealand), D, Hayes (South Africa). 79— M. Moussa (Egypt) I« To.vai (Thailand). 80— R Murphy (United States , H Bannerman (Scotland). D. Park tHong Kong). 81— H. liegedoru (Philippines).