Veteran pair share Open lead

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33254, 18 June 1973, Page 24

Veteran pair share Open lead

(N. Z.P. A. -Reuter—Copyright) OAKMONT.

The 55-year-old J. Boros, the oldest man to win the title in modern times, and A. Palmer, who has not won a major international tournament in nine years, were locked in a four-way tie for the lead as the United States Open golf championship went into its final round today. Boros, winner in 1952 and 1963 (when he was 43), and the 43-year-old Palmer, the 1960 champion and a fourtime runner-up, electrified the gallery of 17,000 with three-under-par 68s in the third round. Bunched with them on a 54-hole total of 210 were the 26-year-old J. Heard, and the 34-year-old J. Schlee. Heard, the son of a California driving-range operator, had the lowest score of the third round, a sizzling fiveunder 66, one stroke above the course record set on Fri-1

day by an obscure Long Island teaching professional, G. Borek. Schlee matched Heard’s five birdies as he shot a 67.

These four led by one stroke from the hottest player on the American circuit, T. Weiskopf, and by two from a trio including the New Zealand left-hander, R. J. Charles.

But it was Boros, whose last tour victories were in 1968, and Palmer who stirred the crowd with their shotmaking. Five strokes behind the South African, G. Player, after 36 holes, the two veterans both made dramatic charges to overtake Player, who slipped to a six-over 77. Palmer, a folk hero in this’ area where he grew up and: still lives, caught Boros with; birdies at the tenth and elev-; enth holes —and both then: had pars at the remaining I seven.

Palmer came within inches of taking the lead by himself when a birdie putt slithered past the hole at 17. It seemed as if nearly everyone in the gallery was pulling for him.

Boros ran in a 15-footer to save par on the fifteenth, and then sank a 10-foot second putt for a par at rhe sixteenth. He also holed a 15-footer at the next hole after putting his approach shot into a bunker. Weiskopf, winner of three of the last four tournaments in which he has played, birdied the last two holes for a 69 that put him on 211. Grouped with Charles

were the two-time United States and present British Open champion, L. Trevino, and the 31year-old J. Colbert, who had trailed Player by one stroke after 36 holes.

Player, seeking to become the first foreign player to win two United States Opens since the Scot, W. Anderson, accomplished the feat after the turn of the century, had seven one-overs during his disastrous third round. But he remained in contention at 214, as did the defending title-holder, J. Nicklaus, who had four one-overs in a three-over-par 74. “Four strokes is not too much to make up,” Nicklaus said. “I just played badly and could not make myself do the things I wanted.” These

errors included three putts on the tenth and eleventh

greens. Should either Boros or Palmer win, he would become the oldest player to capture the title. Boros was 43 when he won the 1963 open and would surpass his own feat.

E. Ray (England) was an even older 43 when he won in 1920, but Palmer would be several months older than were both Ray and Boros.

Leading scores:—

210— Heard, 74, 70, 66: J. Schlee, 73 , 70 67; A. Palmer, 71, 71. 68; J. Boros. 73 . 69. 68. 211— T. Weiskopf. 73. 69 . 69 212— L. Trevino, 70, 72. 70; R. J. Charles (New Zealand) 71, 69. 72; J. Colbert, 70, 68 , 74. 214— G. Player (South Africa), 67, 70. 77; J. Nicklaus. 71, 69, 74 215— R. Thompson, 73, 71, 71; G. Littler, 71 74. 70.

216—L. Ziegler, 73, 74. 69; M. Barber. 74, 71, 71; A. Geiberger, 73, 72, 71; J. Miller, 71, 69. 76 Other overseas scores Included: 223. A. Jacklin (England), 75, 75, 73; 227, D Graham (Australia), 73. 77. 77; 230. J. M. Lister (New Zealand), 76, 74, 80.