Luck helps Longmuin

Press, 15 November 1976, Page 36

Luck helps Longmuin

PA Invercargill Two strokes of luck, on top of a fine exhibition of golf over four days, let the popular Englishman, Bill Longmuir, keep his lead in the final round of the Southland charity golf classic at Otatara vesterdav and win $4OOO of the $20,000 prize-money. Longmuir came to Otatara unknown but, in the past year of playing in Europe and Africa he has met with considerable success. He started yesterday’s round with a three stroke lead on his principal rival, Pat McCleary (United States) and, even though he began rather badly, he kept his winning margin. Longmuir finished the 72 holes on 280. eight under par, with McCleary back on 283, six, strokes clear of the rest of the field. Both men shot 73’s — one over the card — for the last round, and although there were several better rounds, it was too late for the rest.

Longmuir had two great slices of luck which proved crucial.

On the ninth, when McCleary was only one stroke behind, Longmuir hooked his drive. The ball headed straight for a ditch running along the left side on the fairway and pitched well into the mouth of the ditch. However a freak bounce made it career back across the opening, back on to the fairway and Longmuir was able to make his par. Then, on the par four 14th, he pushed a low five iron across the fairway and the front of the green, with the ball heading for a nearby hedge. However, the call of “fore” was unable to move the caddy for Barry Vivian, who was playing ahead with McCleary, and the ball gave him a sharp smack on the backside, stopping in a safe lie.

McCleary considered his total of 283 satisfying although he was disappointed that he could not keep up the form with which he equalled the course record of 66 in the second round. However, he said that the golf he played at Otatara was the best he had played in seven or eight weeks. McCleary intends to play in the Otago charity golf classic in Dunedin and the Airlines classic in Christchurch. There were several fine rounds from the others, even though Longmuir and McCleary shared the interest between them. In the finish, John Abendroth (U.S.), Vivian, and Todd Crandall (U.S.), were all locked together in third position, one over for 72 holes on 289. Abendroth went into the final round holding third place but he played indifferently, playing some brilliant irons but having problems on some greens. He lost ground

to Crandall and Vivian, who noth played consistently over the four days. Crandall shot four birdies in his 71, while Vivian had two birdies in his 72. Vivian especially hit the ball well between tees and greens and, with a little more luck, could have been clearly in third place. Abendroth had five bogeys in his round, which countered his many good holes and he slipped to a one-over 73 in the finish. Leading scores;— 280—W. Longmuir (U.K.), 69, 68. 70. 73. 283—P. McCleary (U.S.), 71, 66, 73, 73. 289—8. Vivian (N.Z.), 74, 73, 70, 72; T. Crandall (U.S.), 72, 73, 73, 71; J. Aberdronth (U.S.), 75, 69, 72, 73. 291 —A. Topham (Aust.), 80, 70, 71, 70. 293—F. Conallin (Aust.), 79, 71, 74, 69; J. Benda (U.S.), 74, 72, 72,

75; P. Lindsey (U.S.), 78, 72, 7< 72. 294— W. Winchester (U.S.), 71. 74, 72, 77; T. Milton C.4.Z.), 79, 72. 74, 69. 295— J. Griffin (N.Z.), 73, 77, 70. 75; M. Barnet (U.S.), 72, 74, 73. 76; D. Clark (N.Z.), 71, 76, 75, 73. 296— H. Underwood (U.S.), 74, 77, 69, 76; R. Newdick (N.Z.), 73, 74, 78, 71. 297— K. Downie (amateur) (N.Z.), 73, 74, 76, 74. 298— J. Lapsey (amateur) (N.Z.), 74, 71, 73, 80; G. Moody (U.S.), 75, 72, 73, 78; C. Owen (N.Z.), 74, 78, 72, 74; B. Ford (U.S.), 77, 70, 73, 78; M. Lindsey (US.), 75, 73, 74, 76; J. Lynch (U.S.), 74, 74, 72, 78; G. Bullock (U.S.), 74, 74, 72, 78: J. Downie (U.K.), 76, 77, 72, 73.