Lister close to golf leaders

Press, 12 June 1978, Page 28

Lister close to golf leaders

NZPA-Reuter Memphis

John Lister (New Zealand) was only three strokes behind the leaders after three rounds of the $U5250,000 Danny Thomas Memphis golf classic yesterday. Lister returned a 71 to give him a total of 210, after early rounds of 69 and 70.

Rod Curl birdied the final three holes yesterday to gain a tie with Andy Bean for the lead after three rounds. They had 54-hole totals of 207, nine under par. Jim Simons, the secondround leader, turned in an even-par 72 to drop back into a tie with Barry Jaeckel, Tom Purtzer and Alan Tapie at eight-under-par 208. Gary Player, of South Africa, with a two-round total of 147, failed to qualify for the final two days, and

Severiano Ballesteros (Spain) has also dropped back. And at Tervuren, Belgium, Simon Owen, of New Zealand, returned a 70 yesterday, giving him a total of 214 in the third round of Belgium open golf championship. This puts him five strokes behind the leaders.

Bob Charles (N.Z.) returned a 72 to take his total to 215. He is six strokes behind the leaders. Britain’s Ken Brown and Australia’s Chris Tickner shared the lead after the third round.

Brown, the 21-year-old Ryder Cup international, returned a 69 and 29-year-old Tickner shot 68 to finish tied on 11-under-par 208. They are one stroke ahead of Tony Jacklin, the former British and U.S. Open champion, who returned a 69.