Marsh made ominous charge on Saturday

Press, 4 December 1978, Page 30

Marsh made ominous charge on Saturday

Bob Charles had his lead reduced to two strokes on Saturday, a day in which only 15 players managed to equal or better par.

When Charles shot his fine 64 on Friday he was one of the first away and struck the greens and the weather at its best. He was last off on Saturday and the swirling winds and slightly worn greens created a different proposition.

Charles could do no better than a three-over 73 and he was fighting throughout to keep his scores as low as that.

He was fortunate that his nearest rivals were experiencing similar problems. Marsh, with the best round of 66, made the most significant advance and moved to second, two shots behind the New Zealander. However, David Graham, ■ clear second, on Friday, slipped back with a 74 after going out of bounds on the

ithird and taking six on the | par-four finishing hole — a result that moved him to the extent of snapping his putter over his knee. His countrymen, Rodger Davis and Stewart Ginn, made only slight inroads on Charles, although Davis had, with three successive birdie;. closed to one stroke of Charles after 45 holes.

Two other leaders, Rafe Botts and Bob Risch (both United States), folded completely. Risch dropped seven shots in 12 holes, and Botts, four-over after three holes, never recovered and finished with a 76.

The young American, Vance Heafner. who almost moved to within one stroke of Charles during the third round, slumped badly. He I was out in 32. but took 42 on the back nine. Last year’s winner, David Good (Australia), scored 76 and failed to qualify by one: stroke for the final round; and the British star, Nick| Faldo, crashed to 80 and[ missed qualifying. The great l Arnold Palmer, with a steady 69, remained in contention, however.

Charles said that his confidence was destroyed by the wind and spiked greens. “I’ve had terrible rounds in strong winds recently — for instance the second round of the Australian Open and at Dunedin. I didn’t have the same confidence of Friday and I hit a lot of shaky shots. He had a birdie at the second from 3m, another at 113, and a third at the last I hole when he put his wedge approach to within Im. But from the sixth to the eleventh he dropped five shots and only several long putts stopped him from losing more ground. On other holes he battled bravely for pars: he chipped in from 10m at the fifth and holed a putt of 10m for a saver on the seventeenth. Even after he finished his round, the day of drama was not yet over for Charles. His playing partners. Davis and Ginn, protested that Charles had infringed by moving an advertising placard on the [thirteenth tee.

The hole is a dog-leg left and Charles wanted to use the extreme right side of the tee. The sign interfered with his stance and he had it removed. Charles contended that he was entitled to use any part of the tee and that tie had

■ done similar things many times before. The disputes (Committee heard all stories and convened.

“I’ll question the decision if it goes against me. I’ll appeal to the R. and A. in Scotland if necessary,” he said.

It was not necessary. Charles was not penalised under rule 11, which states that all players should be entitled to equal rights on the tee.

Marsh had a great start to his round with birdies on three of the first four holes. He went four-under at the eighth, but missed several (birdie opportunities on the [homeward half, which he I covered in par. ■ “After that good start I felt I could have shot 60, I certainly 62 or 63, but that’s golf. The middle holes are difficult with that strong wind and firmer greens,” said Marsh.