Nicklaus still in front

Press, 11 August 1980, Page 32

Nicklaus still in front

NZPA . Rochester,. New York

Jack Nicklaus, once poised to make a rout of it, surrendered four strokes in three holes but still managed to take a 3-shot lead yesterday in the third round of the sixty-second Professional Golf Association National Championship.

Nicklaus, aged 40, seeking a record-matching fifth P.GI'A. national title, turned a potential 64, a magnificent score, into a still-impressive 4-urider-par 66 with a very uncertain, scrambling finish. He finished 54 holes over the 6372 metres of deep, deadly rough of the Oak Hill course with a 205 total, five under-par. The only other player under par for three rounds of this, the last of the season’s four major golfing tests was Lon Hinkle.

Hinkle, with a spectacular, scrambling par on the last hole, finished with a 69 and a 208. total. No-one else appeared to

have a legitimate shot in today’s final round at Nicklaus, who capped his comeback with a record-breaking triumph in the United States Open a couple of months ago. • Tom Watson, the• British Open Champion and a fivetime winner in the United States this year, shot a 72 that left him at 221.

The defending champion, David Graham of Australia, was 73-217. South African Gary Player shot 71-217. Lee Trevino, who scored his first career victory on this course in the 1968 U.S. Open, was 71-216. Arnold Palmer took a triple bogey-7 on the last hole, finishing a 78 that left him at 226.

Leading scores after the third round:— 205—J. Nicklaus. 70. 69. 66. 208—L. Hinkle, 70, 69, 69. 211— G. Morgan, 68, 70, 73; A. Bean. 72. 71. 68. 212— C. Strange. 68, 72, 72; T, Diehl, 72, 72, 68. Others:— 217— D. Graham (Aust.), G. Player (South Africa). 218— J. Newton (Aust.).