Charles, Rogers should provide epic battle

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 36

Charles, Rogers should provide epic battle

The performances of the British Open champion, Bill Rogers, and New Zealand’s left-handed Bob Charles in the $lOO,OOO Air New Zealand Shell Golf Open, which finished in Auckland yesterday, point to a spectacular match between the two at Russley today, Charles, after being with the leaders from the outset, took third place on 275 and Rogers finished equal fourth on 277 after carding 67 in the final round and having six birdies over the last 13 holes. The special challenge match will be played over 18 holes of stroke play and the pair will hold a golf clinic for the public 30 minutes before they tee off.

Rogers, a 30-year-old from Texarkana, has won seven tournaments this year, five of them coming from his last seven events, and in four different countries. Charles is in good touch, losing the New Zealand P.G.A. championship after a play-off, and having three rounds under 70 at Titirangi. Rogers. played a similar contest in Sydney where he won the New South Wales and Australian Opens against the United States Open champion, Dave Graham, an Australian domiciled in the United States. Graham prevailed by one stroke. The greens at Russley have been cut twice a day for the last week and should be lightning quick.