DIFFICULTIES MET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26614, 10 November 1947, Page 6

DIFFICULTIES MET

MANY PLAYERS AFFECTED

TROUBLE WITH APPROACHES P.A. NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov, 9. The greens were faster on Saturday than during the first two days of play in the Open Golf Championship, and the players experienced more difficulty with their approach shots. A strong westerly wind added to the hazards of the game. At a time when most of the players were finding difliculty in matching par figures, the Australian R. S. Brown,, struck form after a shaky start, and returned a fine 70 However, coming in late in the field, Murray did likewise, and threw a different complexion in the situation because Glading had done no better than 77—-four over par. With Glading continuing to play below his best form, Murray had opportunities for overtaking him, but his putting let him down too often. In Glading’s morning round his judgment of the length of his seconds was at fault. He went out in 37 and back in 39. Murray’s Chances Fade Murray’s 70 in the morning was characterised by long and accurate driving and sound play on and around the greens, but his round in the afternoon was almost a litany of missed putts. To some extent this was accounted for by his seconds that drifted slightly off line. . Weir was one of the most consistent performers at the tournament. He hit a good ball from the tees and was never in trouble in the long game, but on Saturday morning putting mistakes were his downfall. Several times the ball stopped on the lip. Brown’s morning round of 70 was a masterly effort. On the 'outward journey he began unpromisingly with 4,5, 5,5, but settled down and showed

some of the golf of which he is capable by reeling off par figures or better, including an eagle 3 at the eighth, to reach the turn in S 7. On the homeward half he putted brilliantly. His drive at the seventeenth hit the trees, the ball ricochetting about two chains on to another fairway. He recovered wonderfully, dropping to about five feet from the pin and holing the putt for an eagle 3. Brown, in his afternoon round, continued to reveal his fine form, going out in 36, but he slipped badly with His chip shots and his putting. Shaw Always in Form Shaw had an untroubled round in which he was always in form. The outward stretch he completed.in two over par, and the homeward in two under. Some of his putts were unlucky. Poor putting was responsible for W. E. Jones’s 76 in the afternoon after a fine 72 in the morning. Jones drove consistently well all day.

Silk played excellent golt, and made his strokes confidently. An excellent morning round of 72 put J. Lambie in a good position, but m the afternoon, feeling the effect of a ricked shoulder, he deteriorated. Edgar had a splendid 73 in the morning.. Apart from a slight hook on some seconds, he played sound and stylish golf, and, had his putting been more reliable, he would have finished with 70 or under. He struck trouble in the bunkers in the afternoon. j