NEW GOLF RECORD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 153, 30 June 1934, Page 9

NEW GOLF RECORD

COTTON AT SANDWICH SECOND ROUND IN OPEN SCORE OF 65 RETURNED AN HISTORIC FEAT .By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright’ LONDON, June 28. In the British open golf championship Henry Cotton, with a second round of 65, established a new record. He leads the field with 132, followed by Padghani 141. Densmore, Shute, C. Whitcombe (72), Kirkwood (69) all aggregate 143 and arc at present equal for third place. Other scores are: Davies, Dallemagne, W. Nolan, 144; (Denny, Hudson, 145; Taggart, 146; Brews, Dailey. George Gadd, 147; Sarazen, Allis, Mac-donald-Smith, Twine, 148; Easterbrook, E. Whitcombe, 149; Jolly, Bert Gadd, 150; IL Whitcombe, 151; Perry. 152; Abe' Mitchell, Storey, Lister, Hartley, Bobson, McClean, Seymour, 153; Branch, 157; Martin and Rex Hartley, 159; Boomer, 161. Sixty-nine players with aggregates of 15’ or better, qualified for tho final stages. Cotton’s 65, the lowest ever played in an open championship, is described as the greatest performance in the history of golf. His first nine were characterised by straightforward, uneventful par golf 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 4. He almost drove to the green at the 378-yard second hole. His homeward figures were 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 3 3, despite adventures. He drove into the bunker at the twelfth, but almost holed out with his approach. He missed the green at the thirteenth again, but his approach from the rough stopped two fet from the hole. Two wonderful wooden shots reached 520 yards at the fourteenth. He finished with phenomenal 3’s at the 423-yard seventeenth and 441-yard eighteenth holes. Then followed a tremendous ovation. Caps were flung in the air and motor horns blown. It was the lowest thirtysix hole aggregate in the history of the championship. George Greenwood, in the (Daily Telegraph, says that Cotton must be regarded as one of the greatest golfers in the world. Sarazen said: “Who would have thought tho grand St. George’s course at Sandwich could bo made to look like a Tom Thumb’s course. In future we shall have to think in terms of sixties instead of seventies. Cotton has completely altered the entire aspect and conception of golf.” Cotton to-night said: “Though I feel like a man in a dream, I think I can go on doing it. I am certainly not going to play for safety. That would be madness.” Kirkwood had the day’s second best round. He took 36 outwards, including six at the first hole, but began the home journey with three glorious 3’s and finished with 33.