Palmer 9 Birdies In Record 62

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 3

Palmer 9 Birdies In Record 62

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter —Copyright)

LOS ANGELES.

Arnold Palmer blazed into the lead in the Los Angeles open golf tournament on Saturday, shooting a nine-under-par 62, with nine birdies, seven scored in succession.

Palmer, who played poorly throughout the circuit 1-st year, finished the third round with a 54-hole total of 200. He w;as seven strokes ahead of Bill Casper and nine ahead of Dave Ragan, who had the lead after 36 holes.

Palmer played the front nine of the Rancho municipal golf course in 33 strokes and the back nine in 29, for his 62, which equalled the tournament record set by Phil Rodgets in 1962. Paul Harney, the defending champion, who is tied with a host of golfers at 209, summed up Palmer’s performance: “What’s Palmer doing, lapping us?” Palmer began sinking the birdies on the eighth hole and did not stop until he reached the 15th green, which he parted. But he then came back on the sixteenth hole for his ninth birdie of the day. Casper, the pre-tourn ament favourite, shot a 66 for his total 207. Asked about the final round Palmer said: “I’m just going out there and try to make some more birdies.”