Course Record Falls In Open Golf

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 17

Course Record Falls In Open Golf

(H.Z. Presa Association —Copyright)

MUIRFIELD (Scotland). It was a day of broken records and brilliant golf when the second round of the British Open golf championship was played at Muirfield yesterday.

Sixty-four golfers qualified for the final 36 holes, with the American. J. Nicklaus, leading the field by one stroke. In second place was the British player, P. Butler, and joint third, three strokes behind Nicklaus, are K. D. G. Nagle (Australia), P. Rodgers (United States) and H. R. Henning (South Africa). Muirfield had won the first round when only Nicklaus and J. Hitchcock, both with 70s had broken the par of 71.

Yesterday, the golfers were on top. D. J. Sewell (Britain) began the flood of low scores by setting a course record of 69.

Lasted 52min

The record lasted exactly 52 minutes before Rodgers improved it by a further three strokes, to 66. Then Butler, five hours later, came in with a 65, which stood at the end of the day as the new record.

Among the disappointed was A. Palmer, who slumped on the inward nine to finish with a one-over-par 72 after being three under the card after the ninth.

The best shot of the championship so far was played by a man who failed to qualify for the last two rounds. D. Canonica (Italy) carded a 76 for an aggregate of 156—after holing in one. It was a little piece of revenge for the Italian against Muirfield—he had taken nine strokes on the first hole in his first round.