Down but not out

Sir Bob Charles and US amateur champion Danny Lee, 18, were amongst the line-up at the New Zealand Open, with Charles, “believed to be the oldest golfer to make the cut on any of the world’s non-senior tours.” “Charles, who turned 73 on March 14, indicated on Wednesday that it would likely be his final New Zealand Open should he miss the cut. No matter what happens, he will take another record with him. He surpassed the great Gary Player’s record as the oldest to play in a Nationwide Tour event at 72 years, 11 months and 28 days,” writes the official website of PGA Australia. Though both Charles and Lee were unsuccessful at Arrowtown’s The Hills, sports commentator Peter Williams praised the tournament and the course, saying: “There was a certain rawness about the property during the first tournament 16 months ago but the trees and grass have matured quite markedly. After where the tournament was at only three years ago, the bar for the Open has now been set very high.” New Zealanders did sweep the top three places at last week’s New Zealand PGA, led by winner Steve Alker, with Josh Geary and David Smail sharing second place.