GV Manly course; Sewgolum hitting off with Oosterhuis and Kendall; Player hits off with Onsham and Moran; play first hole; GV crowd; shots of two South Africans in action.




Initials


EDITORS NOTE: UNDEV 7242 to VISNEWS LONDON WITH TRACK. THIS IS FIRST OF TWO COVERAGES SIGNALLED TO LONDON PRO PATCH AND EDITOR. THIS MATERIAL (SHOT ON FIRST DAY, THURSDAY) SHOWS PLAYER AND PAPWA IN DIFFERENT THREESOME THE SECOND COVERAGE (FRIDAY) WILL SHOW THEM IN THE SAME THREESOME. BBC 24 HOURS HAS REQUESTED COVERAGE AND THERE MAY ALSO BE SERVICE INTEREST.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: South African golfer Gary Player and his colored countryman, Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum, broke any attempts to create an apartheid issue when they teed off in the top Dunlop International tournament in Sydney.

Earlier, a Sydney anti-racial group held a secret meeting with Sewgolum and he rejected appeals to protest against apartheid. Player also refused to comment on the politics of South Africa when he arrived in Australia a week ago.

The Dunlop International, worth $25,000, is being held at Sydney's seaside Manly club. On the first day Sewgolum hit off with British star Peter Oosterhuis and Peter Kendall. Shortly after, player took the tee with Thai golfer Sukree Onsham and Sydney professional S. Moran.

Anti-apartheid demonstrators had threatened to appear, but no incidents occurred.

Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus are favourites for the tournament. Nicklaus mowed down a classy field including Americans Gene Littler, Dave Stockton, and Dave Hill, Australians Bruce Crampton, Bruce Devlin and Kel Nagle and Player himself, to take the Australian Open in Hobart by eight shots. Then, in Brisbane, Player turned the tables by beating Nicklaus in a $10,000 exhibition match by one stroke.

Sewgolum, who has run into apartheid barriers in South Africa while climbing the golf ladder, hit the ball well in an exhibition with Player shortly after arriving in Sydney.

The 6642-yard Manly course is playing short in the hot weather conditions and the big hitters have a chance of demolishing the 72 par.

On the first hole, a 333 yard par 4, Sewgolum stayed square with the card, but Player was away to a bad start with a bogey 5. Onsham, who's proved a popular drawcard on the Australian circuit this year, rolled in a putt for a birdie 3.

Sewgolum is fascinating the golfing fraternity with his cross-handed, unorthodox grip. He can hit the ball equally as well with left-handed or right-hands swings, but prefers to cross the hands and swing right-handed for better control.

He has never had a golfing lesson. Player paid tribute to Sewgolum's ability, referring to him as one of the world's best exponents of the chip shot.

Both men say they are close friends and enjoy each other's company on the golfing arena.