The Vault - $625 won by Charles

The Vault: Bob Charles in 1962. Photo / NZH

RJ Charles, the New Zealand left-hander, won $625 by finishing 25th on the list of players in the Masters tournament.

In the previous week, according to a letter to his parents, he won $270 by finishing 20th in a tournament at Wilmington, Delaware.

After competing in the series of tournaments in the Far East, where, in addition to other prize-money, he won $600 for achiving fourth placing in the overall rankings, Charles was afflicted with Asian 'flu and at one time decided not to play in the Wilmington tournament.

He was persuaded to go there by the American Open champion, Gene Littler, and the outstanding Canadian Stan Leonard, whom he accompanied to the tournament.

In his two practice rounds at Augusta for the Masters, he hit the headlines with scores of 71 and 68. These rounds were bettered in practice only by Gary Player.

Of his last round in the Masters, Charles said: "I putted well, but the tension, the crowds and the pressure kept me from doing better."

The merit of Charles' great effort may be assessed from the fact that Doug Sanders finished several strokes behind him.

Sanders ranked next to Player and Palmer in prize-winnings last year, his tournament earning being more than $57,000.

Charles has told his parents that he will play in one more American tournament, at Greenboro, before leaving for Britain next week.