The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-05
NELSON NIPS TERRIER BY 1
 IN FRISCO OPEN
BY HAL WOOD

I4. D4 LAfAA VvOOO I. United Press Staff CoFrespondent)
 San Francisco, Dec. 5--(UP)- Touring pros followed golf's rain- bow trail to Oakland today after Byron Nelson picked up $2.666. 70 in War Bonds winning the 14th annual San Francisco open in a heart-breaking final round duel with M-Sgt. Jim Terrier.
 Terrier blew the match on the 18th hole of the final round yester- day after holding the lead for two days, He was on the verge of mak- ing golf history, playing his heart out, but he learned what scores of other tournament perennials have learned, that you can't waste a stroke when Nelson, the mechanical man, is playing for the blue chips.
 Nelson shot his second straight three under par 69 in the final round to win with a total of 281, one stroke ahead of Terrier.
 Nelson started out one stroke be- hind the soldier yesterday. For II holes they matched stroke for stroke. Then Terrier got an eagle on the par-five 12th hole to go three strokes ahead.
 Nelson began whiting at that margin on the next hole. He drew even on the 18th.
 Double BOgey
 Then, came the fatal 18th. Fer rier, former Australian golf cham pion now stationed at Camp Rob- erts, Calf, dropped one ball into a lake followed with a shot that hit a tree. He took 8 double Bogey on the hole as Nelson stroked out in par.
 But Terrier didn't quit. He bir- died the next hole to draw within one stroke of Nelson. But one stroke was enough to win.
 The boys will put in day of practice at the exclusive Sequoyah Country club in Oakland today. then tee off tomorrow in 8 $7,500 tournament there.
 Nelson's victory here, a repeat over last year, brought his winning for the year to around the $44,000 mark.
 Nelson's four day with card was 72-71-69- 9-281. Terrier had one big day in which he shot a brilliant 66-but otherwise had cratic scores of 75-70-71-282. Second shade brought him $1,866.70.
 The six-foot, two-inch sergeant, who held the Australian amateur and open titles for three years, had one favorite hole-the 469-yard, par five 18th. On four days of play there, Terrier had birdie, eagle, eagle, eagle, to go seven under par on that one green.
 Tied for third place were Sammy Snead, Hot Springs, w. Va, and Willie Goggin. White Plains, N. Y, each with 287, who collected $1200 for their efforts.
 Deadlocked for fifth and sixth were John Geertsen, Salt Lake City: and Fred J. Wood, Vancouver, B. C., each with 292 and each collecting $S66.
 Also Won
 Other money winners and their scores;
 Craig Wood, Mamaronek, N. r., 292, $633; George Fazio, Pine Val- ley, N. J., 292, $63S; Harry Cooper, Oahu, Hawaii, 293, $466; Sam Byrd, Detroit, 293, $466; Bruce Coltart, Absecond, N. J., 293, $466.
 Art Bell, San Francisco, Harold (Jug) McSpaden, Philadelphia, Claude Harmon, Gross Point Woods. Mich, and Denny Shute, Akron, O., 294, $279; Bob Hamilton, Evans vile, Ind, and Jimmy Gauntt, Ar demore, Okla, 297, $200; Happy Bassler, Culver City, Cal, 29S, $173.
 Ted Longworth, Portland, Ore, c. A. Collier, Dallas, Texas, w A. Stackhouse, Texas, and Mark Fry, Oakland, Cal, $299.73.
 Top amateur honors of the tour naments were taken by Ed Furgol, Detroit. Mich, star with a 72-hole total of 296.