Player Leads All The Way In Play-Off ST. Louis, MISSOURI, June 21.- G. Player of South Africa won the United States open championship here today, defeating K. D. G. Nagle of Australia in the play-off by three strokes. He led from the moment Nagle took three putts on the first green and was round in 71 to 74. He is the first foreigner to win since E. Ray in 1920. Fit though Nagle is at 44, he is 15 years older than the South African. Had he won he would have become the oldest ever to win the championship. " This is the realization of a dream for me ", said Player in an emotional voice. " I feel G. Player, who led from start to finish in a play-off with K. D. G. Nagle. I have reached my goal." With a five- stroke lead after nine holes the South African played safe coming in, down the middle and to the centre of the greens. A crowd of about 5,000 watched tne start in sultry weather with the thermometer rising to 85 degrees. Three putts by Nagle at the first put him behind at once and after both had birdies a: the second Player went two ahead with a 35-yard putt for another birdie at the third A six at the 465-yard fifth increased the gar, again and strained Nagle's concentration. He hooked his drive, striking a spectator on the head. His second from the rough again went into the crowd and he bunkered his third. By the turn Player was five strokes ahead, having played the first nine in a two-under- par 33. He was in sparkling form, scoring a four with a single putt at the 580-yard eighth. Nagle, who had not found his touch with the putter, missed from 6ft. on the ninth for a birdie. Both drove into rough at the 10th and dropped a stroke to par, but after 12 holes Player, one under par, still led by five strokes. The next five holes were played in par by both. Nagle was bunkered in two at the 15th (456 yards) but he came out to within four feet and holed the putt. Player continued to score more easily; at the short 16th Nagle's putt ran a yard past but he holed the one back. Nagle got a stroke back at each of the last two holes, chipping to within 18 inches and holing the Putt at the 17th. whereas Player had to play his third over the pond and needed two putts. Player hooked his drive into rough at the 18th and missed the green with his second, taking five to Nagle's four. Nagle's iron play increased in accuracy coming home, but he could not hole the putts to close the gap. FINAL SCORES x52.-Ui. Plover (S(,51h A(rkiX.)............... . 0 -0 .1 ?1 'S2.-K. D. G. Nagl, (Australia) 68 7i. 72 69 -2S.-F. Re rd (U.S.) 74 b9 70 71 257X-A. (icilhcrRe (U.S.) 7. 76 70 71 2S7.-J. Boros (U S . 727570 70 2XX.-R. Floyd (U.S.) .-2 72 76 6# 28X.-B. DcI,in (Ausmralia). 72 73 72 78 2.89.-(j. LiI,tr (U.S.) .73 71 73 72 2X9.-A. Lvma (U.S.).72 4 73 70 289-D. VYscn1 ;UB.).72 -s 70 72 290.-M. Rudolph US) 69 72 73 76 290.-D. Sander- (U.S.) 77 7.9 69 71 294.-NV. Csps.r (U.S.) , 7 73 76 72 297.-S. Snc.ld (U S .) .7 77 74 299,-_. Nicklaus ;U.) . 78 72 73 76 299.-B. Crampton (Austria). 74 76 72 77 -Renter and Associated Press PLAYER LEADS ALL THE WAY IN PLAY-OFF