N.Z. To Have Own Golf Circuit, In September

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30075, 8 March 1963, Page 8

N.Z. To Have Own Golf Circuit, In September

fftew Zealand Press dseoeiattonj • WELLINGTON, Man* 7. New Zealand golf took a big step forward with the announcement today that six sponsored tournaments, which together wi& the. Open championship will be worth £ll,OOO, are to be played during September. They are expected to attract to New Zealand some of the world’s finest players. At a press conference in Wellington today, Mr D. O. Whyte, vice-chairman of the New Zealand Golf Association, said: “Outside America, the tournaments we shall be offering will compare with any country in the world over five week-ends.

Ito six tournaments are: August 29-31: Wiseman’s Ltd., in Auckland, £2OOO. September 2-3 or 9-10: Metalcraft Induotriea Ltd., in Palmetvton North, £lOOO. September 3-7: W. D. and H. O. Wilte (New Zerisnd) Ltd., in Christctaireh, £2OOO. September 12-14: Roes and Gtendfaang lAd., in Dunedin, £l5OO. September 19-21: Celtex, at Parapairaumu, £2OOO. September 1047: 3. Wattle Canneries Ltd., in Hastings, £l5OO. Ito New Zealand Open at Wanganui will follow from September 25 to 28, and It is hoped that prize money this year will reach £lOOO. The courses on which the tournaments are to be played are yet to be finalised. Years of Striving Mr Whyte said that the N.Z.GA. had been striving for many yean to arrange such a series of tournaments. There had been sponsored tournaments over the yean but the big difficulty had been in getting overseas

playen to New Zealand and avoid dashing of dates with other countries, notably Australia.

This tod been achieved for the first time, Australian authorities agreeing to September being reserved for golf ta New Zealand. Mr Whyte ntd that among the golfens who could to expected were the Australians, P. W. Thomson and K. D. G. Nagle, who tod been largely instrumental on the Australian side in helping to get this new golf circuit arThere were promises from at least 10 other Australians to compete, one or two Japanese, a Philippine and two Formosans. Two or three English and American players might make the trip, and the two big names in golf today, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, were being “worked on.”

Mr Whyte said that when news of these tournaments, and the money to to earned, was made known abroad he was certain they would arouse considendde enthusiasm, because they were “out of season.” The American season concluded at the end of August,

the European ww over, and the Australian tod not started, to said. “Wiih the Australian tournaments wort) about £lfl,ooo, it mokes the South Padftc a pretty attnetive golfing trip,” he said. Mr Whyte said that the sponsors had guaranteed to nun these tournaments for five yeans. There would to 18 cash prizes in each tournament, with a first prise of £4OO in the £2OOO tournaments and the lowest prize of £3O. Top prize in the £l5OO tournaments would be £3OO and in the £lOOO tournaments, £2OO. Eight Interested Altogether there were eight business concerns interested in sponsoring tournaments, but two had to be disappointed. Mr Whyte said golfers throughout New Zealand would be grateful to these companies for their interest in the sport, and the benefits that would accrue in further improving the amateur game —which had already been proved in world class competition—and giving spectators the chance to see some of the best golfens in the world in action. The sub-committee responsible for the final co-ordina-tion of dates was the chairman pf the N.Z.G.A. (Mr G. P. Roberts), Mr Whyte, the secretary of the New Zealand Professional Golfers’ Association (Mr N. Hayden), a member of the association (Mr T. A. Brady) and a past president of the P.G.A (Mr J. Shelly).

Charles Second To Palmer (N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright) PENSACOLA (Florida), March 6. The New Zealand professional, R. J. Charles, finished second to Arnold Palmer today in a one-round preliminary golf match to tomorrow’s 25,000-dollar Pensacola <®en golf tournament Charles and the American, Dan Sikes, each scored five-under-scratch 67—a stroke behind Palmer who took first place money of 300 dollars. The left-handed New Zealander and Sikes each collected 240 dollars. Godfrey Scores A 73 (NJI. Prest Aim.—Copyright) HONG KONG, Mar. 1 The New Zealand professional, W. J. Godfrey, scored a 73 in the professional-amateur-golf tournament yesterday which was a forerunner to the main Hong Kong open championship which begins tomorrow.

Ben Arda, of the Philippines, won the profeMional prize with a record-breaking 64. Busk, of New Zealand, score a 77.