P.G.A. win sets a golfing record

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32501, 11 January 1971, Page 3

P.G.A. win sets a golfing record

(New Zealand Press Association) TAURANGA. John Lister’s par-shattering win in the N.Z. Forest Products-Stars Travel, $13,500 R.GA. title, on Saturday at Mount Maunganui, “never felt like hard work.” It was Lister’s third successive bid for major honours.

Lister, now off to “a lake, some beer, and a rod” for a rest from golf said after his win, which came after two close attempts, that he had not felt extended in spite of 30-under-par golf which set a New Zealand sub-par record, and must be close to the world record.

He had felt a bit unnerved by his play over the early holes, with tree trouble and a short putt which was not quite to his calculations, but a 22ft putt at the fourth hole and a subsequent long drive had put him more at ease. The double tourney-winner, G. Marsh was pressing him at this stage and Lister admitted that the tournament might then have very well gone either way, as the Australian came within a shot of him. Turning point Both agreed that the point where Marsh was playing the ninth and Lister the eighth was the crucial time in the tourney. Marsh, only one behind, played his tee shot short, had a poor chip, and then twoputted; Lister put his second 18ft from the pin on the parfive eight, and sank it for a vital eagle. This put him four in front, and then five by the twelfth. As a disappointed Marsh said afterwards: “There was not much chance to put the pressure on John and the only way that he could have been upset was if something unusual had happened. Marsh, whose takings for the circuit are $B4OO after two wins, two seconds, a third, a fourth and a seventh said that he had never really had his earlier judgment of the pace of the greens in the ! last round. ' He had read them right i earlier, but he slipped in the 1 chase to overhaul Lister and ■ found that a number of valuable birdie putts just did not go in. ' “Spent” clubs Lister revealed after the j tournament that he had scored his win, which at 262 was eight shots ahead of ; Marsh and another Austra- ( lian, V. Bennetts, with a set < of clubs which he was going j to discard. t He has gone to Sydney. this week to order a new set . custom-made for him; these < will have shafts that are E much stronger. < Bennetts, whose golf im- j proved with every round, had s not felt before the final s round that he had a chance of catching Marsh who was 1 then five strokes ahead. f

However, some early birdies had given him confidence, after being slightly flustered and he played some fine irons and complemented this with

steady putting. Fourth in the event was P. Thomson, who said he has been treating his visit to the bay as a holiday. He found the festive air “getting to him a bit."

The bearded Thomson added that he had never really sharpened up and that

any money which he had won he “did not really deserve.” R. Charles, who finished 14 strokes behind, gave his best performance in the last round with a 66. He played a much more impressive game and found his customery touch on the greens. The two American players, D. Beale and A. Froude, who were late entries in the tournament, were prominent on the last day with sub-par rounds—Beale put in an impressive 64 last-round; they finished sixth and seventh, respectively. The amateur section was won by P. Burney (Auckland) who had a tussle with E. McDougall (Tokoroa) until the

New Zealand amateur representative dropped a shot on the seventh, allowing Burney through for the win. 262—J. Lister (N.Z.), 65, 66, 65, 270—V. Bennetts (Aust.). 70, 68, 66, 66; G. Marsh (Aust.), 68, 66 65 71. Thomson (Aust.), 67, 67, 70, 69. 276—R. Charles (N.Z.), 70, 69, 71, 66. 279 A. Froude (U.S.A.), 71, 70, 67, 71. 280— D. Beale (U.S.A.), 78, 68, 70, 64. 281— W. Godfrey (N.Z.), 74, 64, 70, 73; A. Palmer (N.Z.), 71, 71, 70, 69; A. Murray (Aust.), 71, 69, 282 R. Tuohy (S. Africa), 71, 72, 70, 69; T. Netties (U.S.A.), 65, 72, 72, 73; G. Wolstenholme (Aust.), 69, 68, 70, 75. 283 P. Murray (Aust.), 70, 68, 70, 75; D. Ingram (Aust.), 72, 66, 68, 77. 284 T. Kendall (N.Z.), 70, 69, 70, 75; F. Malloy (N.Z.), 69, 74, 285 D. Clark (N.Z.), 71, 71, 74, 69. 286 J. Carter (N.Z.), 73, 71, 72, 70; C. Risch (U.S.A.), 70, 69, 76, 71; R. Vines (Aust.), 71, 69, 71, 75; J. Albus (U.S.A.), 75, 70, 71, 70.