Lister back on winner’s trail

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33398, 3 December 1973, Page 26

Lister back on winner’s trail

(N.Z Press Association/ DUNEDIN. The Timaru professional, J. M. Lister, shot a one-under-par 71 in the final round of the Otago Charity Golf Classic yesterday and scored an overwhelming five-stroke victory. After three rounds. Lister, (nine under the card, had led |the Australian. L. Sharp, and iR. Taylor, by one and two | strokes. But while the New Zealander continued to produce consistent golf. Sharp collapsed to a 79 and Taylor could do no better than a 74.

Taylor took second place and Sharp dropped to equal fourth with M. Bembridge (England) and G. Archer (United States). Third was R. J. Charles, winner of the first two events

on the New Zealand circuit, who was six strokes behind Lister. It is the first tournament Lister has won since he was married five weeks ago, and also ended a long period during which Lister and the St Clair course have “not seen eye to eye.” Lister has been working on his swing recently and was not altogether happy with his play during the last two days of the Classic. He said he had difficulty getting in the right frame of mind and, despite continuing his consistent scoring had, at times, "become niggly.” He later described his play as ’’scrappy.”

Obviously the weather hindered al! players and Lister will no doubt feel happy to travel to Russley this week to defend his Garden City title.

In late January’, Lister will return to the United States circuit where he won only $24,000 this year. Taylor, second with * 283

aggregate, dropped badly on Saturday, and looked as if he would repeat it when he had a one-over at the second and a two-over at the fourth yesterday. He lost any chance of winning the title when he followed this with another oneover at the fifth.

Taylor got on terms with himself with a 35ft for an eagle at the ninth and a birdie at the tenth, but had left his rally far too late. Charles once again finished strongly, but cost himself the chance of winning when he pulled his second into the left-hand bunker at the fifth hole. He exploded to the rear of the green, lagged to within 2ft of the hole, and then missed the tap-in. Sharp’s story was one of tragedy. After three consistent rounds, of 70, 70. and 68, he slumped to a 79. to be out of the top platings. Everything went wrong in his final round. He went out in an unimprewiva 41, de-

spite a birdie 3 on the sixth. His one consolation came at the eighteenth when he dropped a putt of 15ft that kept him in fourth place. Final scores (New Zealanders unless. stated) were:—

278—J. Lister, 68, 69. 70, 71 (44000). 283— R. Taylor (Australia), 67, 66, 76. 74 ($3000). 284— R. 3. Chariee, 72, 71, 71, 70 ($2200). 287— L. Sharp (Australia), 70, 70. 68, 79; M. Bembridge (Britain), 70. 77, 73, 67; G. Archer (United States), 75, 71, 71, 70 ($1333.33 each). 288— T. Kendall. 72, 68, 75, 73; S. Ginn (Australia). 70, 73, 73, 72; W. Godfrey, 70, 70, 77, 71 ($716.68 each).

289— B. Clark (United States), 71, 76. 71, 71 (5575). 290— W. Brask (United States), 75. 71, 76. 68 ($525). 291— G. Marsh (Australia). 70, 76. 72, 73; K. Nagle (Australia), 74, 72, 74, 71; F. Phillips (Australia), 72. 73, 75, 71 ($440 each).

292— S. Galbraith (United States). 70, 76, 72, 74. 293— W. Macintosh, 68, 72, 76, 77; R. Tuohy (Australia), 72, 72, 74, 75; 3. Newton (Australia). 72, 72, 74. 75; P. Flrmstona (Australia), 73, 74, 72, 74.