Golfers want new list

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34042, 5 January 1976, Page 3

Golfers want new list

tA'.Z. Press Association) TAURANGA. New Zealand professional golfers competing in the 1976 N.Z.P.G.A. championship in Tauranga have made a strong recommendation to their executive com-

mittee for a supplementary order-of-merit list to be compiled which will give leading resident professionals automatic right of entry to the major tournament circuit next summer.

At present the N.Z.P.G.A. maintains a main order-of-merit list based on the top 50 money-earners on the previous season’s circuit, and including overseas players.

The latest recommendation, which came from an informal meeting of players at the week-end, is fairly certain to be adopted by the N.Z.P.G.A.’s annual meeting next month.

According to the association’s secretary (Commander G. Clark), the golfers want a points system to be applied to all New Zealand pro-am events held during the year which offer prize money of $lOOO or more for a minimum of 18 holes. At the end of the year a specified number of players, yet to be determined, from the supplementary order of merit will be given automatic entry to the main tournaments, he said. “It is felt that this proposed system will be a twoedged thing, attracting stronger pro-am fields as players seek to gain points, and consequently encourage

ing sponsors to support proam events,” he said.

Mount Maunganui is to be the venue for the 1977 association championship, in accordance with the tradition in recent years for the event to alternate between the Tauranga and Mount Maunganui golf clubs, according to Commander Clark After the meeting between the association, major sponsors, and the tournament organising commitee on Saturday evening, he said that the four main sponsors of the event, the Owens group of companies. Air New Zealand, National Airways Corporation, and Benson and Hedges had all indicated firm support for the 1977 event, and once again the technical organisation would be done by the Lions clubs of the Western Bay of Plenty,