John Lister: Russley course specialist

Press, 17 November 1976, Page 5

John Lister: Russley course specialist

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BOB SCHUMACHER

If the “horses for courses” theory applies in golf, John Listershould be a safe bet at Russley for the next four days when the second New Zealand Airlines Classic is decided.

The willowy New Zealand professional has won the last four Garden City Classics on the course and he has a great passion for the well-grassed fairways and immaculate greens.

This year the New Zealand Airlines Classic will replace the Garden City Classic, and the $35,000 tournament offers the richest purse on the national circuit. The attractive prize money provided by the sponsors, N.A.C. and Air New Zealand, and the

good promotion of the event by the companies ensured an excellent field for the inaugural tournament in Auckland last year. A similar story seems likely this year. Lister, aged 29, should come to Russley in a relaxed frame of mind. For the first time he does not need to worry about qualifying for tournaments on the United States tour next year. Lister was one of five foreign players to earn exemption by finishing in the top 60 money earners. He won $U553,172 — almost three times more than his 1975 earnings — and finished fifty-fourth. The big break for Lister came in July when he broke through for his first victory on the circuit. The win in the SUSIOO,OOO Quad Cities Open tournam e n t was worth SUS2O,OOO to Lister, who made no race of the event after firing 65 in the first round. After that sensational opening, he followed with rounds of 68, 68, and 67, for a total of 268 — 16 shots under par. The New Zealand circuit has always treated Lister well and last year he pocketed more than $lO,OOO with victories in the Garden City Classic and in the P.G.A. championship at Tauranga. The only professional to earn more than Lister was the 29-year-old American, Bill Brask, who won almost $lO,OOO in Australia before dominating the New Zealand circuit _ and winning a record $15,894 in six major tournaments. Brask was highly-placed in every event. He started successfully with $7OOO for first in the Airlines Classic, finished equal second in the New Zealand Open, sixth in the Otago Charity Classic, third in the Garden City Classic, and won the Southland Classic before losing to Lister in a play-off in the P.G.A. tournament. The affable Californian will be in Christchurch to defend his title and, although he has not met with outstanding success to date this year, his brilliant performances last year (he shot 61 in the

opening round of the P.G.A. championship and never went over 69) will ensure him of a large following. Brask made a brief tour of Japan earlier in the year and finished in the top 10 in three tournaments. Almost 40 United States professionals, most of them bonded to Bruce Osborne’s International Golf Travel group, have entered the Airlines Classic. Joe Inman, Mike Morley, and Tom Jenkins will be major drawcards, but there are several players, although not as well known in New Zealand, who should pocket substantial cheques. Pat McCleary, from Nevada, proved his worth at Invercargill last week when he finished second in the $20,000 Southland Charity Classic, and John Abendroth, a 34-year-old Californian, featured prominently. Bobby Warr jun., from Georgia, has a growing reputation. The 25-year-old Augusta golfer turned professional in 1973. He played the Asian circuit this year and his best placings were fifth in the Hong Kong Open and a similar position in the Korean Open. Last year’s Otago Classic winner, Hal Underwood, will be playing the circuit for the second time. The 31-year-old Texan was fourth on the money earners list last year with $5051. Underwood fared creditably, in Asia this season, finishing second in the Dunlop Masters, fourth in the Indonesian Open, and eighth in the Philippine, Hong Kong, and Singapore Opens. From Idaho, there is Jeff Thomsen, who turned professional last August and has since finished eighth in the Montana State Open and third in the California State Open. He has an excellent amateur record and won two major college events. Mike Reid, Arthur Russell, Charles “Bubba” Major, John Lynch, Wren Lum, Bob Ford, Bob Clark, Greg Antunes, Jim Ahern, and Mike Krantz are other talented golfers in Mr Osborne’s touring party. The 22-year-old Reid only joined the cash ranks in September. He compiled a magnificent record as an amateur and led the United States Open after the first round. He was voted to the College All-

American beam for the last four years, an honour which few college golfers have received. He tied for third in the Queensland Open last month. Russell holds the course record in Freeport, Texas, (his home state) with 59. He has had four successes on the mini tour in America and was beaten in a play-off for the 1974 Korean Open. Major is another who has profited on the mini tour. He turned professional in 1973 and won $lO,OOO that year. As an amateur, he won the 1969 Alabama State championship. From 1969 to 1973, the 29-year-old Lynch qualified for the United States amateur championship. He won the Illinois State Open in 1973, the year he turned professional. Ahern, who was runnerup in the Queensland Open last month, had a fruitful year in 1973. He won the Yuma Open Satellite — a preliminary to the Tucson Open — and tied for eighth in the Quad Cities Open. He shared ninth place in the Tallahassee Open and was runner-up in the Harford Open Satellite. After immediate success on the mini circuit, Antunes missed qualifying for his full tour ticket by two strokes. He will return to the United States immediately after the New Zealand circuit and attempt to qualify again. Lum and Ford have both struck gold on the mini tour and Clark is no stranger in New Zealand. He was tenth in the Otago Classic three years ago and finished second in the same event last year after losing a play-off. He also was placed in the top 10 in the Airlines Classic and Southland Classic. Krantz commands respect after finishing third in the Dutch Open this year and sixth in the German Open. There will be many familiar faces among the usually strong Australian contingent at the tournament. Peter Thomson, nine-times the New Zealand Open champion, will be trying to capture the title that he narrowly missed last year in Auckland.

Stewart Ginn, second to Lister at Russley. last year, is a colourful personality who was beaten

in a sudden death play-off for the Chrysler Classic in Melbourne last week. The genial veteran, Kel Nagle, Noel Radcliffe, equal fourth in the 1975 Garden City Classic, Peter Croker, Rodger Davis, Billy Dunk, last year’s New Zealand open champion, Dave Good, Bob Taylor, Bob Tuohy and Tim Woolbank, are other regular and successful Australians to return to the circuit.

After his third placing behind the Americans, Jack Nicklaus and Curtis Strange, in the Australian Open earlier this month, Maurice Bembridge, the diminutive Englishman, should prove one of the strongest contenders. Another little player with a powerful game is the Thai, Sukree Onsham, and there are entries from Japanese, British and Fijian players. If Bob Charles comes to terms with his driving, he will be a leading New Zealand hope, and the chances of Simon Owen, the second most successful New Zealand player last year, cannot be discounted after his excellent second in the Coalgate Open in Australia last week-end.