N.Z. golfers well-placed

Press, 11 December 1976, Page 56

N.Z. golfers well-placed

NZPA-Reuter Palm Springs New Zealand made a strong showing in the first round of the World Cup golf competition in Palm Springs yesterday. Simon Owen had a 71 and Barrt Vivian a 74 to put New Zealand near the top of the field, equal fourth with \uv tralia.

I The Scottish team of Brian Barnes and Sam Tori rance scored a one-under-Ipar. combined 143 to lead I Taiwan and the United (States by one stroke after I the first round of the 72hole championships at the (Mission Hills Country Club. I Barnes, 29, carded a twounder 70 to enter a four-way |tie for second place in indiJvidual honours in this lowI money but high-prestige (event in which two-man (teams from 48 countries are 'playing. j “The important, thing here is to keep your putting (touch,” said Barnes, referr* ing to the fast and hilly greens which pose a special challenge on this 6800 m desert layout. The individual leaders after one round were Kuo Chie-Hsiung, of Taiwan, playing in his third consecutive World Cup, and Ernesto Perez Acosta, of Mexico, in his cup debut, both at three-under 69. Paired with Kuo is Hsu Sheng-San, whose 75 dropped his team into second place in spite of the low score of his partner. A disappointed Jerry Pate

had bogejs on the final t,*t holes to score a 70 and he United States partner, Davt Stockton, shot 74. In equal fourth place a, 145 with the New Zealand ers, Simon Owen, vere twr Australians, Greg Norman 74. and Bob Shearer on 71 The New Zealanders wen late in arriving at Pau Springs and were only abk to get in nine holes of prao tice on Thursday. Leading scores at end ot ths first div:— 143 — Scotland Bnan Baraea 7fi Sam Torrance 73'. 144— United States Jem- Fau 70. Dave Stockton 741; Tkiwai (Hsu Sheng-san 75. Kuo Clue ksiuug 60). 143—Australia (Greg xorrnai 74. Bob Shearer 71); New Zea land (Simon Owen 71, Barr; Vivian 74». 146— Spain (Seve Balieaueroe 71 Manuei Pinero 751; Wales tCrai; Defoy 70. Brian Huggett 74). 147— Japan (Takahj Murakam 71, Yoshitaka Yamamoto 74). 148— Mexico (Margarfto Mai tinez 79. Ernesto Perez Acost. 69t; England iMartln Foster 73 Totuicv Horton 76). 149 — France (Jean Garlalde 71 Bernard Pascaasio 75>; Soutl Africa (Bobby Cole 75, Dali Hayes 74); South Korea (Hahi Chang Sang 79, Park Jung Uni 701. 150— Philippines, Canada, Itaiv 151 — Ireland. Columbia Morocco. Puerto Rico. Trinidand Tobago.