‘Unknown’ wins P.G.A. golf

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 6

‘Unknown’ wins P.G.A. golf

NZPA Melbourne The young Victorian Mike CahiU, who was ready to give up golf last month, made his major winning debut as a professional with a runaway victory in the $lOO,OOO Telecom Australian P.G.A. championship at Yarra Yarra yesterday. Cahill, agd 25, of Melbourne, fired a two-under-par final round 70 for a 10-under-par total of 278 to pocket the $20,000 first prize. A Queensland professional. Mike Ferguson, aged 25, edged out of a four-way tie; to clinch outright second place, four shots behind Cahill.

An eagle three at the sixteenth followed by a birdie four on the final hole boosted Ferguson clear of the group and won him the $12,000 second prize. Tied in third spot six holes off the pace and four under the card were Britain’s globe-trotting professional, Maurice Bembridge, a former British Open runner-up. Jack Newton, of Sydney, and the Tasmanian, David Good, aged 29. Bembridge, aged 32, rolled In a fantastic winding 10m putt for an eagle three at the final hole which earned him a $2OOO bonus. The putt hauled him from two under the card into the threewav tie for third. Yesterday's win must have had special significance, for Cahill, who led after the first round in last year’s P.G.A. championship, only to find that officials had accepted his entry in error. His victory has given him renewed faith as a professional. Just a few months ago he was seriously considering giving up golf. The pre-toumament favourite, the Australian international Graham Marsh, aged 33, finished

three under the card, one shot ahead of Barry Burgess, of New South Wales.

The Americans Bob Byman and Mike Krantz headed the big contingent of United States professionals on the Australian and New Zealand circuits. They joined the experienced Queenslander, Randall Vines, one under the card.

Another American, Gaylord Burrows, had the best opening hole any golfer could hope for when he scored a hole in one, on perhaps the toughest par three on the course.

Leading scores:— 278—Mike Cahill (Victoria), 69, 70, 69 70. 282—Mike Ferguson (Queensland), 71, 67. 72. 72. 284— Newton (New South Wales). 74, 71, 71, 68; David Good (Tasmania), 71, 69, 73, 71; Maurice Bembridge (England), 72, 73, 70, 69. 285— Graham Marsh . (Western Australia), 70, 74, 69, 72. 286— Barry Burgess (N.S.W.), 76 . 72. 72 , 66. 287— Randall Vines (Qld), 77, 64, 72, 74; Mike Krantz (U.S.). 71, 73, 70. 73: Bob Byman (U.S.). 71, 71. 68. 77.

288— Russell (U.S.), 71, 76, 289— Terry Kendall (N.Z.), 72, 74 74, 69; Simon Owen (N.Z.),: 68. 74, 74, 73. 290— B. Shearer (Vic.), 73. 75, 71, 71; Rob McNaughton (Vic.), 68, 78, 72. 72: Ted Ball (West. Aust.). 73, 73, 72, 72: Peter Thomson (vie.), 73, 73, 70, 74. 291— Guv Wolstenholme (Vic.), 71, 72, 74, 74; Greg Norman (Qldi, 75. 71, 70. 75. Other New Zealand scores:— 294—R, j. Charles, 77, 69, 73, 75.

295—5. Reece. 72. 74, 75. 74. 297—G. Smart, 79. 72. 71. 75. 299—J. Lister, 80. 71, 71. 77.