Youngest Turner heading for United States

Press, 30 June 1982, Page 25

Youngest Turner heading for United States

For several seasons. Glenn Turner has only signed oneyear contracts with Worcestershire. and it is almost certain that the season in progress will be his last in county cricket.

But there will still be a Turner trying to make his way in the best competition in the world in his sport. Greg Turner, the only player with a perfect record in last year's Freyberg Rose Bowl tournament, leaves in two weeks to take up a golfing scholarship "of sorts” at the University of Oklahoma. Like his more famed elder brother, Turner will look at his golfing future only on a year-by-year basis. “It gets reviewed annually, though the whole course takes three to four years," said Turner this week. “You can get an increase or a reduction; it just depends if they want you again — or if you want them.” Turner is being accompanied by Phillip Aickin, the young Aucklander who was runner-up in last year’s NewZealand amateur, and they are plunged straight into top golf.

First they contest the Broadmoor Invitational in Colorado Springs, a major amateur tournament costing $2OO to enter, and involving 36 holes of qualifying before going into match-play. That is followed in Michigan by the Western amateur, second only to the United States amateur in that country, and for which Turner and Aickin are fortunately exempt from pre-qualifying. Looking forward to his golfing trip, Turner said that by “playing the best players, on the best courses and getting the best coaching, I just have to improve my golf.”

But he is only looking at the intensive activity at this stage. A professional career is a long way off, if ever. “If I got good enough at any stage, fd think about it, but I'm only looking at this American activity for now.”

By

RAY CAIRNS