Golf snares another drawcard

Press, 11 August 1982, Page 41

Golf snares another drawcard

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BOB SCHUMACHER

The organisers of the Air New Zealand Shell Open golf tournament seldom fail to arrange a big drawcard for their championship. They have not disappointed again this year. Their trump card for the $lOO,OOO tournament at Titirangi from December 2 to 5 is the 30-year-old American from Kansas City, Bruce Lietzke.

Lietzke joined the United States circuit in 1975 — the year after he turned professional — and met with only moderate success for his first two years on the circuit. However, he moved into the spotlight in 1977 when he finished fifth on the moneyearning, list with a total of $202,156. Since then he has remained one of the most consistent professionals in the business and has not been out of the top 20 for five years.

Last year was the most

lucrative for Lietzke. He earned $343,446 and his fourth placing overall was his best to date. Three of his eight tour victories occurred in 1981 and he finished in the top 10 in 13 of the 24 tournaments he entered.

Lietzke won the Bob Hope Desert classic and the Andy. Williams San Diego Open and Byron Nelson classic, both in play-offs. He beat Ray Floyd and Tom Jenkins in the San Diego event and the present United States and British Open champion, Tom Watson, in the Byron Nelson classic.

One of his more significant claims to fame is that he earned SIM on the circuit in five years and 10 months. Only three golfers have reached that figure in quicker time — Jack Nicklaus, Watson and Jerry Pate

— and they need no further introduction. Last year's statistics from the United States circuit reveal Lietzke’s aggressive, positive approach. He was below par most times (225), shot the most eagles (12) and was sixth with his 360 birdies. His average for each round was 70.01, the second best.

If Lietzke is the main attraction, there are many other accomplished golfers who will have their band of supporters around the Titirangi fairways. Last year’s champion. Bob Shearer, who annihilated the field by eight strokes and then went on to win the New Zealand BP Open, has gone from strength to strength since those memorable victories.

The Melbourne profes-

sional was on the verge of quitting the United States tour until his wins in New Zealand. They gave him renewed confidence and it has been in evidence in the United States this year. He won over $lOO,OOO in three weeks with victory in the Tallahassee open and several second placings which left him among the top 20 monev-earners.

A newcomer to the tournament will be one of Great Britain's most promising prospects. Sandy Lyle, who turned professional in 1977. He was the top moneyearner for the European circuit in 1979 and 1980. In 1980 he set a record for money won on the tour and that year he became the first British player since Neil Coles in 1964 to reach the final of the world match-play championship. He was beaten by the Australian, Greg Norman, the man he edged out

of first place in the money list.

Lyle, the 1978 “rookie of the year’’ and Ryder Cup team member a year later, won the individual competition at the World Cup two years ago.

David Graham, last year's United States Open champion, and one of a select band to have earned over SIM in his career, will be present again, as will the Australian, Graham Marsh, who was a distant runner-up in the Air New Zealand Shell Open to Shearer last year.

Among the familiar names in the field are the established New Zealanders. Bob Charles (who was third last year). John Lister and Simon Owen, and the Australians, Terry Gale (the New Zealand P.G.A. champion). Bill Dunk, Kel Nagle, lan Stanley. Rodger Davis, Brian Jones and Stewart Ginn.