Bembridge falters but still leads

Press, 10 December 1983, Page 80

Bembridge falters but still leads

PA Tauranga With just two holes to play in the second round at the 58th Bay Classic N.Z.P.G.A. golf championship yesterday, the Englishman Maurice Bembridge appeared to have the field at his mercy. Bembridge, Who started at the tenth on a windswept course, had a three-under 33 for the back nine, and went ten-under for the tournament leaving the seventh green. But he bogeyed his last two holes for a 69, which left him with an aggregate of 136, two strokes ahead of his rival, New Zealand’s Richard Coombes.

To that he stage had been hitting long, controlled drives, chipping deftly, and showing a silken touch with his putter. Coombes, the co-leader with Bembridge overnight, yesterday dropped shots at the 12th and 15th, long par fives at which he elected to play safe with low irons. Both shots, however, were in the trees and he had to recover to the fairways. They could prove costly mistakes when the cheques are handed out.

Bembridge’s 69 was matched by the New Zealander, Barry Vivian, who handled the difficult conditions well in his 69 to sit in third spot on 138. Next come Simon Owen and Vaughan Somers (Australia) on 140.

The New Zealand Open winner, lan Baker-Finch of Australia, is in a group of three which includes John Lister, on 141. Completing the trio is Wayne Riley of

Sydney whose 68 yesterday afternoon was the , best round of the day. He was even after nine holes, birdied the eleventh and twelfth, then sprang into contention when a superb chip shot rolled in for an eagle three on the fifteenth. , Lister played with the Australian pre-tournament favourite, Graham Marsh, who birdied the third and holed his chip for an eagle at the sth.

But after going out in 34, Marsh’s form fell away for a homeward 38 and it was Lister who took centre stage as he mixed' three birdies with three bogeys in his homeward 36. Although four shots behind Bembridge and two down on Coombes, Owen, the 1978 winner, played tidily for his par 72, but could have had more luck with his putting. Conditions today were two or three shots harder than yesterday. The cut to decide the top 60 for the final two rounds came at 153 yesterday. Scores after two rounds (New Zealand professionals unless stated): 136 — M. Bembridge (Eng.) 67, 69. 138 — R. Coombes 67, 71. 139 - B. Vivian 70, 69. 140 — S. Owen 68, 72; V. Somers (Aust.) 69, 71. 141 — I. Baker-Finch (Aust.)

69, 72; W. Riley (Aust.) 73, 68; J. Lister 71, 70. 142 —. G. Marsh (Aust.) 70, 72.

143 — R. J. Charles 70, 73; L. Pickles (Aust.) 71, 72; K. D. G. Nagle (Aust.) 71, 72. 144 - F. Nobilo 73, 71; J. Goodwin (Aust.) 71, 73. 145 - E. McGrew (U.S.) 73, 72; S. Andersen-Chapman (Canada) 72, 73; B. Murray (U.S.) 68, 77; C. Henderson (Aust.) 73, 72; S. Bidwell 71, 74; R. Stephens (Aust.) 73, 72; P. Headland (Aust.) 74, 71; W. Dunk (Aust.) 73, 72. 146 — P. Murray (Aust.) 73, 73; P. Croker (Aust.) 76, 70; M. Harwood (Aust.) 74, 72; K. Southerden 70, 76; P. Brostedt (Sweden) 72, 74; A. Russell (U.S.A.) 74, 72. 147 — I. Smalley 73, 74; M. Clayton (Aust.) 75, 72; P. Jones (Aust). 72, 75; S. Bann (Aust) 73, 74; B. Smith (Aust.) 74, 73; C. Owen 74, 73; P. Mateer 72, 75. 148 - B. Watt 74, 74; B. Jones (Aust.) 74, 74; G. Serhan (Aust.) 73, 75. 149 — F. Conalin (Aust.) 74, 75, J. Reid 76, 73. 150- W. Davies 72, 78; G. Smart 79, 71; P. Hamblett 75, 75; M. Moynihan 71, 79; P. Dowell 75, 75; K. Dukes 76, 74; P. Smith (Aust). 77, 73; D. Machray 73, 77. 151 — A. Bonnington 79, 72; W. Godfrey 74, 77; K. Tarling (Canada) 75, 76; P. Mahoney 74, 77; B. Shettler (Canada) 75, 76; G. Parkinson 80, 71.