Surprising but gratifying year

Press, 4 December 1985, Page 80

Surprising but gratifying year

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Corey Pavin says he has not worked out his goals for next year, although he has a few ideas, but whenever he settles on his plan of attack the United States golfer can be guaranteed to give it his very best shot. Pavin, the guest of honour at the $lOO,OOO Broadbank New Zealand Open golf championship at Russley from tomorrow to Sunday, said yesterday that he achieved all he set himself this year on the United States P.G.A. tour, and more. “I aimed to finish in the top 10 ten times, and in the top 10 in the money earners. I was placed in the top 10 on 13 occasions, and was sixth in prize money (with earnings of $367,506). The year was a bit surprising

but certainly gratifying.” One of Pavin’s priorities next year will be to win tournaments. “I just want to win as many as I can. You can’t focus only on the majors, although I might practise an extra hour for them.” This year Pavin, the winner of the Colonial tournament in Texas, finished sixth in the United States P.GA. tournament, and ninth in the United States Open. “I came closer to winning the Open, in the third round I was threeover.” Small in stature, slim in build, Pavin’s appearance belies the strength of his game. The 1984 New Zealand Open champion said that he was hitting the ball a lot further this year. “My changed swing has given extra distance and

accuracy — it’s a nice combination.” For devotion to duty, Pavin, aged 26 and from California, cannot be faulted. He was at Russley yesterday not long after 8 a.m. and, after a round which he thoroughly measured with a trumeter, an English-made instrument like a surveyor’s wheel which records the yardage, he was off to the practice fairway for a long period. Seven hours after he arrived at the course, he was intercepted briefly by the hews media en route from the practice fairway to the putting green. “I’m putting in extra hard work to prepare for this tournament. The swing feels very good on the range. “This is a nice course, but I imagine it can be very difficult if the wind blows.

You have to hit straight off the tees, but the greens are perfect, and I can see a lot of birdies being made. The par-threes are excellent, the short third is tricky, and the others are long.” The biggest disappointment for Pavin is that his wife, Shannon, who was determined to see the South Island after Pavin’s fourshot win in last year’s tournament at Paraparaumu Beach, Wellington, was unable to accompany him. She is three months pregnant, and Pavin’s travelling companion was his brother, Fletcher, who will caddy for him. Pavin’s complimentary remarks about the greens were endorsed by other professionals, and especially those who had played at Titirangi last week. Despite

the rain for the last two days, they have found them much quicker than at Titirangi. The rough just off the fairways is not too long and presents a fair result for those who are slightly astray, but it gets progressively thicker and will punish those well off the desired path. The New Zealand Open will be an important occasion for the Russley club, which has never previously held the tournament. Its last big professional event was the Air New Zealand Shell Open in 1976, won by Bob Shearer,.of Australia, with a 72-hole total of 271. The course has been presented in top order, and all involved will second the fervent wish of the club’s president, Mr Ashley Kerr, for it to stop raining.