Turner in right form to defend golf title

Press, 28 December 1985, Page 3

Turner in right form to defend golf title

PA Tauranga The reigning champion, Greg Turner, showed yesterday he was in the right form to defend his Nev/ Zealand P.G.A. golf title at Mount Maunganui. In the 18-hole pro-am event previewing the 72-hole stroke-play championship starting today, Turner returned a five-under-par round of 67 to head Peter Hamblett by one shot.

On 69 was the 1982 P.G.A. winner Stuart Reese, followed by Richard Coombes and Mike Moynihan on 70.

The only other player to beat par of 72 was the visiting Australian Paul Jones, who shot 71.

In a group of seven on 72 were the Canadian Kelly Murray, the left-hander Bob

Charles and the 1983 Australian Open winner Peter Fowler.

Turner had a nine-hole split of 34-33 with birdies on two, three, 13,15,17, and an eagle three on the par-five fifth hole.

The only blemishes were bogeys on holes six and seven.

Turner said he was reasonably satisfied, although “the round sounds better on the scoreboard than it really was.” Hamblett went out in 35 and came back in 33, birdieing all four par-five holes.

The best nine holes was the 31 recorded by Moynihan on his homeward nine, which included four birdies, an eagle on the thirteenth, and a bogey. Charles, in spite of equal-

ling par, said he included “a bit of everything” in his round. “I found several trees and I three-putted two or three times. But the course is playing very well and the greens are in excellent order.”

Leading scores (N.Z. professional unless otherwise listed):

67 - G. Turner, 68 - P. Hamblett; 69 — S. Reese; 70 — R. Coombes, M Moynihan; 71 — P. Jones (Australia); 72 — T. Leech, K. Southerden, K. Murray (Canada), R. Charles, I. Roberts (Australia), W. Dodd (Australia), P. Fowler (Australia); 73 — G. Grut, T. Jansson (Sweden), M. Loughland (Australia), J. Lister; 74 — B. Griffiths, G. Smart, G. Alexander (Australia), I. Peters, M. Dodd.