New course record set

Press, 27 November 1986, Page 48

New course record set

PA Auckland Doug Lecuyer, of Canada, shot 61 yesterday in the pro-am forerunner to the $150,000 Air New Zea-land-Shell Open, beating the Titirangi course record of 62 set by an Irishman, Eamon Darcy, in 1980. New Zealand’s Bob Charles shot 62, Australia’s Rodger Davis 63, Daniel Talbot (Canada) 64, and Mike Harwood (Australia) 66. Mike Colandro and the defending champion, D.

A. Weibring, both of the United States, Terry Gale (Australia) and an Englishman, Maurice Bembridge, all shot 67. Curtis Strange, the leading moneywinner on the circuit last year, had an eagle, and three birdies in scoring 70. Of the 42 professionals who returned cards, 17 were under par. The round of Lecuyer, a former ice hockey player, included an eagle and seven birdies. "I’ve played the game since I was a kid, but

have only been a pro for five years,” said the 28-year-old Lecuyer. "I played professional ice hockey and had two years in the national league, but I lost the desire to play hockey and turned to golf.” His previous best score was 63 on a par 70 course. “I have just played three tournaments in Australia,” he said. “I made the cut each time but was only averaging around 75.” Charles showed he is in

the form to win his second Air New ZealandShell Open. His caddy, Michael Glading, said: “It was a faultless round. He missed only one green, made eight birdies and 10 pars and you can’t do any better than that — he was simply incredible.” The pro-am teams event was won by a foursome led by Greg Turner, who did not return a card. The four, including the international cricketer, Martin Crowe, finished with a net 53.