Anger over withdrawal

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 76

Anger over withdrawal

PA Auckland The former New Zealand Open champion, lan Baker-Finch, of Australia, has withdrawn from the $200,000 Air New Zealand Shell golf open, which starts at Titirangi today with a pro-am. His decision has annoyed tournament organisers, who received a commitment to play from Baker-Finch on August 12.

Instead, Baker-Finch will play a corporate day at Sanctuary Cove, Queensland, today where he will take possession of a new home tomorrow. The tournament coordinator, Paul Gleeson, said yesterday that Baker-

Finch had stuck with his decision not to play despite last-minute discussions on Monday. “We are bitterly disappointed he has let us down at such a late time,” Mr Gleeson said yesterday.

“When a player makes a commitment to play, that should be it.

"Players like BakerFinch are either professionals or not and professionalism is all about commitment.”

Mr Gleeson pointed out that two other players who had been expected to play at Titirangi this week — Bob Charles and Greg Turner — had both given

early notice of their intention not to compete.

Mr Gleeson said BakerFinch’s entry into ithe tournament had been confirmed in August when he accepted the package deal offered him.

Tournament organisers will tell Australia-New Zealand P.G.A. Tour officials of their disappointment. In a message yesterday to tournament organisers, Baker-Finch apologised and said his absence was “unavoidable.”

His place in yesterday’s $6OOO Carragreen shootout at Titirangi was taken by the Titirangi professional, Terry Kelso.