Stanley rewarded after 16 years of trying

Press, 19 December 1988, Page 40

Stanley rewarded after 16 years of trying

PA Wellington Sixteen years of trying was finally rewarded when Victoria’s lan Stanley won the Nissan Mobil New Zealand Open golf title at Paraparaumu Beach yesterday. Stanley, who at 40 cheerfully accepts the tag of junior veteran, kept a tight hold on his emotions to shoot a final round one-over-par 72, a score that was good enough to earn him first prize of $27,000. Finishing with a fourround total of 273, 11 under par, Stanley had three shots to spare over the Melbourne 31-year-old, Mike Clayton, who had made a late charge with a 65 after starting the day two under. In third place was the two-time Open winner, Corey Pavin (United States), who could do no better than par yesterday to finish seven under, and another stroke back was the Australian Peter

O’Malley. The disappointment for the galleries was the falling away of New Zealanders Simon Owen and Frank Nobilo who had started the day at six and five under respectively. Owen dropped shots on the final four holes to end up square with the card and in tenth position, while Nobilo had a final round 74 to be equal seventh on 282, two under.

All eyes were on Stanley, however, and It was fitting that he should win on New Zealand soil for the first time at Paraparaumu. It was at Paraparaumu that he made his New Zealand Open debut back in 1972 when another Australian, Bill Dunk, was winning the first of his two titles. The following year at Palmerston North Stanley was runner-up to Bob Charles and he has been trying to win on this side

of the Tasman ever since. It was a relieved Stanley who made his way to the media interview room. "At last I’ve made it here on a Sunday,” Stanley said he was thrilled and privileged to win the New Zealand Open. “There are some big names on the trophy and I am particularly delighted to have won the same title as Kel Nagle and Peter Thompson who are players I admire.”

Scores (Australian unless stated): 273 I. Stanley 64, 68, 69, 72. 276 M. Clayton 73, 68, 70, 65.

277 C. Pavin (U.S.) 69,.69, 68, 71. /’ft 278 P. O’Malley 77, 65, 67, 69.

279 P. Fowler 72, 69, 70, 68; D. Delong (Canada) 69, 72, 68, 70. 282 J. Clifford 69, 76, 67, 70; F. Nobilo (N.Z.) 71, 67, 70, 74; I. Roberts 69, 68, 71, 74. 284 S. Owen (N.Z.) 71, 68, 68, 77. 285 V. Somers 72, 74, 63, 76; D. Cole 66, 73, 69, 77.

286 D. Smith 72, 69, 71, 74; G. Alexander 72, 74, 67, 73. 287 D. Merriman 71, 72, 69, 75; B. Officer 75, 70, 68, 74. 288 W. Case (U.S.) 73, 70, 74, 71; P. Taturangi (N.Z. am) 72, 73, 70, 73. 289 K. Triplett (U.S.) 72, 75, 72, 70; M. Harwood 74, 70, 69, 76; R. Swanson 73, 70, 71, 75; S. Holmes (N.Z.) 73, 71, 69, 76; R. Picker 72, 69, 72, 76; R. Gilkey (U.S.) 72, 67, 73, 77.

290 J. Oliver (N.Z.) 73, 71, 71, 75; J. Brellenthin (U.S.) 71, 75, 70, 74; M. Gates 72, 72, 72, 74; S. Rintoul 67, 70, 76, 77.

291 S. Aisbett 75, 68, 74, 74; O. Moore 74, 69, 73, 75; P. Baird 72, 71, 68, 80. 292 T. Elliott 74, 69, 76, 73; M. Moynihan (N.Z.) 77, 70, 72, 73; J. Deep 72, 73, 74, 73; M. Campbell (N.Z. am) 74, 70, 74, 74; G. Serhan 72, 72, 74, 74. 293 G. Joyner 74, 71, 77, 71; P. Devenport (N.Z. am) 71, 73, 74, 75; C. Howell 71, 73, 74, 75; S. Creighton (N.Z. am) 78, 68, 71, 76. 294 J. Lecuona (France) 71, 71, 75, 77; M. Colandro (U.S.) 75, 69, 72, 78; P. Jones 70, 74, 70, 80.