Sydney golfer revels in wind

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 52

Sydney golfer revels in wind

PA Wellington Australian Brad Andrews re* veiled in the wind to shoot a three-under 68 and win yesterday’s pro-am golf competition at the Paraparaumu course, the curtain-raiser to the New Zealand Open which begins today. On a gusty day which made playing conditions difficult, the 24-year-old Sydney professional recorded three birdies and parred 15 holes to beat fellow Australians Glenn Joyner and Anthony Painter. “I like the wind, I hope it blows all the time,” he said. “I didn’t play in the (Air New Zealand-Shell) pro-am at Auckland last week but I’m glad I did here.

“I’m feeling fairly confident after today and I like this course

... it’s a real cracker. It’s better than the one at Titirangi.” However, Andrews had to hunt for a jacket and tie later in the afternoon when it became increasingly apparent he would win the pro-am. “I didn’t even bring a tie with me, but tell you what, I’m really starting to like this country,” he said. Results of leading players (Australian unless stated).— 68 — Brad Andrews 69 — Glenn Joyner, Anthony Painter 70 — Russell Swanson 71 — George Serhan, Gerry Taylor, Graeme Trew 72 — Wayne Case (U.S.), Brad King. • Victorian lan .Stanley says the strong field at the New Zealand Open golf tournament will make his title defence difficult this year. “There is a far stronger field this year than there was last year,” said Stanley, who won at the same venue. “And that is only going to make it harder for me. “It is a great field with a lot of proven players and a lot of younger ones who will be out to prove themselves. “And the New" Zealand presence isn’t going to be any less either, with Frank Nobilo and Bob Charles coming back for it.” Fellow Australian < Rodger Davis, who blitzed the field at the Grange course to win the open in 1986, returns after missing last year’s open. He and Stanley are two of six past winners who will line up for this year’s title.

Others are the four-time winner Charles, whose second win was at Paraparaumu in 1966, two-time winner Bob Shearer, of Victoria, Tasmanian Stewart Ginn who won the title at St Clair in Dunedin in 1979, and Simon Owen,