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Forbes Open
Australian golf tournament From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Forbes Open, or Forbes Classic, was an Australian golf tournament. The event was founded in 1967 by Forbes Golf Club. The inaugural event attracted a strong field, led by legend Kel Nagle, as veteran Bill Dunk defeated Alan Murray by a stroke. In the early 1970s, the tournament evolved into a 54-hole event which included victories by golfers like Nagle and Jack Newton. Later in the decade the Forbes Open was upgraded into a full 72-hole tournament, earning the sanction of the PGA Tour of Australia. The event punctuated the "Golden Era" of the Forbes Golf Club of the mid-late 20th century.
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In early February 1967, the Forbes Golf Club, located in Forbes, New South Wales,[1] made an announcement that they would be hosting their "first professional purse tournament."[2] The purse was A$1,500.[3] The tournament would open with a pro-am followed by the professional tournament.[2] Over 90 "top golfers from New South Wales and overseas" committed the event.[3] This included golfers from the state like Bob Stanton, Bill Dunk, and Ted Ball.[2] Top Australian Kel Nagle also committed.[4] In addition, overseas players like Martin Roesink, Andreas van Pixton, and Walter Godfrey elected to play.[2] At the inaugural event Alan Murray "had the tournament within his grasp several times" over the course of the weekend but was unable to create separation.[5] During the first round, he was two-under-par entering the final hole, leading the tournament, but "sliced his drive." He made double bogey to fall into second place.[3] In the final round, Murray again was in the lead for much of the day. However, he once more "slumped" on the final hole.[5] Bill Dunk took advantage, playing with "grim determination" to defeat Murray by one.[5] Nearly 2,000 people attended the event.[4]
In the early 1970s, there were significant advances to the event. A women's, "associates" tournament was played concurrent with the men's tournament.[6][7] In addition, the men's event evolved into a 54-hole tournament. In 1971, Maria Parsons won the women's tournament by three strokes over Jan Stephenson and Heather Bleek.[6] Alan Murray was able to win the men's event that year, by four strokes over a number of players.[6] 4,000 spectators attended the event.[6] The following year, Jack Newton shot a final round 69 to win at 213.[8] It was the future star's "[b]iggest win" of his career to this point.[9] The next year, in 1973, Penny Pulz, a future LPGA golfer, won the associate's tournament.[7] At the men's tournament, Paul Firmstone took early control. In the opening round he shot a 69 (−3) to take the lead.[10] In the second round, he "held his lead" with a one-under-par 71. He led by one over Bill Dunk, Brian Moran, and Tim Woolbank.[11] Firmstone played poorly in the final round, however, ultimately shooting a 77 (+5) to fall out of the picture.[12] It turned out to be a two-man race between Dunk and Woolbank. Both shot 35 on the front nine and held the joint lead at the turn.[12] However, Dunk bogeyed the 10th and Woolbank eagled the par-5 11th; at this point "it was no longer a race."[12] Woolbank defeated Dunk by four.[12] The following year, Firmstone again contended. He was well behind Kel Nagle entering the final round;[13] however, he shot several under-par to match Nagle by the end of regulation.[14] However, he once again struggled in crunch time, losing to Nagle in the sudden-death playoff.[14]
By the mid-1970s, the tournament had evolved into a full 72-hole event. The purse increased to A$10,000.[15] At the 1976 tournament, after three rounds, Randall Vines had the lead with a 208 total.[16] In the final round, however, Allan Cooper ascended into contention, birdieing four of the first six holes.[17] Vines still "shared the lead" for most of the day "until he three-putted the 17th hole."[17] Cooper, with a final round 67 (−5), defeated Vines by one.[17] The following year, in the third round, Bill Dunk recorded a 66 in the third round, tying the course record.[18] He held a two stroke lead over Kel Garner and led by one more over Tom Linksey, Terry Gale, and Barry Burgess.[18] In the final round, however, Dunk "slumped" to a one-over-par 73.[19] Gale, meanwhile, shot a two-under-par 70 to tie him. In the playoff, on the second extra hole, Gale made a "curling" birdie putt of 12 feet to win.[19]
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