Air New Zealand Shell Open Explained

Air New Zealand Shell Open
Location:Auckland, New Zealand
Establishment:1975
Course:The Grange Golf Club
Par:70
Tour:PGA Tour of Australasia
New Zealand Golf Circuit
Format:Stroke play
Month Played:December
Final Year:1994
Aggregate:264 D. A. Weibring (1985)
To-Par:−21 Bob Shearer (1976)
Final Champion: Shane Robinson
Coordinates:-36.962°N 174.845°W
Map:New Zealand
Map Label:The Grange GC
Map Relief:yes

The Air New Zealand Shell Open was a golf tournament held in New Zealand between 1975 and 1994. The event was the New Zealand Airlines Classic in 1975 and 1976 and the New Zealand Airlines Open in 1977. The Grange hosted the first and final editions of the event but Titirangi hosted the event the most, 14 times between 1977 and 1991. The only other courses to host the event were Russley (1976) and Wellington (1979).

History

In 1975, the event was formed and hosted by Air New Zealand. In 1977, the event became part of the PGA Tour of Australia's Order of Merit.[1] The following year Shell also became a title sponsor.

The 1979 event coincided with the Mount Erebus disaster. On November 28, the day before the tournament began, Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica. There was much discussion about cancelling the tournament. However, Morrie Davis (CEO of Air New Zealand) decided that the tournament would go on. Australian David Graham won the event.[2]

Winners

Year TourWinner Score To par Margin of
victory 		Runner(s)-up Venue Ref.
Air New Zealand Shell Open
1994 274 −6 1 stroke The Grange [3]
1993 277 −3 1 stroke The Grange [4]
1992 271 −9 Playoff The Grange [5]
1991 273 −7 3 strokes Titirangi [6]
1990 268 −12 7 strokes Titirangi
1989 275 −5 4 strokes Titirangi [7]
1988 Terry Gale (2) 271 −9 4 strokes Titirangi [8]
1987 270 −10 1 stroke Titirangi [9]
1986 267 −13 3 strokes Titirangi [10]
1985 264 −16 1 stroke Titirangi [11]
1984 ANZ 266 −14 2 strokes Titirangi [12]
1983 ANZ 200 −10 1 stroke Titirangi [13]
1982 ANZ 273 −7 Playoff Titirangi [14]
1981 ANZ 265 −15 8 strokes Titirangi [15]
1980 ANZ 268 −12 2 strokes Titirangi [16]
1979 279 −5 8 strokes [17]
1978 273 −7 1 stroke Titirangi [18]
1977 278 −2 Playoff Titirangi [19]
New Zealand Airlines Classic
1976 271 −21 9 strokes Russley [20]
1975 276 −8 1 stroke The Grange [21]

Notes and References

  1. News: Colour, class and characters bejewelled N.Z. golf open . 2 March 2023 . The Press . 29 October 1977 . 24 . Papers Past.
  2. Web site: 2019-12-01 . White Silence: The 'gloomy' golf tournament overshadowed by the Erebus disaster . 2023-03-02 . Radio New Zealand.
  3. News: Swede wobbles before taking Open . . 70 . 21,788 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 12 December 1994 . 27 April 2017 . 28 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Sizzling finish for Price in NZ Open . . 68 . 21,426 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 13 December 1993 . 27 April 2017 . 24 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Parsons 'thrilled' with his professional performance despite losing play-off to Pirce . . 67 . 21,029 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 9 November 1992 . 27 April 2017 . 22 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: Morse hangs on to capture Open . . 66 . 20,666 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 11 November 1991 . 27 April 2017 . 24 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: Jones wins rich cup by 4 strokes . . 64 . 19,745 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 30 October 1989 . 27 April 2017 . 28 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Four-stroke win to Gale in Air NZ golf . . 12 December 1988 . 30.
  9. News: Colandro's luck changes at last . . 7 December 1987 . 33.
  10. News: Third time lucky for Davis . . 1 December 1986 . 34.
  11. News: Weibring victor in NZ Open . . 60 . 18,325 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 2 December 1985 . 27 April 2017 . 20 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: Jones steals Open as Grady 'chokes' . . 3 December 1984 . 27.
  13. News: Devlin wins NZ Open . . 58 . 17,599 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 5 December 1983 . 27 April 2017 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: Gale's grit beats late NZ open challenge . . 57 . 17,236 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 6 December 1982 . 27 April 2017 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: Shearer wins by 8 . . 7 December 1981 . 27.
  16. News: Darcy wins Air NZ Open . . 55 . 16,503 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 1 December 1980 . 27 April 2017 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: Graham by 8 shots . . 54 . 16,140 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 3 December 1979 . 27 April 2017 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: Charles takes NZ Open . . 53 . 15,779 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 4 December 1978 . 27 April 2017 . 20 . National Library of Australia.
  19. News: Good beats Dunk in play off . . 52 . 14,913 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 24 October 1977 . 28 April 2017 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
  20. News: Shearer 21 under card in N. Zealand win . . 51 . 14,540 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 22 November 1976 . 28 April 2017 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  21. News: Easy N.Z. win for Brask . . 50 . 14,225 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 17 November 1975 . 28 April 2017 . 11 . National Library of Australia.

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