Nagle Family Combine For Futures Success

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday November 24, 2004

By STEWART ROACH

AUSTRALIAN golfing legend Kel Nagle is putting the finishing touches to his grandson Jake's preparations for the $45,000 Tooheys PGA National Futures championship at Newcastle Golf Club this week.

The 1960 Centenary British Open champion and prolific Australian tour winner has not played since 1992 but still retains a love for the sport.

He was at Fern Bay yesterday with Jake, a trainee professional in Canberra, to help him with his short game.

"He hits the ball out of sight, but he needs a bit of work on his short game," Nagle said.

Jake finished tied for 30th last year after a disastrous 11-over-par 83 on the second day after a one-under 71 in the opening round.

Nagle, 84, also took time out to talk with the four international players invited to the event, including defending champion Anthony Doyle from New Zealand.

Doyle was the first overseas player to win the event when he carded three-under 285 last year after being runner-up in 2002.

Fellow New Zealander Emerson Hall, South African Pelop Panagopoulos and Englishman Matt Ford are taking on the top Australian trainee professionals in the 72-hole stroke event starting tomorrow.

Panagopoulos won this year's South African Trainees title to gain his invitation.

Ford won the England PGA Trainee title to qualify for the Australian tournament.

Former NSW amateur representative Warwick Dews is confident he can finish on top of the leaderboard on Sunday night in his second attempt at the title.

The Cronulla Golf Club trainee is playing his first tournament since breaking his ankle in a work accident nine weeks ago.

Last year was his first at Fern Bay, and he finished ninth after a blow-out 80 on the final day.

"I got the worst of the conditions playing in the second-last group last year after being in a good position to challenge," Dews said yesterday.

Victorian Martin Joyce is the favourite of the Australian players after winning both the Victorian and NSW trainee titles this year.

The top 60 players after the second round on Friday qualify for the final 36 holes on Saturday and Sunday.

Entry to the tournament is free.

© 2004 Newcastle Herald

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