|
Mark Tapper
Mark Tapper is an Australian professional golfer. Professional careerTapper is from Sydney, Australia.[1] He trained to be a pro in the early 1970s.[1] He first received media attention during the 1972–73 season. He held the first round lead of the North Coast Open held at Coffs Harbour, Australia.[2] He also had some highlights in New Zealand. He finished third at the Manor Park pro-am event.[3] He also recorded a hole-in-one during the first round of the Garden City Classic.[4] In late 1973, Tapper had the chance to win his first major event at the three-round Hibiscus Coast Classic. The event was held at the Peninsular Golf Club in Orewa, New Zealand. Tapper opened with a 65 (−7) to break the course record and tie Terry Kendall for the lead.[5] He followed with a 68 to take a two-shot lead. In the final round, however, "he dropped shots at the third and fourth holes" to quickly lose his lead. He ultimately finished with a 73 to lose to Kendall by two.[6] Despite this decent start, Tapper would have to wait until the mid-1970s for substantive success. He won a number of minor tournaments across Australia in 1975,[7] including the Bankstown pro-am by two over Peter Kohlsdorf.[8] This good play would culminate at the New South Wales PGA Championship. Tapper was seven behind Brian Jones as the final round began but shot a bogey-free 69 (−3) to get into contention. Marty Bohen, who was in second place, had a chance to take the clubhouse lead but bogeyed the final hole to fall into a tie with Tapper. Jones, the leader all day, had a weak final round and then double-bogeyed the 18th to fall into a tie with Tapper and Bohen.[9] The three men competed in an 18-hole playoff on Monday. Jones again built a sizable lead – this time by three shots after seven holes – but would ultimately lose it once more. Tapper was one back of Bohen entering the 17th hole but made a 14-meter eagle putt to tie the American. On the final hole, a par-3, Tapper nearly made an ace; his birdie would win it.[10] This performance would help him earn the Most Improved Player award by the New South Wales Professional Golfers Association in February.[7] At the very end of the season, in March, Tapper was in contention one final time. At the Queanbeyan City Open, he shot opening rounds of 66 (−4) to take a one shot lead over Randall Vines,[11] a lead that would remain entering the final round.[12] Tapper three putted the first hole, however, presaging "putting miseries" that would plague him for the remainder of the day. He ultimately shot 73 and finished four behind Vines.[12] Despite all of the success during the 1975–76 season, however, Tapper's career on the PGA Tour of Australia did not advance. Back injuries would disrupt his career.[13] The 1977–78 season was the final one with any highlights. He led the Tuggerah Lakes Open and New South Wales Open after the first round.[13][14] He also finished third at that season's Queanbeyan City Open's pro-am, the site of one his best placings on tour, two behind Peter Kohlsdorf.[15] Professional wins (1)PGA Tour of Australasia wins (1)
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (1–0)
References
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
