Professional At Nineteen

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31079, 7 June 1966, Page 3

Professional At Nineteen

One of the most exciting golfing prospects in New Zealand, the 19-year-old J. M. Lister (Timaru). has decided to turn professional.

Lister is a member of a well-known Timaru sporting family, which includes the All Black trialist and Wellington flanker, T. M. Lister, his brother. He played for Mid-South Canterbury in the Freyberg Rose Bowl tournament for the first time this year.

He wi(l be sponsored in this year’s New Zealand circuit by Christchurch businessmen and will be eligible to compete for prize money—after the probationary period—in the Wattle’s tournament, the second of the circuit. The New Zealand Open is the first and he will compete in this for experience.

Lister will join the team of M. S. Wolveridge,

the Russley professional, at the club in September, and will receive tuition from Wolveridge before beginning the circuit. It is most likely that he will participate in the Far East circuit between March and May next year.

A. tremendous hitter with, as well, a very fine short game, Lister had two of his most notable successes in the Easter tournament at Shirley this year.

He won the Easter Plate, beating R K. Atkinson, three and two, in the semi-finals, and J. F. Logie at the 19th in the final. Both were members this year of the Canterbury team and Atkinson was runner-up in the last New Zealand amateur match-play championship. In the Freyberg tournament, Lister had a 50 per cent record, winning three of his six games.