Golf: Turner: we're not out of it

ST ANDREWS - New Zealand face an uphill battle to make the semifinals of the 1 million pounds ($3.65 million) Dunhill Cup golf teams event after being beaten 1-2 by unseeded Ireland on the opening day yesterday.

Greg Turner, ranked 108th in the world, was New Zealand's biggest hope against 47-year-old Des Smyth, who at 324th has missed 12 cuts this year.

Turner was forced to go down the 19th to secure New Zealand's only victory.

World No 18 Michael Campbell, winner of the German Masters in Cologne 10 days ago, lost to Paul McGinley by two shots, while Grant Waite bowed to European Ryder Cup No 3 player Padraig Harrington by three shots.

Turner and Campbell both fired three-under 69s and Waite had a 71.

It was a disappointing start to the tournament for New Zealand, who must now beat France and hope Ernie Els' fourth-seeded South Africans beat Ireland today.

Turner said Ireland deserved their win.

"They shot three-under, four-under and five-under. That was always going to be hard to beat, but it was important that we had one win today," said Turner, the New Zealand captain.

"I said to the boys last night that it wouldn't surprise me if no team went through this group unbeaten. It looks that tough, in which case individual match scores could be the decider.

"We couldn't afford to be blanked 3-0, so it was good to end the first day with something."

Turner said he was not surprised that Smyth, who was three-up at the turn, pushed him all the way.

The tall New Zealander birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th holes to turn the game around.

Smyth got a place in the event only as a replacement for Darren Clarke. His last Dunhill Cup appearance was in 1988, when he won the trophy with Eamonn Darcy and Ronan Rafferty.

"Des is not out there by chance. He's been around a long time, and I had to play well to beat him on the 19th," Turner said.

Smyth three-putted the 19th green to give Turner the win.

Campbell found the pressure put on him by McGinley building up by the time he hit a shot out of bounds on the par-five 14th.

McGinley was four-under at the turn and although Campbell pulled back with birdies on the 15th and 16th, he never quite got within striking distance.

Harrington had six birdies in his round, which made it tough for Waite, who had to change his game from American-style target golf to links bump-and-run play.

Waite had a birdie chance at the 18th, but his approach to the green finished up short in the "Valley of Sin" - where Campbell found himself minutes later.

New Zealand must today go out to beat France 3-0 to stand a stronger chance of making it through to tomorrow's semifinals.

Turner said: "The French on paper are certainly the weak link in the group but we are not playing on paper. We need to beat them 3-0 - simple as that."

In their first match, France lost 1-2 to a strong South African side comprising David Frost, Refief Goosen and Ernie Els.

In other matches, Germany beat Scotland 2-1, Wales whitewashed England 3-0, Spain thrashed China 3-0, Sweden downed Zimbabwe 2-1, Argentina outclassed Japan 3-0 and, in the clash of the favourites, Australia ousted the United States 2-1.

- NZPA