Frank Nobilo, Greg Turner inducted into NZ Golf hall of fame
Frank Nobilo and Greg Turner competed with the world’s best, now the pair have been recognised in New Zealand Golf’s hall of fame.
The duo, who combined for the International team in their win over the United States in the 1998 Presidents Cup in Melbourne, were both inducted at a dinner in Wellington on Tuesday night.
US-based Nobilo is now one of world golf’s most respected television analysts and Turner is a renowned course designer who oversaw the revamp of Royal Wellington, host of this week’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
They join a select group of Arthur Duncan, Charles Howden, Oliver Hollis, Stuart Jones and New Zealand’s only major tournament winners Sir Bob Charles and Michael Campbell in the hall of fame which was created by NZ Golf in 2010.
Nobilo shot to prominence when he won the New Zealand Amateur as an 18-year-old in 1978 and turned pro the following year.
He won 15 tournaments around the globe, with his most notable victories in the mid-1990s with back-to-back Gene Sarazen World Opens followed by the 1997 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic on the US PGA Tour.
Nobilo competed in 27 major championships, with his best result a fourth placing at the US Masters in 1996. He remains the only New Zealander to have finished in the top-10 of all four majors.
Nobilo joined the Golf Channel and remains a prominent television analyst covering all the big tournaments.
Turner carried the New Zealand flag on the European Tour for nearly 20 years.
He won the national junior title before attending the University of Oklahoma where he was selected as a two time All-American, and turned pro in 1984.
Turner won the New Zealand PGA Championship at Mt Maunganui in only his second start. Victories in the Fiji Open and Singapore Open followed before a breakthrough win on the European Tour when defeating Craig Stadler in a playoff to win the 1986 Scandinavian Open.
Turner won 12 professional tournaments, four on the European Tour and six on the Australasian Tour which included victories in the New Zealand Open in 1989 and 1997.
He joined Nobilo in the International team in the 1998 Presidents Cup where they combined to beat Davis Love and Justin Leonard in the foursomes on the way to the International team’s only victory over the United States.
Turner retired relatively young from the pro ranks, and started a golf course design company. His influence is evident at Millbrook, Royal Wellington, Harewood, Cromwell, Russley and a growing number of other layouts.
He also founded the Golf Tour of New Zealand, a series of elite golf events to help the development of our leading amateurs and aspiring professionals.
Source: Stuff
