Mark Tapper is an Australian professional golfer.
| Mark Tapper | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Sporting nationality |  Australia |
| Career | |
| Status | Professional |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour of Australasia |
| Professional wins | 1 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour of Australasia | 1 |
Professional career edit
Tapper 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) edit
PGA Tour of Australasia wins (1) edit
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 Jan 1976 | New South Wales PGA Championship | −7 (72-71-69-69=281) | Playoff |  Marty Bohen, Brian Jones
|
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (1–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1976 | New South Wales PGA Championship | Marty Bohen, Brian Jones
|
Won 18-hole playoff; Tapper: −1 (71), Bohen: E (72), Jones: +1 (73) |
References edit
- ^ a b "Tapper has chance to make trip". The Canberra Times. 29 July 1971 – via Trove.
- ^ "Mangan ahead by 4 strokes". The Canberra Times. 7 October 1972 – via Trove.
- ^ "Golf". The Canberra Times. 23 November 1972 – via Trove.
- ^ "Vines Leads N.Z. Golf Tourney". The Canberra Times. 1 December 1972 – via Trove.
- ^ "The Age - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Kendall 1st winner". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 1973.
- ^ a b "Golfer of the year". The Canberra Times. 25 February 1976 – via Trove.
- ^ "Kohlsdorf second at Bankstown". The Canberra Times. 7 August 1975 – via Trove.
- ^ "Last-hole failure in NSW PGA". The Canberra Times. 12 January 1976 – via Trove.
- ^ "Tapper wins golf playoff". The Canberra Times. 13 January 1976 – via Trove.
- ^ "Vines seven-under par on back nine". The Canberra Times. 28 February 1976 – via Trove.
- ^ a b "Vines takes golf despite errors". The Canberra Times. 1 March 1976 – via Trove.
- ^ a b "Tapper leads golf title". The Canberra Times. 16 September 1977 – via Trove.
- ^ "Tapper leads by a stroke". The Canberra Times. 4 November 1977 – via Trove.
- ^ "Low scores expected". The Canberra Times. 4 March 1978 – via Trove.