Turner reaping benefit of hard work over past two years

Jack Turner
Jack Turner
He appears to be walking in the same shoes as his old man but Jack Turner is creating his own journey.

Turner (18), the son of professional golfer and two-time New Zealand Open winner Greg Turner, won the Otago matchplay title at the Otago Golf Club on Monday, 37 years after his dad had done the same thing.

Jack Turner has not been steered into golf by his father but, after trying many different sports, decided two years ago golf was the one for him.

Greg Turner said yesterday his son had worked very hard over that time and was now getting the benefit of that.

''He's put in a lot of work and done some really good work. Just on the technical side of things. It does take some time and I did say to him it will eventually pay off,'' he said.

''He's got the swing in a good sort of shape and things have started happening for him in the past few weeks which has
been pretty cool.

''It was good to win and is another step forward. There are not many shortcuts in any sport as we all know but it is always good to win.''

Turner is not coached by his father but works with Institute of Golf chief executive Craig Dixon, of Auckland, and works on his short game with Ben Gallie at Millbrook.

''He really enjoys the game and all that he has done in the game is driven by himself ... he is fitter and stronger than I ever was but that is the way the modern golfer is these days.''

Turner said his son had ambitions and wanted to be the best he could be.

Jack Turner left Wakatipu High School at the end of year 12, and has helped caddie for his dad on the European senior tour this year for about three months.

''That was an excellent environment for him to learn the game and good fun for me. The senior tour may not be the PGA Tour but there are still a lot of very good golfers involved.''

Turner said he did not push his son into playing golf.

''He had a crack at a lot of things: cricket, played a bit of rugby, tennis. It's only been in the past couple of years that he has decided to give his golf a serious go.

''But I'm a great believer in playing lots of sports when you are young. There are things you learn from other sports which you can apply in golf.''

Jack Turner is expected to be named in the Otago team to play in the South Island quadrangular tournament this weekend in Invercargill.

He won the matchplay title in style, beating Scott Hellier by an impressive six and five margin, going 5-under in just 13 holes.

Turner saw his son play on Sunday at the Otago Golf Club but had to rely on daughter Charlie to send him texts in the final on Monday.

If Turner is selected in the Otago team for the national interprovincial tournament in Christchurch in December, he will match the feat of his father who played for Otago in his only interprovincial appearance when he was aged 18.

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