Golf: Fax casts shadow over women's classic

The fax machine says the New Zealand Women's Golf Classic, scheduled for February in Wellington is off.

But the tournament's director is not talking, and other golf officials believe it is still on.

Former world No 1 Laura Davies of England said she received a fax saying the classic was cancelled.

She and Australian Bob Tuohy, who was to be the tournament director, confirmed they had severed ties with the classic, due to be staged at the Hutt Golf Club in Lower Hutt.

The news came just a day after revelations that prize money at the Australasian Ladies Professional Golf Association-sanctioned event had been slashed by $150,000 to $500,000.

Davies said she had been told, in a fax from a Ladies European Tour official, that the New Zealand event had been cancelled.

But tournament director Frank Burgess was ducking calls yesterday, and golf club officials said they were working on the basis that the tournament was on as they had not heard otherwise.

Davies, aged 37, said the 60 or so European professionals teed up for the classic were no longer coming to New Zealand.

"I can't come if there's not a tournament to play in," she said.

Davies' withdrawal follows that of current world No 1 Karrie Webb, an Australian based in the United States.

Just as damaging is Tuohy's move to quit the classic.

Burgess had contracted him to run the tournament - touted as New Zealand's richest ever.

Tuohy said he would not reveal his reasons for pulling out.

"It is Frank's call if he wants to make that public. Frank's the only man who can say whether he is going to carry on with it or not," Tuohy said.

The classic's naming sponsor, television production company Cloud 9, reiterated its support yesterday.

Classic spokeswoman and golf manager Gail Allport said she would be devastated if the tournament was canned.

She had worked closely with Burgess and Kiwi professional Lynette Brooky to help sign golf's biggest names, such as Webb and Davies.

Allport said she had not heard from Burgess for several days, and was dumbfounded by a claim from Tuohy that Webb was never coming to New Zealand.

"Frank told us she had signed a contract and was a definite starter so we were happy to help out and tell the public the great news ... I just don't know what to think now," she said.

Allport, who manages Brooky, said she was shocked to hear that Davies was not coming.

No one had told her golfers that the tournament was off.

She said organisation of the tournament was advanced.

Accommodation was fully booked in Lower Hutt and many people would be left out of pocket if the event fell over.

Davies said if the classic was off, it would not reflect badly on New Zealand golf - "it's just one person by the sounds of things."

She had been looking forward to coming to New Zealand.

"It's no hassle but just disappointing."

- NZPA