Mark Tapper

{{short description|Australian professional golfer}} {{use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox golfer | name = Mark Tapper | image = | image_size =  | caption = | full_name = | nickname = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | height =  | weight =  | nationality = {{AUS}} | residence = | spouse = | partner = | children = | college = | status = Professional | yearpro =  | retired =  | tour = | extour = PGA Tour of Australasia | prowins = 1 | japwins =  | asiawins =  | sunwins =  | auswins = 1 | champwins =  | seneurowins =  | otherwins =  | majorwins =  | masters =  | pga =  | usopen =  | open =  | wghofid =  | wghofyear =  | award1 =  | year1 =  | award2 = | year2 = | awardssection =  }} '''Mark Tapper''' is an Australian professional golfer.

== Early life == Tapper is from Sydney, Australia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110670044?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Tapper has chance to make trip |date=July 29, 1971 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> He trained to be a pro in the early 1970s.<ref name=":0" />

== Professional career == During the 1972–73 season, Tapper first received media attention. He held the first round lead of the North Coast Open held at Coffs Harbour, Australia.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/102007737?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Mangan ahead by 4 strokes |date=October 7, 1972 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> Tapper also had some highlights in New Zealand. He finished third at the Manor Park pro-am event.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110621836?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Golf |date=November 23, 1972 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> Tapper also recorded a hole-in-one during the first round of the Garden City Classic.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110623250?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Vines Leads N.Z. Golf Tourney |date=December 1, 1972 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> In late 1973, he 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Age - Google News Archive Search |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K50QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=05ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=1789,6032150 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=news.google.com}}</ref> 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. Tapper ultimately finished with a 73 to lose to Kendall by two.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19731231.2.30 |title=Kendall 1st winner |date=31 Dec 1973 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>

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,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110804784?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Golfer of the year |date=February 25, 1976 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> including the Bankstown pro-am by two over Peter Kohlsdorf.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110651208?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Kohlsdorf second at Bankstown |date=August 7, 1975 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110796467?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Last-hole failure in NSW PGA |date=January 12, 1976 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110796619?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Tapper wins golf playoff |date=January 13, 1976 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> This performance would help him earn the Most Improved Player award by the New South Wales Professional Golfers Association in February.<ref name=":1" />

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,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110805575?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Vines seven-under par on back nine |date=February 28, 1976 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> a lead that would remain entering the final round.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110806057?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits=|title=Vines takes golf despite errors |date=March 1, 1976 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":2" />

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.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110866032?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Tapper leads golf title |date=September 16, 1977 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110876352?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Tapper leads by a stroke |date=November 4, 1977 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110885902?searchTerm=Mark%20Tapper%20golfer&searchLimits= |title=Low scores expected |date=March 4, 1978 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |via=Trove}}</ref>

==Professional wins (1)== ===PGA Tour of Australasia wins (1)=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" !No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of<br>victory!!Runners-up |- |align=center|1 |align=right|12 Jan 1976 |New South Wales PGA Championship |−7 (72-71-69-69=281) |Playoff |{{flagicon|USA}} Marty Bohen, {{flagicon|AUS}} Brian Jones |}

'''PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (1–0)''' {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" !No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponents!!Result |-style="background:#D0F0C0;" |align=center|1 |1976 |New South Wales PGA Championship |{{flagicon|USA}} Marty Bohen, {{flagicon|AUS}} Brian Jones |Won 18-hole playoff;<br>Tapper: −1 (71),<br>Bohen: E (72),<br>Jones: +1 (73) |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tapper, Mark}} Category:Australian male golfers Category:Golfers from Sydney Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Sportsmen from New South Wales