GOLF Christchurch Stroke Title To R. D. Kearns

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28161, 27 December 1956, Page 8

GOLF Christchurch Stroke Title To R. D. Kearns

R. D. Kearns won the Christchurch amateur stroke championship over 36 holer at Shirley yesterday by two strokes a play-off. The margin was a good indication of the evenness of the field, which included many of Canterbury’s leading players. Kearns, a member of the Otago Golf Club and formerly of the Christchurch Club, is a former South Island champion. His play yesterday, in spite of small lapses, was magnificent to watch. The Shirley course was in perfect order, with the greens and fairways playing fast. There were frequent instances of the run being misjudged to leave very long putts. A gusty northwesterly wind throughout the day proved disconcerting to many players. The tournament attracted 70 entries, among whom were R. J Charles, a former New Zealand open champion and winner of last year’s event; C. W. Caldwell, winner of the championship on two previous occasions; and R. J. Ramsay. K. D. Foxton, and C. J. Ward, all of whom distinguished themselves in last year’s tournament. Only Mishap Kearns has played a great deal of golf on the Shirley course, and only once yesterday did he get into real difficulties —after he had hooked a tee shot into the trees at the 360-yard seventh. When he tried to play a shot through the trees, the ball rebounded off a trunk, and he lost another stroke in returning to the fairway. In spite of this, he was only one over par for the hole. At the end of the morning round, Kearns had a clear lead over the rest of the field after returning a card of 70. On the way out, he had a birdie at the fourth, and on the way home he had birdies at the tenth, eleventh, and sixteenth to come back in 33. His birdie 4 at the 550-yard sixteenth was a particularly fine one. Kearns began the afternoon round badly by missing a putt at the first hole, and playing a stroke

out of bounds on the 500-yard ( fourth. Later he had his good moments, but some indifferent shots, and returned a 78. Charles in Difficulties , For Charles, who js now a member of the Christchurch Club, the day was not a happy one. Early , in the morning round, he hooked his drive at the fourth and was out in 41. He had a birdie al the tenth, but dropped two strokes at the eleventh. He lost another stroke at the 550 yd six- , teenth, but a birdie at the seventeenth gave him a 37 home. If it had not been for his unpredictable play during the morning, Charles could well have taken the title again, for his afternoon round was a scratch 72. He had four birdies. Ward, the Christchurch club captain, was out in 40 in the afternoon round after a lapse at the sixth, when he was two over par. He had birdies at the twelfth and eighteenth to be home in 34—two under the scratch score. Perhaps one of the most disappointing performances of the day was the second round played by Caldwell, winner of the title on two previous occasions. He was out in 36, but at the last five holes he lapsed badly, to drop seven strokes. K. D. Foxton, a consistently good scorer in matches in Christchurch, could not cope with the strong wind, and his score for the morning round was 83. In the afternoon he played his tec shots much more accurately. He was out in 35, and home in 41. Consistent Play J. G. Scott (Christchurch Club) had a good round of 76 in the morning, being out in 39 and home in 37. Hs play in the afternoon was again very sound, and he scored birdies at the seventh, eighth, and tenth holes. He was home in 39 —with birdies at the twelfth and eighteenth. Scott s game throughout was particularly steady, and his wedge shots, with plenty of stop, gave him few putting problems. In the play-off between Kearns and Scott over four holes, Kearns’s magnificent driving down the middle of the fairway earned him generous applause from the few spectators. Kearns managed to recapture the grand form he had shown in the morning round. In spite of the blustery wind, he had scratch figures at the first and second and a birdie at the next hole, after a magnificent 30ft putt Scott was undeterred by the play of his opponent, and although one over par at the first, had scratch figures for the remaining holes Several of yesterday’s leading players, including R. J. Charles. Ward, Ramsay, and B. W. Cleland, will not compete in the match-play championship today 1 The 16 who qualified for today’s [ match-play are:— J. G. Scott, D. J. Ramsay, W. Strang, A. I. Charles, B. L. Clegg, ' J. D. Bull, B. R. Myers, C. W. Caldwell, K. D. Foxton, D. T. Macer, J. H. Scott, L. J. Stephens, J. G. Mangan. D. C. Watt. A. J. McGillivray, R. D. Kearns Best scores were:— R. D. Kearns, 70, 78—148; J. G . Scott, 76, 72—148; R. J. Charles,

78. 72—150: R. J. Ramsav. 72. 81— 153; C. J. Ward. 80. 74—154: C. W. Caldwell. 75. 79—154; K. D. Foxton. 83, 76—159; A. I. Charles, 83. 77—160: B. L. Clegg. 75. 85—160; B. W. Cleland. 76. 84—160; J. G Mangan. 79. 81—160. Kearns won by two strokes after a play-off with Scott. Best gross round: R. D. Kearns. 70.