GOLF Canterbury Stroke Title To K. Foxton

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28531, 10 March 1958, Page 7

GOLF Canterbury Stroke Title To K. Foxton

Consistently well-placed drives and approaches and his best display of putting for several months earned K. D. Foxton the Canterbury amateur stroke title at the week-end. This is the first time the championship has been held. The 72-hole tournament, played on both the Kaiapoi and Rangiora courses, was extremely popular with the 70 players who took part. After a mediocre display at the Canterbury match-play championships at Shirley in December, Foxton fully justified his recent selection for the Canterbury team. At the Kaiapoi course on Saturday, he was in fine form, and finished the day with the excellent figures of 70, 68—138. His 68 in the morning was the best round of the day, five strokes better than any other player. At the Rangiora course yesterday, where the final 36 holes of the tournament were played, Foxton scored 74, 74—148. It was again steady, yet unspectacular golf, with Foxton hard-pressed by C. W. Caldwell.

By winning the senior gross, Foxton took the handsome trophy given by Mr C. M. Turner. The intermediate title was won by P. F. Barkle and the junior title by K. McLaughlan. •Hot weather and fast greens were experienced on Saturday, but the overcast and drizzly weather yesterday slowed the Rangiora greens considerably. The best rounds yesterday morning were those of M. W. Stanley (scr) 72, and T. Monk (5) 72. Out in 35 and home in 37, Stanley compensated for his scores of 75, 79—154 at Kaiapoi on Saturday. The effort was not sustained and Stanley lost all chance of reaching the major placings when he returned 76 for the afternoon round.

Caldwell Unlucky The Canterbury number two player in the Freyberg Rosebowl team last year, C. W. Caldwell, was unlucky not to have finished the tournament with better figures. After being four strokes behind Foxton at the end of the first day, he made a disastrous start yesterday by taking two sixes, and a nine at the eleventh when his ball was hooked into the trees. He recovered well to finish the round in 78. In a gallant rally over the last 18 holes in the afternoon, Caldwell played sparkling golf to round in 70. In this round he gained four strokes on Foxton. J. G. Scott and R. E. Clements,

both Canterbury Freyberg Rosebowl players, shared third place with 296. Scott was well in the running with 70 in the morning round at Kaiapoi. In the afternoon he took 76. Yesterday he played steadily for rounds of 76 and 74, and his green play was well below his best. Clements also had a good day on Saturday, finishing with rounds of 73 and 70. Rounds of 77 and 76 spoilt his chances yesterday. Finishing fifth, R. J. Ramsay had the distinction of breaking the Rangiora course record yesterday afternoon with a brilliant 69—three under scratch. Out in 35, Ramsay found the pin with accuracy to be home in 34. The old record at Rangiora was held by R. J. Charles at 09. Since then the course has been lengthened. Ramsay finished his two rounds yesterday only one stroke short of Foxton and Caldwell. His 148 on the first day prevented him from taking a higher plare.

A two-handicap player from Waitikiri, M. J. McNally, scored a hole-in-one at the 133-yard sixth at Kaiapoi on Saturday, but was only able to score 79. He finished eleventh in the senior championship. Foxton also gained highest points in the senior net, but because of his win in the gross, the trophy went to the second-placed competitor, W. McGavock. McGavock’s figures were 146, 145—291.

P. F. Barkle won the intermediate championship after a play-off with G. G. Baker. Both players scored 315 for the 72 holes—three fewer than the third competitor, R. B. Townsend. The prize for the best net went to Townsend.

The junior championship was won by K. McLaughlan, with 350. The net section was won by a 19-handicap player. R. Day. . Results were (scores at Kaiapoi first):—

Senior Gross.—K. D. Foxton. 138. 148—286; C. W. Caldwell, 142. 148, 290; R. E. Clements, 143, 153, 296; J. G. Scott, 146, 150, 296; R. J. Ramsay, 148, 149 297; W. McGavock, 150, 149, 299; M. W. Stanley, 154. 148—302; R. K. Atkinson. 147, 155—302; A. W. Robinson 154, 1>7—311; C. Johnson, 157, 155—312; M. J. McNally, 152, 160—312. Senior Net.—K. D. Foxton (scr), 138, 148— 286; W. McGavock (2), 146, 145—291; J. G. Scott (1), 144, 148—292; C. W Caldwell (plus 1), 144, 150—294; R. E. Clements (scr), 143, 153—296; R. J. Ramsay (scr), 148, 149—297; S. C. Cliff (4). 150, 147—297; R. K. Atkinson (1) 145, 153—298. Trophy winner: W. McGavock. Intermediate Gross.—P. F. Barkle. 150, 165—315; G. G. Baker, 160, 155—315; R. B. Town Send, 164, 154—318; N. J. Forward, 163. 157—320; J. W. Simon, 164. 159—328; G. Speed, 157, 171—328. Barkle won after a play-off. Intermediate Net,—R. B. Townsend (9), 146, 136 282; J. W. Simon (10), 144, 139—283; G. G. Baker (1), 146. 141—287; P. F. Barkle (6), 138, 153—291; I. Jory (13), 143, 148—291; N. J. Forward (7), 149, 143—292. Junior Gross.—K. McLaughlan, 174, 176 350; R. Day, 181, 173—354; G. A Palmer, 179, 178—357; T. W. Bayliss, 176, 182—358; G. B. Geddes, 178, 181— 359; B. Williams. 184, 177—361. Junior Net.—R. Day (19), 143, 135—278; T. W. Bayliss (18), 140, 146—286; G. I Laughton (19). 147, 142—289; 1 Young (23), 146, 143—289; D. Buckley (21), 140, 150, 290; G. B. Geddes (17), 144, 147—291.