GOLF First Day Of Match Play In Tournament

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29398, 28 December 1960, Page 5

GOLF First Day Of Match Play In Tournament

Steady, sound play rather than spectacular golf marked the first day of the match play in the Christchurch amateur golf championships at Shirley yesterday. The defeat of the Canterbury Freyberg Rosebowl player, E. H. Richards, by R. B. Townsend was one of the biggest surprises of the day. Townsend was subsequently beaten in the quarterfinals by E. Henderson, who gave a fine performance to reach the semi-finals. Although holding well for approaches, the greens proved surprisingly fast for putting and as a result the putting standard in several cases was not high. In the semi-finals today, K. D. Foxton will play Henderson, and B. A. Colquhoun will meet R. D. Kearns.

One of the closest games of the day was that between Kearns and I. J. Campbell. In the early stages. Kearns was 3 up but Campbell slowly reduced the lead with some very determined golf and became all square at the thirteenth. A wild drive on the 16th gave Kearns a six and Campbell gained the lead after a scratch five. Campbell appeared within reach of victory after hitting a magnificent drive on the 17th, but he topped his second into a bunker and lost the hole. • At all square on the last, Kearns had to sink a long putt for a birdie to win the game. After some deliberation he putted and the ball dropped giving him the hole and the match. Although Kearns recorded five birdies in his round he was still three over scratch.

Putting Lapses In his morning game with R. B. Townsend, the hard-hitting E. H. Richards must have experienced any other feeling than love for his putter which proved a very fickle and contrary object. Townsend, gave a sound exhibition and made few mistakes. A startling rejuvenation took place in Richards’s game in the afternoon when he played J. F Hartley in the Plate. Richards won 7 and 6 and was one under scratch.

K. D. Foxton found little difficulty in accounting for A. 1. Charles who bore little resemblane to the ■ player who surprisingly beat R. J. Ramsay in the morning. Foxton hit the ball well and some of his woods left nothing to be desired. Others were inclined to have too much fade but luckily did not bring difficulties. Charles began promisingly enough but faded badly later and his inaccuracy around the greens was costly. Playing accurate and correct golf, Henderson had a good win over Hartley in the morning and allowed Townsend no quarter in the afternoon. Henderson, who has a handicap of five, putted with great assurance and, apart from a few sliced drives, did little wrong. Townsend’s iron shots to the greens were often lacking in strength and direction A loose shot on the 14th which finished up out of bounds put an end to any hopes of winning the match and with a birdie on the 15th. Henderson finished the game on a satisfying note. The game between J. R. Howorth, of Otago and B. A. Colquhoun, Russley, was notable for some remarkable recoveries on the part of Colquhoun Howorth won the first hole but lost the lead on the third and trailed for the rest of the game. Four down at the turn. Howorth made amends and at the 14th was within striking distance of his opponent, being one down. But Colquhoun applied the pressure again and finished the game at the 16th. Results were:—

Amateur Match Championship.— First round: R. D. Kearns beat C. J. Ward, 2 and 1; I. J. Campbell beat J. D. Bull, 4 and 3; B. A. Colquhoun beat E. S. F. Holland. 4 and 3; J. R. Haworth beat J. S. Roxborough. 2 and 1; E. Henderson beat J. F. L. Hartley, 4 and 3; R. B Townsend beat E. H. Richards, 2 and 1; A. I. Charles beat R. J. Ramsay. 4 and 2; K. D. Foxton beat H. J. Gosset by default. Quarter-finals: B. A. Colquhoun beat J. R. Haworth. 3 and 2: R. D. Kearns beat I. J. Camnbell. 1 up: E. Henderson beat R. B. Townsend. 4 and 3; K. D. Foxton beat A. I. Charles 4 and 3. Senior Match Handicap.—First

round: G. D. Brown beat J. A. MacKay, 5 and 4; F. R. Marshall beat D. C. Watson at the nineteenth: A. M. Leslie beat A. J. McGillivray, 2 and 1; K. C. Kearns beat A. E. Benzie, 1 up; A. H. Andrews beat A. B. 8001, 5 and 3. Quarter-finals: F. R. Marshall beat D. Clark, 4 and 3; G. D. Brown beat W. K. Creighton, 3 and 1; A. M. Lesley beat W. J. Morley, 2 and 1: A. H. Andrews beat K. C. Kearns, 2 and 1. Intermediate Match Handicap.— First round: P. Leahy beat J. 8001. 2 up: D. R. Hope beat T. G. Kennedy at the nineteenth; W. S. Bennie beat P. J. Amos, 2 and 1; A. J. Alldred beat A. I. C. McKillop. 6 and 5; R. S. Peate beat L. J. Roy. 6 and 5; T. Gibson beat J. Richards. 4 and 3; P. Meier beat G. S. Harrison, 4 and 3; M. F. Hobbs beat B. L. Nottey, 4 and 3. Quarter-finals: T. Gibson beat R. S. Peate. 1 up: P. Meier beat M. F. Hobbs. 3 and 1; D. R. Hope beat P. Leahy, at the twentieth; A. J Alldred beat W. S. Bennie, 1 up.

Junior Match Handicap.—First round: C. V. Stokes beat R. S. Scott, 1 up; N. M. Smith beat D. R. Bennie at the nineteenth; G. A. Combe beat K J. Clarke. 3 and 2; K. St. John beat J. A. Perry, 3 and 2; B. Kennedy beat R. C. Fordham, 7 and 6; R. L. Davey beat L. G. Royal. 4 and 3; E. W. Turrell beat A. W. Dennis, 5 and 3; H. C. Smith beat H. R. Horsby, 5 and 4. Quar-ter-finals: C. V. Stokes beat N. M. Smith. 6 and 4; K. St. John beat G. A. Combe, 4 and 3; B. Kennedy beat R L. Davey. 6 and 4; E. W. Turrell beat H. C. Smith, 1 up. . Christmas Plate.—J. S. Roxburgh beat E. S. Holland, 6 and 4; C. J. Ward beat J. D. Bull. 1 up: E. H. Richards beat J. F. Hartle, 7 and 6.