GOLF RUSSLEY WINS IMPORTANT WOODWARD CUP CONTEST

Press, Volume C, Issue 29537, 12 June 1961, Page 6

GOLF RUSSLEY WINS IMPORTANT WOODWARD CUP CONTEST

Russley A is almost assured of winning the Woodward Cup for 1961. When the fifth and sixth rounds of the senior interclub matches were placed yesterday, Russley A narrowly won au absorbing struggle Christchurch A is but a point behind Russley A, and the teams will meet at Kaiapoi in the last round on June 25; but Russley A’s advantage in individual games won and lost during the contest is such that Christchurch A will have to win seven of the eight games to take the cup. A noteworthy feature of yesterday’s matches at Russley was the defeat of the New Zealand representative, R. C. Murray, by R. E. Clements, and the fine form of R. K. Atkinson (Russley).

The Woodward Cup matches were played at Russley, and they began long before the sun began to challenge the grip of the frost. Until the morning games were well advanced, the icy ground often converted the cleanest and straightest hits into huge, bouncing books and slices; but there were times when the frost was a more benevolent despot, reprieving the players of loose strokes. The fierce frost gave bunkers added terrors, and made putting particularly hazardous. Even at the end of the day, there were shady areas on which the ball was likely to leap and cavort madly. But nothing at Russley compared with a stroke made at Avondale in a Blank Cup match. J. Hanson, of Waimairi. playing the last hole, hooked bis tee shot, and it crashed into the trees. From there it dropped into a frozen bunker at the left of the green, bounced 40ft into the air, landed on the green and spun backwards at leas' five yards, off the green and down the little bank at the left. Otherwise, however, conditions could not have been better—no cloud, no wind, and, at Russley, air so clear that the mountains seemed to be just at the back of Harewood's hangars. Woodward Cup Tussle . In the Wood-ward Cup games, particular interest was taken in Waitikiri's afternoon match with Russ--1 ley A- Waitikiri was believed to be the team most likely to cheek Russley A’s progress, and it became an intensely interesting struggle. When the first four matches ended, the teams were level. As the last four games reached the sixteenth fairway together, it was still very open. With three holes to be played, D. A. S'evens (Russley) led J. W. Jackson, two up; B. Colquhoun (Russley) led L. J. James. 1 up; K. D. Foxton (Russley) was one ahead of B. L. Clegg, and E. H. Richards (Russley) was one down to J. P. Devine. This was a piquant situation, reached after the Russley players had, in most instances, overcome early setbacks. Stevens, for instance, had been three down after five holes. James sank a very good putt for a half ait the sixteenth, and had an excellent chance of winning the next hole when Colquhoun pulled his drive into the next fairway, and could not get at the green. James chipped a little short, and his putt for the win stopped on the lip. This was one of several strokes which swung the balance of , the game. At the last hole, James gallantly sank a putt of 20 feet for a birdie and a win which squared his ' match, and left the teems’ scores level. ; Jackson also struggled hard. At the sixteenth he I holed a 20-foot putt for the birdie, but Stevens, who had ’ played the hole beautifully, : made no mistake with his . four-footer for the half. Jackson had no further oppori tunity, a half in scratch fours ' at the seventeenth ending f the game. So Russley A led ; 3J-21. Devine, meanwhile, had lost i his ball after driving from he I sixteenth tee, and Richards ' squared the match. Devine is 1 a sound match player, and his drive at the seventeenth was everything it should have 1 been. His high-flighted iron left him a putt of about three 1 feet for the birdie Richards ( from just off the back of the green almost ran in his ball ’ for a birdie; Devine's putt wobbled a little uncertainly before dropping. Clegg had halved the sixteenth with Foxton by holing quite a long putt. The seventeenth put an end to Waitikiri’s effort. Clegg pushed out his drive and was still well short of the green for three. Foxton, however. was in a bunker with his second, and was on the edge of the hole for 4. Clegg had a very awkward putt of about 12ft for the half, and he made a very good attempt • to sink it, but rt swung away an inch or two short of the hole and finished beside it So Foxton won, 2 and I. Clements and Murray I The match between Clements . and Murray was extraordinarily good. Murray played the first holes scratchily. had one bad frost-affected hole at the [eighth, and three-putted at his | Hast two greens, but otherwise rit was golf of a very high I 2f d ?, r ' They • ech ha d three I birdies in rather difficult conI ditions. Under pressure, each I tn turn shewed serene judgI meat; many difficult putts for I halves were holed. I The talents of both these fine > players were apparent frequently At the second. Murray. from a very difficult lie, came out of a bunker splendidly, and then holed a difficult putt for his half. Murray was suffering from a verv heavy cold, but he drove with power and accuracy; there was tittie between them off the tees. At three of the long holes in succession Murray was putting for eagles. But. in general his short game lacked the certain touch Clements exhibited They halved the sixth (491 yds) in birdie 4's. and after Murray had holed a putt of 14 ft tqh hte bogey 3 at the seventh, Clements responded with • putt of equal quality. Clemente was 1 up at the turn, and coming home the quality of the golf was remarkable, almost to the end. Murray achieved a fine birdie 3 at the eleventh. they halved the thirteenth ln birdie 4a. and at the 135 yd fifteenth, Cements had a birdie with a putt of Bft. Murray's putting then tell away fatally under this persistent pressure. He three-putted the sixteenth and seventeenth. Clemente was only one over for the 1? holes. Murray three •

over. R. K. Atkinson, playing M. J. McNally, gave a delightful display of accurate, sound golf. He was out in scratch figures, with only one birdie, but had another at the short tenth. He was still one under when the game ended at the fifteenth. Atkinson was remarkably straight and steady, and gave McNally little chance. Best of Morning The best golf in the morning came from D. F. Williamson (Christchurch B) and D. Murdoch (Templeton). Williamson; playing the accomplished A. C. Browne, was 5 up after five holes. He seemed quite at home in the frost. With his brief back swing, he controlled his tee shots admirably. always seeming to find the best way to the green. His short game was immaculate, and after eight holes he was one under scratch. Later, he fell into some errors, but Browne was much too far behind. Murdoch did some sensational things. A methodical player, with excellent powers of concentration. he drove splendidly and holed putts in all sorts of unhappy situations. He started at the eleventh hole against A. t. Charles, and by the eighteenth was three under scratch and 8 up. He too fell away later, but was only one over scratch when the game ended. Foxton in the morning gave a delightful display against H W. Lawrence (Russley B). He handled the tricky conditions splendidly, and was one under scratch for the 11 holes played. Devine also played well In the morning, coming home In scratch figures. F. W Roberts (Avondale! was at his best against J. C. Scott (Christchurch A) in the morning. Roberts started uncertainly, but from the sixth to the fifteenth was two under scratch. And when the pressure was at its highest. Stevens, from the tenth to the seventeenth, was three under against Jackson. All in all. a diav of good golf. The table shows the positions of the teams in the Woodward Cup contest:

Results yesterday were:— Christchurch A v. Templeton A. W. Robinson lost to A Browne, 3 and 2: J. G Scott lost to D. Murdoch. 2 and 1: C. J. Ward beat C. H. Johnson, 3 and 2; L. A. Watson beat L Byrd, 2 up; I. Campbell beat N Mabey, 3 and 2; J. Hartley lost to L. Stowell. 1 down; A. R Bora beat J. McGavock 8 and 5; J. L. Mackay beat I. Ross 3 and 2. Christchurch A won by 5 games to 3. Avondale v. Christchurch B D. J. Gaudin beat D. F Williamson, 4 and 3; F. W. Roberts beat A. I. Charles. ? and 2; R. B. Townsend beat J D. Bull. 3 and 2; G A. Burton beat E. S. Henderson, 1 up; C L. Jacobson beat P. G. Z. Harris, 4 and 2: R. B. Grey beat A B. 8001, 3 and 2; T. Stanton halved with D. H. Cumack; I Jordan lost to G. Chapman. 5 and 4. Avondale won by 61 games to kChristchurch B v. Templeton D. F. Williamson beat A. C Browne, 3 and 2; A. I. Charles lost to D. Murdoch. 7 and 6: J D. Bull lost to C. H. Johnson 2 and 1: E. S. Henderson lost to L. Boyd. 1 down: P G. Z Harris halved with N. Mabey A. B. 800 l beat L. Stowell. 2 and 1; D. H. Cummack lost to J. McGavock, 3 and 2; G Shap-m-an beat. I. Ross. 4 and 3. Templeton won by 4J games to 3i Rnssley A v. WaitiMkrl R. C. Murray lost to R. E Clements. 2 and 1; K D Foxton beat B. L. Clegg. 2 and 1; B. A Colquhoun halved with L. J James; D A. Stevens beat J. W Jackson, 2 and 1; R K. Atkinson beat M. J. McNally. 4 and 3; E. H. Richards lost to J. P Devine. 2 down; J D Broadhurst beat W. R. Cant. 4 and 3, S. C. Cliff lost to J. Lawson, 3 and 1. Russley A won by 4} games to 3|. Avondale v. Christchurch A D. J. Gaudin lost to A. W Robinson. 2 down: F. W Roberts beat J. G. Scott. 4 and 3; R. B Townsend beat C. J Ward. 4 and 3; G. Burton lost to L. A Watson. 2 down; C- L. Jacobson lost to I. J. Campbell. 5 and 4: R. B. Grey lost to J. F. Hartley 4 and 2: J. Harton beat J. Prendergast. 2 up; G. A Mclntosh lost to J. MacKav. 3 and 8. Christchurch A won by 5 games to 3. Russley A v. Russley B R. C. Murray beat W. D. Armstrong. 4 and 3; K D. Foxton beat H. W. Lawrence, 8 and 7; B Colquhoun beat W N Hollands. 4 and 3: D A Stevens beat J H Rich. 5 and 4; R K Atkinson beat W. Wyatt. 4 and 3; E H. Richards beat N. J Forward. 5 and 4; J Broadhurst beat F. Marshall. 2 and 1: S C Cl’ff beat P Maples. 5 and 4. Russley A beat Russley B by 8 games to 0 Russley B v. Kalapol W. D. Armstrong lost to I. B Cromb. 2 and 1: W. N. Hollands lost to L. Morris. 3 and 2: J. H Rich beat J. Monk. 2 up: W Wyatt lost to G. G. Baker. 4 and 2; H. Hill beat R G Rainey 1 up: N- J- Forward beat D Newey. 4 and 3; F. Marshall beat Dtck McAllister, 5 and 3: P. Maples lost to D. G. McAlester. 4 and 2 The match was halved Kaiapoi v. Waitikiri I. B Cromb lost to R. E Clements. 3 and 2; L. Morris, lost to B L. Clegg. 4 and 3: J E Monk lost to L. J. James. 4 and 3: G. G. Baker lost to J. W Jackson, 2 and 1; R. G. Rainey beat M. J. McNally, 2 up; D Newey lost to J P. Devine 4 and 3: Dick McAllister lost to W. Cant, 2 and 1: D. G. McAllister halved with J. Lawson Waitikiri won by 6} games to li

Anderson. 4 and 3; K. McDonald lost to T. Collier 5 and 4: T. Ware lost to W. Ellis, 1 down Waimairi won bv 3} games to 24Higley v. Russley R. D. Johnson lost to E. S. F. Holland, 7 and 5; C. Snell beat R. C. Garnett. 2 up; D. Tryon beat R. E. Jiggins, 3 and 2; J. McGregor lost to J. Dempster. 6 and 5; K. Manning halved with T. J. Quinn: J. Churstaia halved with G. Chaney; H. McGregor lost to L C. Watson, 2 down: C. D Wilson lost to D. Crombie. 1 down. Russley won by 5 games to 3 Templeton v. Waimairi J. Morgan beat B. J. McGuire. 1 up: B Poananga lost to J Hanson 3 and 2; B. Gordon halved with R. Ayres: H S. Leighton beat B. Mevers, 5 and 4; B. McSherry lost to p Meir. I down: J. McKUlop lost to J. Anderson, 3 and 1: G. Allen beat T. E. Collier. 2 up; E. G. Mitchell beat W. tails. 2 and 1. Templeton won by 41 2 games to 3>i. Ranglora v.. Templeton G Appleton beat J. Morgan, 1 up: H Fowler lost to B Poananga, 3 and 2; B. Helm beat B Gordon. 3 and 2: B Leech lost to H. S. Leighton. I down; R. Strahi halved with B. McSherry; D. Hegan beat J. McKillop. 2 up; B. Cox lost to G. Allen. 6 and 4; R. Keir lost to E. G. Mitchell. 3 and 1. Templeton won by 4‘s games to 31a Rawhiti v. Waitikiri B R. Arnould beat G. Fuller, 3 and 2: R. Dunlop beat C. Ogier. 1 up; J. Davis beat E. Batstone, 7 and 6: M Oates halved with W. Latham: S. Cuthbertson tost to G. Sansom. 4 and 2; G. Anderson beat J. Rowe, 2 and 1; L. Russell beat I. James. 7 and 6; S. McCann halved with N. James. Rawhiti won by 6 games to 2. Waitikiri B v. Russley G. Fuller beat E. Holland. 3 and 2; C. R. Ogier tost to R C. Garnett, 3 and 2: E. G. Batstone beat R. E. Jiggins. 4 and 3; W. Latham beat J. Dempster, 3 and 2; G. Samson tost to T. J. Quinn, 5 and 4: J. Rowe beat G. T. Chaney 5 and 3; I. James lost to L. C. Watson. 4 and 3; N. James beat D. Crombie, 3 and 2. Waitikiri B won by 5 games to 3. Waitikiri A v. Rangiora W. Angus beat G. Appleton. 3 and 2: I. D. Dobson beat H. Fowler, 1 up; D. Clark beat B Helm. 1 up; J. Paerata beat B. Leech. 2 up; F. Bradley halved with R. Strahl: K. Creighton beat D. Hegan. 2 up; K. McDonald beat B. Cox. 2 up: T. Ware tost to R. Keir, 3 and 1. Waitikiri A won by 614 games to IM>. Rawhiti v. Hagley R. Arnould beat D. Johnston. 3 and 2: R. Dunlop lost to C. Snell, 4 and 3; J. Davis beat D. Tyron, 3 and 2; M. Oates beat J. McGregor. 4 and 2; S. Cuthbertson beat H. McGregor, 3 and 1: G. Anderson halved with D. Wilson: L. Russell beat K. Manning, 5 and 4: S. McCann beat J. Churstain, 4 and 3. Rawhiti won by 6la games to 114.

W. H.L. PF. PA. Pts Russley A . 6 ■a w 38 10 6 Chch. A . 5 a* 1 32 J 15$ 5 Waltlkiri . 4 1 1 32 16 4i Templeton 2 2 2 22} 25$ 3 Avondale . 3 • 3 25j 22$ 3 Kaiapoi - 2 4 18 32 1 Chch. B. . 1 - 5 12J 35$ 1 Russley B - 1 5 13 35 i